6 March 2020
by Johann Funk
the canadian narrative is fiction
conjured in the imagination of Europe
visions of unlimited wealth and absolute power
sanctified by papal bulls
imagining foreign land vacant
making locals disposable
claiming land by first discovery
flags and crosses asserting sovereignty
land stolen
in the name of god and king
local authorities, cultures, identities swept aside
defining locals as expendable resident aliens
displaced by adventures, speculators, priests, settlers
here to stay
to dominate, dehumanize, exploit, oppress, eliminate
crafting public policy, dependencies, racism, violence
instruments of control
genocide by any other name
sweeping the landscape clean
of ancient occupation
a narrative devoid of merit
contested by living cultures and identities
exposing the painful truth of history
longing for self-determination and self-sufficiency
with dignity, pride and strength
resurgent identities of occupied nations
with laws, customs, ceremonies
that have not died and thrive again
