Open Letter Regarding Projects Between First Nations And Israeli People

With that in mind; today I found out about a Native delegation travelling to Israel for a cultural exchange. While there is certainly nothing wrong with that, in fully reading the media advisory (which also follows) the concerns I had about the Native embassy came rushing forward again...

So I decided to write this letter, and ask people to help make certain everyone involved in these projects (and any to follow) have all the knowledge needed to make informed decisions, for the benefit of all of us.

I mean, let's just consider the situation with David Ahenakew, who's actions are the reason these projects are happening: Hate propaganda was put in the mind of David, which he later expressed in an interview (where he called "Jews a 'disease' and [suggested] the Holocaust was justified").

The only reason David expressed these ideas is not because he hated Jewish people; It is because he was misguided. David was uninformed...

Had he known the truth, he would not have made the choice he did. And the same is true with what the AFN and some First Nations People are doing here - They would choose differently; for example, acknowledge the lesson here and do something that truly benefits us, that is not entrenched in politics or harmful to the already complicated and violent goings-on between Israelis and Palestinians.

The lesson, is that making uninformed decisions often brings unrecognized and harmful consequences - that we don't really want. We can already see from peoples' feedback about all this, that harm is exactly what's being done.

And so I also ask the AFN, and other First Nations People if they'd like, to inquire as to why/how harm is being done here; and then once you have some answers, that you consider writing a public statement in repsonse to the issues brought up here.

Then atleast we can be certain of how we must proceed to ensure no violence or conflict is perpetuated, or agendas advanced that further disserve any Israeli, Palestinian, or Native Person.

Respectfully, John Schertow (Ahniwanika)

ps. I just want to clarify that it is not my intention to suggest working with Israeli People is a bad thing; I personally have no quarrel with any Israeli or Palestinian. The problem here is with Politics, and my intention is to see things come from all this that benefit everyone connected to this - starting with the Denesuline People of Tadoule Lake and all Indigenous Communities on this land.

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LINKS
Native Embassy in Israel
Media advisory - First Nation trip to Israel
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