Dear Editor:

I would like to start off this letter with a positive remark and congratulate the entire staff at the Osoyoos Times on your recent journalism awards after claiming the top spot for Best Overall Newspaper, General Excellence, in the Canadian Community Newspaper Association National Awards, as well as awards for Best Front Page and Best Editorial Page.

Thank you and keep up the good work.

Now I would like to comment on the “fact based” report about the Osoyoos Rotary’s Club’s most recent guest speaker, Chief Clarence Louie, of the Osoyoos Indian Band.

I was always quick to praise the OIB and Chief Louie for the work they do and their community involvement.

But after his most recent speech, I hold a totally different view and one that is not very positive.

As a non-aboriginal, or Caucasian Canadian, I would never get away with making similar public comments against aboriginals as Chief Louie made against non-aboriginals during his 40-minute speech/rant about “the poor little put down aboriginals.”

Was his speech at the Rotary Club luncheon an example of the kind of talk he is planning on giving in Europe?

Why is the Canadian government going to pay to have him promote his feelings of anti-government and harsh feelings towards non/natives?

I would not want to support his free vacation in any way if he plans on continuing to speak freely about these subjects.

In Louie’s speech to the Rotary Club, he mentioned that government doesn’t give things to native people. I don’t believe that to be a factual statement.

It seems that whenever we turn around, native people are being “given a break” or a selective perk in day to day living as opposed to non natives.

As for Louie’s remark about locals having to “suck it up” if we don’t like the forthcoming name change for Haynes Point Provincial Park and a second provincial park in Okanagan Falls.

If a student used that phrase while giving an oral report in school, they would be reprimanded by their teacher and told to find another way to express themselves without being so disrespectful to their audience of peers.

In regards to Louie not feeling comfortable with singing along to Canada’s national anthem, no one at that meeting told him he had to sing.

It would be expected that he show respect and sit still or stand with everyone else. I am disabled and I am too tired to stand, but I would sit straight on my scooter.

Thank you.

Carolyn Hughes

Osoyoos, B.C.