Now these nine will undertake a mission to other native communities across Canada, to help them rediscover their heritage and their health. On behalf of all Canadians, I wish them every success. The Role Models follow the seven native traditions of wisdom, truth, honesty, love, respect, bravery, and humility. Many Canadians outside the Aboriginal community would like to think that we share some of the same attitudes. We speak of Canada as a young and growing country, and in many respects that is true.
Confederation reaches back only four or five generations.
John Cabot and Jacques Cartier landed here less than five hundred years ago, and the Vikings less than a thousand years ago. But the aboriginal founding nations were here ten thousand years ago. Our French and English pioneers came to a populated continent. The First Nations greeted us with generosity and friendship, according to their spiritual beliefs and way of life. Those Europeans who took the time to observe native societies described a culture of consensus, co-operation, and sharing.