We're still here, as feisty as ever. When the Indian Advancement Act was written in 1873, there was no intention to have 'Indians' around for another 100 years. We were supposed to have advanced into average Canadians. Now that we've survived this long, we have to look at how we will continue to survive into the future. As long as we are a minority in numbers, we will always be threatened with assimilation into the larger society.
Assimilation is the greatest threat to our existence.
Unlike ethnic groups in Canada who can replenish their culture and language by importing more of their people from their home country, we do not have that luxury. This is our homeland and we are all that there is. As we look back at our situation one hundred years ago and beyond, we have shown that we are a very adaptable people. In the future, many of these assets, and more, will be needed to continue our existence. The loss of our language.