Bird said that the children need to be told about the treaties because they are not only about heritage, but they have meaning in their daily lives all across Canada. They need to know why they were signed-what was agreed to and what was not agreed to. This is the same as telling them what is right and what is not in their own lives. They have to be told often so they won't forget. That too, is part of our ways.
Treaties are our rights.
If you take a person's rights away you are left with nothing. Bird was pleased that the large gathering of Elders was able to come together, and more important, that they were invited to be an official part of the conference. We heard lots yesterday about what happened long ago. I found out that a lot of what I heard I didn't know- it's never to late for an old man to learn. Treaties, Bird told the gathering, mean more than just protection of right for First Nations, but represented the essence of what Canada stands for.