Editor:

I was very disheartened to receive an email with a photo being circulated about one of our fellow leaders in the Lakes District.

Do not get me wrong, I do not meddle in other Nations affairs. Every nation has their internal issues and must find constructive methods to resolve those issues. My issue is how it is being carried out. It鈥檚 one thing to disagree with your leadership but,  I believe it is important to sit down with your leadership and make attempts to resolve the issues in a face to face meeting. And the goal would be that no one leaves the room until there is peace between the parties.  Traditionally, this is not how disputes were resolved.  It is wrong on so many levels. This is not how we conduct ourselves as Indigenous people. We can鈥檛 move forward as nations if we continue with the lateral violence. It鈥檚 sad when our people resort to these sorts of tactics to attack our very own people. As a leader I believe in those principles of accountability and responsibility and make it a part of my practice. Some individuals come from a place of deep hurt and anger and can't see past their own behavior. We need to hold them up in prayer in a good way. We really need to promote unity if we are ever going to survive as Indigenous people.

I don鈥檛 agree with sending pictures that are distasteful.

I don鈥檛 think it is proper to discredit, defame ones character without meeting to resolve, finding ways to make peace with the situation. We are all human beings and need to be treated with some level of dignity.

I firmly believe in the motto: 鈥淭reat others the way you want to be treated.鈥� If we all chose to work things out and make this a better place to live what a better living environment we create for ourselves, our children, family and communities.

Let's choose unity, peace and taking responsibility for ourselves. Let's start building each other up instead of tearing each other down.

I speak peace, unity, & reconciliation to our neighbouring Indigenous communities after all we are all one people.

Chief Karen Ogen

Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n First Nation