The Dark Side of Canada
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I do not have to go far away
but just look within canada to see
there is starvation poverty and death
now, this will never be taught in schools but not a secret
that our first prime minister sir john a macdonald
starved the aboriginal people into submission deliberately
to clear a path for the canadian pacific railway
his national dream . . .
it was not enough that fur traders brought diseases
small pox
measles
influenza
but they hunted the wildlife almost to extinction
in time the crystal clear waters were polluted
leaving the aboriginals starving and desperate
the government withheld food
until the first nation people agreed
to live on reservations
designated areas trapped and humiliated
unable to leave they could not farm not hunt
not fish in time dependent on the government for food
and if they complained
the substandard food rations were cut often the food
was contaminated anyways children died many died
sir john boasted proudly of the indigenous people
"on the verge of actual starvation" some hero
and even today 2017 there is widespread poverty
starvation on first nation reserves in canada
infant mortality, no running water, NO
access to drinking water (laced with e coli)
high price food brought by air
imagine, $25.00 for a loaf of bread
living on welfare (with no way out) no education
little heat in the freezing canadian winters
teenage suicide on the rise - a national disaster
prejudice and discrimination to this day
oh no I do not have to go far to see starvation
slum conditions overcrowding sewage backups
garbage and broken houses and extreme poverty
it is a national disgrace (in canada)
oh yes there are some sanitized reservations
there are some really pretty places they show off
but still
there are many not so nice
but canada is always ready to step up and help others
(look in your own backyard) first mr prime minister
it is a horrible situation with hopelessness
and what is the answer to that circle that goes on
and on, since sir john a macdonald stole
their land their way of life their culture
and even their children to provincial schools
that abused the children, yeah lets pay them into silence
the government of canada should be ashamed
to allow this in this day and age
of abundance
in my country-
____________________________
November 13, 2017
Poetry/Free Verse/The Dark Side Of Canada
Copyright Protected, ID 17-9609-61-0
All Rights Reserved. Written Under Pseudonym.
Submitted to the contest, In The Name Of Country
The Dark Side of Nationalism
sponsor, Debbie Guzzi
First Place
Copyright © Constance La France | Year Posted 2017
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