the "First" Nations

Land dispute struggles between Euro-centric Canadian's and the First Nations people of Canada is obviously not a new concept, it has been occurring since the white people first arrived on this land. Even by attending Wilfrid Laurier University we are participating within the dispute, as Six Nations owns the land surrounding the Grand River, which is exactly where we are right now. These disputes and fight just continue the oppression and the cultural ignorance that is seperating our two cultures, because they are so different it makes understanding and accepting so much more difficult. Our guest speaker Alex, who discussed his work at Grassy Narrows brought up an interesting fact that the relationship that the First Nations people have with the land and the environment is one that we may not even be able to understand for years. He discussed how he worked directly with them and still does not understand their ideas on the environment and the important relationships they hold. This is an important concept as I completely understand what he is saying, as I myself do not feel as if I could understand their ways of thinking.
For example, their idea's of 7 generations for land preservation. I do not feel as if this concept is realistic within our society, as it's the 21st century and I don't think that shit will fly, and it isnt. This concept of 7 generational land is at the forefront of disputes like the ones seen at Caledonia, where cultural dispute and ignorance is at it's highest. Perhaps we can learn something from the First Nations people in terms of the environment, but it may take some more time, and the elimination of cultural ignorance and racism. Once this happens, perhaps we can all live in the same country free of segregation and seperation, but it may take some compromise from both sides.