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Chief Randal Kahgee
Saugeen First Nation Chief, Randal Kahgee, in a recent
interview, spoke on a variety of subjects.
"We are pleased about the historic apology by the Canadian government
toward our peoples. It has been a long time coming however, this is for
the survivors of the residential schools. To me, it is all about them.
They deserve the apology, no one else. What happened to those
generations changed forever the way that our people evolved.
Things have changed this year in many ways. From the apology to the
signing of the agreement with Bruce Power. These events demonstrate
that things are changing and that we, the First Nations people, are
beginning to be recognized on an equal footing. The agreement with
Bruce Power was an historic signing that recognized the First Nations
people as having the right to have input into decisions that are being
made.
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(continued) We come at this type of agreement
from an entirely different way than has been seen before. We want what
is best for the land, for the water, for the environment and for the
people.We will have to wait and see if things will be truly transparent
but we are feel these are the first steps in moving forward toward
cooperation between cultures."
Closer to home, when asked about the recent closing of the Youth Centre
at Saugeen First Nations, Chief Kahgee said that he anticipated
something would be done in the very near future for the youth of the
community. "We are hoping to be able to find another site for our youth
and we are currently working on it."
Saugeen First Nation elections are being held today, Tuesday June 24th,
with two candidates for chief - Chief Randal Kahgee and Gale Mason. Vern
Roote withdrew his name from the candidacy preferring instead to
concentrate his efforts on promoting cultural events.
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