What is left of us? i ask myself that every day. We continue to live in our small world, filled with limited events and limited choices. A few select families were born in politics. Fighting to better their lives and supposedly fighting to better the lives of thos they represent. If my image and my version of what i see is wrong, then please, somebody clear my point of view and open my eyes. Tell me what i am supposed to see? I walk these roads and look around, and I see a dead end.

The youth will inherit the many stories of our past, our traditions, our beliefs, and the continuous problems of our people. i always heard elders say that the youth is the next generation, the next to run the office, the next to hold our wisdom and guide the next generation to come in the right path, which is true. but how can they do that when the people who are running the office right now dont want to hear what they call "The Next Generation" and what they have to say? or do not want to give the next generation and the next generation to come something to do? How can they be labeled "The Next Generation" when the people running the office do not allow the youth to speak fo rthemselves?

The interests, problems and issues of the community is our concern also. I walk around the community and listen to the "Next Generation" talking about what they would like to see or want to see happening in their community. But still, no body listens. The youth are afraid of being rejected. They are afriad that they will be dismissed by the people who were boted into office. We have heard the promises to better the future of the band and the community and the place in which we live. Everything remains the same. And sometimes it is worse. So what they were really voted in for? Has all the promises they made to the poeple been pursued and kept? If they were, I dont see it.

As I grow, my interests in the issues have arisen. The fact is, the youth who are born to be the next leaders, the next teachers, the next to take on the responsibility of our community can not wait to leave the place of their birth. What future does this place have? all the community members have heard is broken promises. What are the positive aspects on the life we live now? And the lives of our children yet to be born? In 20 years, do you think this place will be any different than it is now? Maybe newer buildings will be built. But the same problems will remain. The same problems keep repeating. One of these is our lack of good credit. It is my understanding that we are limited on what we can do, how we can do it and where would we get the money from? Like i said, if my point of view and what i see in this place is wrong, somebody feel free to shed some light in all the situations we find ourselves in.

In my opinion, our Lack of opportunity, our Lack of support, our Lack of our native teachings, our Lack of money, and Lack of education, has enabled the next generation to leave. And this is true due to the fact that not one youth can speak our native language. And i am left to wonder, where is our future? How can we get the ones in office to hear our voice? I am sure they feel their youth is headed in the wrong direction. The burning of the gymnasium, the breaking and entering to places that surroun this reserve, the drinking, and the drugs are signs of unrest.

Ironically, the people working in our office also live that life. It is not political, it is a worldwide epidemic and it affects everyone. The outside world suffers the same problems and issues, yet, they have more opportunities and choices then our small community.

Look around....90% drink alcohol....5% take drugs...the other 5% believe they are better than everybody else. And still, the past haunts us. We are stuck with a negative image of the past. We are negatively judged. all we ask, as youth, is a better life. Everybody has their own opinion and point of views.
So is this all really true or false?

Sincerely
Tired Of The Silence and Broken Promises