One day left in January. It’s been quite a month, unusual weather and unusual politics. The weather is great, maybe not so great for the future. We Oldtimers don’t trust unusually good weather spells, we fear we’re going to pay for it somewhere along the line. We usually do.
The uncertainty of our future relationship with Trump America is disheartening. That political situation will remain tense until President Trump settles down, if that ever happens. We Oldtimers don’t always trust politicians, either.
There is some happy news. The nomination of the documentary Sugar Cane for an Oscar is certainly something special. Congratulations to everyone involved. Congratulations also to Phyllis Webstad, the local lady who founded Orange Shirt Day, who received the Reconciliation Award from B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor, in partnership with the BC Achievement Foundation. A new category within the awards was also named in her honour.
Encouraging news. When the community learned Sacred Heart School would close due to lack of funding, they responded with “mind blowing” support to keep it open -- testimonies, donations, pledges – Williams Lakers do not want to lose the school. Hopefully the Kamloops Diocese board will be able to reverse the decision to close it.
Sad news. Long-time Indigenous activist Bill Wilson has died. Wilson, who was 80, was born in Comox. His dad was a well-respected fisherman in the Campbell River area. Bill was a Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw hereditary chief, the second aboriginal person in B.C. to become a lawyer, and a prominent leader in working for First Nations rights and quality of life. Among his many accomplishments he was instrumental in getting Indigenous title to land and treaty rights enshrined in our Constitution.
My condolences to his wife, Bev Sellars, well-known Cariboo author and former Chief of the Xat’sull First Nation.