Hello Heath Bunting,

I am writing you regarding your upcoming court
case in support of your right to carry the tools
of your trade.

I am an Indigenous drummer, singer and
interdisciplinary
artist - I carry with me a midsized handdrum
(about 20"
diameter) and an approximately 18 inch long wooden
stick I use for beating the drum with.
Occasionally the beater dries out and becomes too
light to be effective for the sound
and tone I need to create.  It is necessary for me
to be able to acquire another stick and so I also
carry with me a utility knife (a small swiss army
knife) for this purpose.  A knife extracting a
piece of a branch from a tree is much less
damaging to a tree than if I had to rip a piece
off with my bare hands.

I also use the knife in relation to my nutritional
sustenance as well as for that of my musical
colleague.  You see, we are a singing/storytelling
duo and are on the road at least half of every
week.  It is imperative to be able to eat fresh
fruit, vegetables and good fish and meat and not
to have to rely on restaurants or prepackaged
processed food from gas stations and/or fast food
marts.  I use the knife to cut up, peel, core etc.
food.

Also important to mention, I live on the Canadian
Plains - there are literally hundreds of kms to
travel between music engagements and / or cultural
activities and so eating while on the road is a
reality and a necessity.

So I understand your plight of needing to carry
your tools with you - I wouldn't be much of a
singer/drummer if someone made it illegal to carry
my drum, and I certainly wouldn't be able to
afford neither the funds nor the time to eat in
restaurants all the time if I was deprived of my
knife.

There was a time, not that long ago on this land
now called Canada when we were not allowed to
practice our ceremonies, sing our songs, speak our
languages, travel where we wanted - it was
outlawed & people were imprisoned.  Systems were
put in place such as a reserves where people were
confined and starved and the reserve pass system
when you had to be in possession of a government
issued pass to leave the reserve for any
occasion.  We fought for and asserted our rights &
are steadily gaining back and / or remembering our
old travel routes and our songs, languages and
ceremonies.  But the decades of censorship and
enforced confinement have left their mark - we
struggle to relearn/remember our languages, we
struggle to articulate and activate our self
governing principals and the strong sense of self
and relations we had is now skewed by the Canadian
government's conquer and divide methods. Sadly,
too many of our stories and histories have also
died with the old people who kept them.  It would
truly be a very sad day on mother earth if any
government or law decided to try to limit or
censor us again.

The work you have already done internationally has
inspired and aided me personally as well as
countless other artists and community workers and
your work within some of our communities and
artist centres is aiding us in further finding the
means to express our unique and multifaceted
cultural voice.  I know I speak on behalf of many
who are in support of your activities, your
knowledge & expertise and your vision.  We look
forward to working with you again in the near
future & will pray for you & the quick and
favorable resolution of this unjustified
violation of your rights.

Sincerely,

Cheryl L'Hirondelle Waynohtęw
Pahpahstayo First Nation #136, Treaty 6 Adhesion
nikamok@sk.sympatico.ca