Walk softly and ponder deeply.
Weep for the young lives lost.
For aboriginal people the loss is deep. Come together and weep.
Aboriginal mother and father, sister and brother,
I too have grieved the loss of children, I understand your anger and frustration.
Words beyond proclamation.
Blood guiltiness is on our nation.
Money can’t repay this debt, and as a nation we have deep regret.
Who are we to change your mind, to say you say you must live a life like mine?
It’s barbaric and ashamed I’ve been, to be Canadian.
So down with pride, children have died.
I understand if you hate white men.
Sad to say I’m one of them.
In the crowd there will always be a bigot or two, but aboriginal brother I stand with you.
For now, I wear black at the words I’ve said, apologizing profusely for the dead.
Alysa DuMontier, Red Deer