Why?

You are here, so you probably realize why.

We pay taxes to the Government of Canada and to our municipal authorities, and we expect the contributions to trickle back to the Indigenous People who are our neighbours, and whose land we have been sharing since contact, and more practically, since we were born.

We hide behind the government and clearly, our gratuitous contributions have not trickled back to our neighbours.

We can also pay a so-called tax to our first peoples in the form of an offering.  But it isn't a tax, it is an offering.  A Gratitude and Respect Offering.  We feel grateful.  We feel respect but know few ways to bridge the horrors of the divide created by governments past, school systems we grew up in, mis-information shared within families.  We watched and now it is clear.

Times have changed.  Education is helping.  Why do we not contribute offerings to the original people who have shared this land, since the beginning?  There is no reason.  We begrudgingly, under obligation, pay the governments, and grumble about it.  It is a joyful feeling to willingly and voluntarily make an offering of thanks to our neighbours.

There is no accountability required. It is an offering, simply a gift acknowledging our connection to the land and our gratitude for Canada's Indigenous People's protection of our land. In a social media sense, we can track acceptance of this idea, but not likely participation. Participation is a personal matter.

I remember the Centennial100.  Much has happened in  50 years.  With Canada150, I have decided to put forth a GARO (Gratitude and Respect Offering) to  my neighbours.  I am in Treaty 2 Territory.  It will be CAD$150.  Next year, I may add one dollar.  There are many options.  Offer a percentage of your rent or tax bill.  It is a good offering for a deep service.  My gratitude has unmeasurable depth, and my respect is deeply humble.  The token is small, but with many, it can grow and help our world.

Use the letter on the How To: post, and put your GARO in an envelope.  Some recipients may not easily understand where your offering is coming from.  It is easy to answer that.  It is from Gratitude and Respect.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Resources

Where?

Unceded Territories As descendants of settlers and immigrants, as workers, farmers, and city dwellers, we all live on the land.  Where are the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to whom we can deliver our GARO? BC Unceded Territories Sometimes the boundaries are unclear.  In those cases, take the offering to the people you know. Otherwise, make contact and introduce yourself.  Ask. Indigenous People at Contact Here are maps that can guide you to the nearest community of people who have been protecting the land. ( click on any image to enlarge it,  and check the Decolonization  Resources on the left ) . Not all land in Canada is subject to treaty.  Knowing which treaty territory you live in can help you to find the correct First Nation, Inuit, or Métis settlement for your GARO. Numbered Treaties Unceded lands cover much of BC and Quebec, and the central and easterly far north. Talk to people to identify the specific territory where you live. There are very good
Read more

Welcome

This project began with reluctant recognition of the Canada150 events sponsored by the Canadian Government in 2017. Through GARO we step into a new relationship with the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Most descendants of settlers to Canada, and most more recent immigrants and their descendants are aware, at long last, of truth about the glorious traditions and the unthinkable atrocities surrounding Canada's Indigenous People, the people who lived in the land we call Canada at the time of first contact, and for millennia before, and continuously since. GARO is a project whereby we, as descendants of settlers and immigrants acknowledge our gratitude for this land and offer respect through an offering to the original people of the treaty lands and unceded territories where we all live, walk, drive, swim, farm, and breath, bury our families and give birth to future generations. By participating in GARO, we acknowledge our land-based existence.  Tax to the crown does not ack
Read more

Contact - First Nations

How do you find the person who will accept your offering? Do you randomly go to a band office or a tribal council office and say, "Hi, I have a Gratitude and Respect Offering for you."? It will be confusing for the recipient and it will be awkward for the person making the offering.  But we are in no position to request ceremony.  Use the letter on the HowTo: post.  Self-identify as a descendant of settlers, or immigrants and let them know where you live, within their treaty territory, or their unceded territory. Perhaps a phone call, or a preliminary meeting to say you are coming.  You could send an email, with a link to GARO - Gratitude And Respect Offering ahead of time. It is at the discretion of the person making the offering.  Find an elder if you do not want to meet with the Chief or Council.  Ask a friend to take you, or talk to someone you know. It is hard to articulate this complex process, but through GARO - it will be made easier. It is voluntary.  
Read more

How To:

HowTo: Step 1 . Identify the Treaty Land or unceded territory upon which you live, or have lived in the past. Step 2.  Identify the nearest First Nation, Inuit, or Métis community to you and the address of their current leadership. Step 3.  Make an offering of money. Recommend $150 this year for Canada150 and add a dollar every year, or chose a % of the tax you pay to your Crown municipality. Or just make an offering. Step 4.  Deliver the Gratitude and Respect Offering in person, by mail, or by e-transfer. That is all. Below is a .jpg (click to enlarge) that can be copied and inserted into any word.doc then printed to accompany your GARO.   Or you can paste the text of the letter into your own customized letter to accompany your offering. Here is the text for the letter if you want to edit it. Welcome to the grassroots. Please accept this offering. I am one, among millions of settlers, immigrants and descendants of settlers and immigrants who live across Canad
Read more

Community of Settlers, Immigrants, and Descendants

There is no need to track GAROs. We are a community of people living on treaty territory or unceded territory of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in Canada. This site is to provide information.  Please leave comments and questions. We also have a FB-page. GARO on-the-FaceBook . If you are like-minded, like the page.  We will watch the community grow. If you participate with your neighbouring First Nations, Inuit or Métis people in a GARO, well, that is personal.  Share your story, or keep it to  yourself. Gratitude and Respect. It is good to share both.
Read more