Amelia Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Amelia

Amelia took form in my brain
When reading Bill's writing
About the Massacre; Frog Lake.

I have read much, too much
Many books, , off
And went to track her
Wherever could find her.

Now, aware of contents
Know that his was fiction;
So, followed, traced her.

She wrote book on Plain
And People and culture.

But after some decades
From the massacre.

In me is, lost, remains
A burning, deep question:
"Why not then? "

Victorian, her father
Tore hearts and divided
The Cree Indians
And Queen and Royals.

His greed got involved
So, he sold weaker side.

He betrayed Indigenous…

Then War Chief, Spirit:
"Come, join with family..."

But the mean Scottish
Sold trust and ruined
The faith they had in him;
Divided the Cree
Into Wood's and Plain's!

I followed the McLean family
From wife to husband, children
And the things related…

Amelia and Kitty and Liza
At that age were heroes,
In their time, conditions! "

They were forced to shut up
Or, to say what White wants;
Most of it lie, and wrong!

Ta-ta-wah was ignored
Also, word of "Kes-poo."

Premier, was said, heard
Whenever guest entered
And latter when was fed.
It showed that Indigenous
Was very generous.
But the White, unaware,
Kept calling them "Savage! "

While owners of the land
Were kind with best of hearts
And spoke with a guest:
"Here find room; welcome, "
Wishing: "Food refreshes you."
The White man was like cat
Closed eyes, took bites and
Was silly when some hand
Came to pet, scratch…
Purred about indigenous:
"Is instinct, acts, reacts! "

After Whites invaders
Came and took food away
Forced locals to have need
And called this: "A begging! "

Amelia writes here:
"Begging is a shame to Indigenous."