Dear Justin Trudeau: The honeymoon is on, but will the romance last?

This op-ed is an imagined letter from a scorned partner (Indigenous Peoples) to our latest suitor (Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau).

Dear Justin;

You know that feeling you get, the butterflies in your stomach, when your relationship is new? That rumbling, the anticipation of a meeting, where the outcome is uncertain and so much has yet to be discovered?

Well, you said you would be great to date, you showed us your early intentions to keep us happy with your flowery words and big promises of a better life, but our guts tell us to wait.

Wait to trust you. Wait to see what you will really do to narrow the gap between our communities and the mainstream, concerning our health, education, social services, and our overall quality of life.

Wait to see if your good looks are merely a wolf in sheep's clothing, or if your intentions and words are truly genuine.

Before we decide whether to trust you or not, as a partner to walk side-by-side with for the foreseeable future (or for at least as long as you're in office), we have a few stipulations you'll need to abide by in order to gain our trust.

What we want is what everyone wants out of a good relationship.

A committed partner

We want a committed, loyal and respectful partner. Someone who is interested in our well-being, who supports us on key issues when we need it and has a shared vision for the future.

And if you show us the respect we deserve, we will reciprocate.

However we, as Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, are the battered partners in this relationship with Canada, and it seems all we have been getting from your predecessors are abuse, neglect, and a blatant lack of respect.

So it should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that we are extremely cautious with you in that position of power — but we'll come around if you're true to your word and deliver what you've promised.

We aren't looking for someone to take care of us, but rather a leader who will respect our independence, understand our history, our uniqueness, and our goals for the future.

And with the responsibility on your shoulders to lead everyone in Canada to a better place, post-Harper, you have a duty to listen — most notably to the ones who helped to build this country from the ground up, from the beginning; a people whose very land you stand on, shouting for equality while far too many indigenous people still suffer greatly.

Wine and dine, then…?

You may wine and dine us early on and love all of our ideas and peculiarities, but what happens when we have our first fight? What happens when you're pressured by your friends (who don't really like us) to break up?

What happens if the goals you truly set out to accomplish at the outset, Justin, have nothing to do with us, and we are left at the altar for the dish of the day — that younger, more attractive partner with less baggage, more upside and better PR?

Only once this relationship with you, Canada's new prime minister, is past the honeymoon phase can we let down our guard, get comfortable and trust that we are heading in the right direction.

After all, we've been hurt many times before by former supposed suitable partners (see: former prime ministers) and we want to hear — but most importantly, see from you — why you'd be different than they were.

Take our hands

Until then, take our hand as equals and do everything you said you would to gain our trust.

We assure you the ride will be much more enjoyable if the lines of communication are always open, our questions are respected and answered quickly, and you can look us in the eye and not blink when we ask you to tell us the truth.

Anything else would be just another set of broken promises and lies to get what you want before leaving us for the latest hot topic.

And we simply won't stand for it anymore.

Steve Bonspiel is the editor/publisher of Kahnawake Mohawk Territory's award-winning weekly newspaper The Eastern Door. He has won numerous provincial and national awards for his articles and editorials. Bonspiel is Mohawk, from Kanesatake, currently based in Kahnawake, Que.

Onawa Jacobs is an employment counsellor from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. Jacobs works with community members to achieve their goals and create better lives.