During my youth I camped, hunted, fished, lived and celebrated with the First Nations boys; we were like brothers, and treated each other with equality and respect. We were both given the same opportunities and choices but we went our ways.

I went to school, worked hard all my life, paid my taxes, and helped build a great country. I don’t know which roads my brothers took, but I am very upset by the events of the day.

They had the same opportunities and choices as I did but somehow feel that they are entitled to a lot more than I am.

They claim food gathering and ceremonial places, well do so I, but I’m “second nation.” I have to abide by the regulations and pay for the privilege to use the parks that my tax dollars built and paid for.

When a group that does neither can, with the help of governments, bypass the rules and use these parks for free and then deny others access, something is wrong. Even the handicapped and elders (seniors) have to pay to use the parks.

The history lessons I took lead me to believe that white settlers won the conflict for the right to the land from the First Nations people. When in history has a nation that lost its conflict over land ever been entitled to more benefit than the nation that won? Only in Canada.

To take a provincial park and use some broad-brush claim that allows a group to use it for their own sole purpose is totally wrong. Brother, you have gone too far and crossed the line too many times. It’s time to take a reality check.

We all have special places, but we must treat them all the same as they belong to all of us, not just one group.

To tell anyone to stay away or else from Juniper Beach Provincial Park or any other park is terribly wrong and should never happen.

C. COX

Kamloops