I always say to people, you have a banquet — you come to the table with your own culture, a full banquet. If you don't share it, it's not writing! - Lee Maracle

Teachings are not dictums to be blindly followed. They are meant to be the beginnings of the development of governance or theory, but the individual is expected to interpret them personally.

The only reason that I write is to bring about a change of heart. But I wanted to do that when I was five, when I first endured racial discrimination. I would like to change that person's mind and heart about the way they see me, about the way they feel about me. But I had no power then, and I have power now. It's called a pen. Or in this case a computer, yeah?

There has to be humour to open up the person to the subject of change, the possibility of change. You have to be open. Humour opens people up.