Hi Friends
Lets talk about justice. To be more specific the two-tiered justice system.
Lets examine the well known cases of Leonard Peltier and Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland and is currently being held for extradition back to America to face charges on an out standing warrant from a 1977 arrest. His crime; sex with a minor, to which he pleaded guilty.
Some believe he has suffered enough. He has after all had to live in the lap of luxury, eating the finest cuisine plying his craft to the accolades and adulation of his peers. Did I mention he was forced to live on the French Riviera. He did plead guilty to this crime, but felt that his 42 day mental assessment for pedophilia should have been enough time served, and fled custody.
Leonard Peltier was sentenced in 1977 for the murder of two F.B.I. agents killed in a shoot out on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He pleaded innocent.
The FBI's own ballistics tests have proven that the bullets in question did not come from Peltier's weapon. These killings happened in a war like atmosphere in which the FBI agents were terrorizing the residents of the Pine Ridge Reserve in retaliation for the 1973 stand-off. Debates over the guilt, and or the fairness of Mr. Peltier's trial continue to this day. He is currently incarcerated at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary.
Leonard Peltier has suffered beatings and illness while in prison, and even though he has been a model prisoner the FBI come to each of his parole hearings to offer victim impact statements against his release. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has stated publicly they intend to see to it that Leonard Peltier is never paroled. Why is that? Aren't they interested in truth and justice? Isn't that what they say their job is?
Leonard's supporters and some organizations consider him to be a political prisoner. A few of his supporters are as follows: Nelson Mandela, Amnesty International, U.N. High Commission on Human Rights, his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, The Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and of course AIM.
The malicious persecution of one man stands in glaring contrast to the benevolent attitudes expressed towards the other man. These may on the surface seem like two very different cases, but the comparison can still be drawn. One rich one poor, one admittedly guilty one railroaded. One allowed freedom till he spoke out on American political policy, one persecuted for standing up against American political policy. Lets see if the power brokers in Hollywood can once again get Lady Justice to peek beneath her blind fold for the monied elite.
Where as Roman Polanski has raped lady justice, Leonard Peltier has been raped by her.
That my friends is what we call two-tiered justice.
regards Debra
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Children in Need of CARE
Hi Friends
As you may or may not know, first nations children out number non-aboriginal children in the care of the child welfare system at a rate of 10.23% to 0.67% of non aboriginal.
The over representation is directly linked to poverty, neglect and abuse. All of these woes could and should be addressed by any means possible. A caring and responsible government need only to take their responsibility seriously and match funding on the reserves to that of the provincial funding of programs for non aboriginals.
The provinces fund the child welfare programs off reserve and the federal government is responsible for these same programs on reserve. If the federal government doesn't fund the programs, or under funds them, the provinces don't typically top up the funding levels. This results in a two tiered child welfare system. Children on reserves get less funding for child welfare than other children.
Do you think this might have any correlation to the emerging gang problems in First Nation communities? This is a rhetorical question. Please we don't need yet another study, but action now.
The Harper Conservatives are currently on the pay later plan. Maybe a job creation program. Build more jails, hire more jailers, the real government stimulus package. As is their typical modus operandi these ghouls are, it would seem, to be targeting the poorest most underprivileged population in the country to (dare I say eradicate) through under funding.
Suffer the little children, right Mr. Harper?
"Suffer the little children to come unto me." Jesus: Luke 18:6
regards Debra
As you may or may not know, first nations children out number non-aboriginal children in the care of the child welfare system at a rate of 10.23% to 0.67% of non aboriginal.
The over representation is directly linked to poverty, neglect and abuse. All of these woes could and should be addressed by any means possible. A caring and responsible government need only to take their responsibility seriously and match funding on the reserves to that of the provincial funding of programs for non aboriginals.
The provinces fund the child welfare programs off reserve and the federal government is responsible for these same programs on reserve. If the federal government doesn't fund the programs, or under funds them, the provinces don't typically top up the funding levels. This results in a two tiered child welfare system. Children on reserves get less funding for child welfare than other children.
Do you think this might have any correlation to the emerging gang problems in First Nation communities? This is a rhetorical question. Please we don't need yet another study, but action now.
The Harper Conservatives are currently on the pay later plan. Maybe a job creation program. Build more jails, hire more jailers, the real government stimulus package. As is their typical modus operandi these ghouls are, it would seem, to be targeting the poorest most underprivileged population in the country to (dare I say eradicate) through under funding.
Suffer the little children, right Mr. Harper?
"Suffer the little children to come unto me." Jesus: Luke 18:6
regards Debra
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
court challenge program
Hi friends
The first nations communities have relied heavily on the court challenges program to sort out many issues surrounding the unfair treatment of women and children in our communities. That was till the Harper Conservatives canceled this very important program.
The court challenges program is at the heart of democracy.
Although the court challenges program has been in effect since 1978; it primarily addressed minority languages (section 93-133) of the constitution act 1867 and to fund such challenges. Then in 1982 this mandate was expanded to take in (sections 16-23) around language laws to provide education in minority languages where warranted and to have minority languages in court proceedings.
Then again in 1985 it was expanded to include equality for all section 15 of the Charter of rights and freedoms..
There have been many lawsuits initiated on the provision of the Charter. These involve individuals on one side and usually government departments or agencies on the other. The imbalance between these opposing parties in financial, technical and human resources, constitutes serious impediment to those who might wish to claim benefit of section 15, thus reducing the effectiveness of resorting to the courts as a means of obtaining redress.
P ALIMENTARY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL RIGHTS.
Which Mr. Harper used himself back in the year 2000 to challenge the Liberal Government's cap on third party spending.
Mr. Harper became P.M. in 2006 and has since canceled the Court Challenges program. A case of some being more equal than others perhaps? It doesn't fit the Conservative Government's ideology. I guess democracy isn't in this Governments ideology, nor does it seem to be in the official opposition parties either.
As a citizen of a supposed democracy where do I turn when I disagree with my government?... or is that even still allowed?
If history has taught us nothing else, let us try to remember the wise words of Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892-1984)...First they came for the communists and I did not speak out-because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialist and I did not speak out -because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out- because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out- because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Let your voices be heard on this very important issue. Write your represenatives in parliment and have YOUR say.
regards Debra
The first nations communities have relied heavily on the court challenges program to sort out many issues surrounding the unfair treatment of women and children in our communities. That was till the Harper Conservatives canceled this very important program.
The court challenges program is at the heart of democracy.
Although the court challenges program has been in effect since 1978; it primarily addressed minority languages (section 93-133) of the constitution act 1867 and to fund such challenges. Then in 1982 this mandate was expanded to take in (sections 16-23) around language laws to provide education in minority languages where warranted and to have minority languages in court proceedings.
Then again in 1985 it was expanded to include equality for all section 15 of the Charter of rights and freedoms..
There have been many lawsuits initiated on the provision of the Charter. These involve individuals on one side and usually government departments or agencies on the other. The imbalance between these opposing parties in financial, technical and human resources, constitutes serious impediment to those who might wish to claim benefit of section 15, thus reducing the effectiveness of resorting to the courts as a means of obtaining redress.
P ALIMENTARY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL RIGHTS.
Which Mr. Harper used himself back in the year 2000 to challenge the Liberal Government's cap on third party spending.
Mr. Harper became P.M. in 2006 and has since canceled the Court Challenges program. A case of some being more equal than others perhaps? It doesn't fit the Conservative Government's ideology. I guess democracy isn't in this Governments ideology, nor does it seem to be in the official opposition parties either.
As a citizen of a supposed democracy where do I turn when I disagree with my government?... or is that even still allowed?
If history has taught us nothing else, let us try to remember the wise words of Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892-1984)...First they came for the communists and I did not speak out-because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialist and I did not speak out -because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out- because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out- because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Let your voices be heard on this very important issue. Write your represenatives in parliment and have YOUR say.
regards Debra
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Then and Now
Hi Friends
With the recent uproar over the body bags being delivered to reserves, as expected there were the usual outcries from the uninformed.
Here's a history lesson from the 1960's ( the age of Aquarius, peace, love and understanding, the brotherhood of man).
Have you ever heard of Minamata disease? The people of Grassy Narrows and White Dog reserves did. They lived it; and the effects are still felt in their communities to this day.
In the fifties their water supply showed signs of mercury pollution. The contamination forced these reserves to close their fisheries. Still the government reaction was slow, even in the face of devastating health problems in the two communities. The First Nations involved eventually invited Japanese scientist from Minamata Japan where a similar thing had happened into their communities to assess what was going on.The scientists confirmed "Minamata Disease," a motor and nervous disorder caused by mercury poisoning. The culprit turned out to be the unrestricted dumping of methyl mercury into the English-Wabigoon River system by a pulp and paper mill. Amid the scandal a new agreement was signed for a new mill in 1976 with safe guards put into place.
The communities now must restrict their in take of fish,and though the contaminations levels have slowly gone down, a recent case of Minamata Diease in a three year old girl has illustrated this is still not a safe community to live and raise children in.
But that was then...right...
Now on to Sarnia Ontario, Canada's chemical valley. Aamjiwnaang First Nation reserve near Sarnia Ontario has a disproportionate numbers of female births, in fact the highest in the world. This reserve is ground zero for the heaviest load of air pollution in Canada. Sixty percent of the 5.7 kilograms of toxic air releases recorded in 2005 were released within a five kilometer radius of the reserve. In 2005, 131 million kilograms of pollutants were released from 46 plants in Sarinia's Chemical Valley. These pollutants are known to cause cancer and or developmental and reproductive disorders among humans.
Sarnia's Mayor has criticized Health Canada and the government for trying to exclude the First Nation and the local occupational health clinic from on going talks about developing a comprehensive health survey for Chemical Valley.
But that was then...right...
. So here goes...with the history of bad behavior perpetrated by the Canadian governments against our people why would you think this was anything but a kick in the groin to the communities in question?
These reserves were hit hardest in the spring outbreak of the H1N1 virus, yet this Government failed to act in a caring and responsible manner then, by refusing to send hand sanitizer. Their reasoning? The sanitizer contained alcohol and it might be abused. Most reserves are dry by order of the Indian Act and to send alcohol into the community could result in fines and /or jail time for the person or persons caught doing such.
So body bags I guess were the next obvious choice.
But that was ... to be continued...
Right ???
With the recent uproar over the body bags being delivered to reserves, as expected there were the usual outcries from the uninformed.
Here's a history lesson from the 1960's ( the age of Aquarius, peace, love and understanding, the brotherhood of man).
Have you ever heard of Minamata disease? The people of Grassy Narrows and White Dog reserves did. They lived it; and the effects are still felt in their communities to this day.
In the fifties their water supply showed signs of mercury pollution. The contamination forced these reserves to close their fisheries. Still the government reaction was slow, even in the face of devastating health problems in the two communities. The First Nations involved eventually invited Japanese scientist from Minamata Japan where a similar thing had happened into their communities to assess what was going on.The scientists confirmed "Minamata Disease," a motor and nervous disorder caused by mercury poisoning. The culprit turned out to be the unrestricted dumping of methyl mercury into the English-Wabigoon River system by a pulp and paper mill. Amid the scandal a new agreement was signed for a new mill in 1976 with safe guards put into place.
The communities now must restrict their in take of fish,and though the contaminations levels have slowly gone down, a recent case of Minamata Diease in a three year old girl has illustrated this is still not a safe community to live and raise children in.
But that was then...right...
Now on to Sarnia Ontario, Canada's chemical valley. Aamjiwnaang First Nation reserve near Sarnia Ontario has a disproportionate numbers of female births, in fact the highest in the world. This reserve is ground zero for the heaviest load of air pollution in Canada. Sixty percent of the 5.7 kilograms of toxic air releases recorded in 2005 were released within a five kilometer radius of the reserve. In 2005, 131 million kilograms of pollutants were released from 46 plants in Sarinia's Chemical Valley. These pollutants are known to cause cancer and or developmental and reproductive disorders among humans.
Sarnia's Mayor has criticized Health Canada and the government for trying to exclude the First Nation and the local occupational health clinic from on going talks about developing a comprehensive health survey for Chemical Valley.
But that was then...right...
. So here goes...with the history of bad behavior perpetrated by the Canadian governments against our people why would you think this was anything but a kick in the groin to the communities in question?
These reserves were hit hardest in the spring outbreak of the H1N1 virus, yet this Government failed to act in a caring and responsible manner then, by refusing to send hand sanitizer. Their reasoning? The sanitizer contained alcohol and it might be abused. Most reserves are dry by order of the Indian Act and to send alcohol into the community could result in fines and /or jail time for the person or persons caught doing such.
So body bags I guess were the next obvious choice.
But that was ... to be continued...
Right ???
Thursday, September 17, 2009
What INAC actually spends...
Hi Friends
This post will deal with the issues of the Governments racist and callous attitudes towards the First Nations of this country and the half truths the rest of the populace is fed.
I have in the past blogged about institutionalized racism, but if this needs revisiting then here goes. It is difficult to deal with public opinion targeted at our people with that public opinion largely being fed by the Canadian Government. In public opinion all citizens are Canadian and as such should all be treated the same. This is not the way to look at the situation of indigenous peoples. As a member of the United Nations Canada has the obligation and legally binding duty to promote the rights of self determination as set out in section 35 of the Constitution act.
The Indian Act is genocidal. It infringes on fundamental human rights including the right for one to choose whom they will partner and parent with. Does any other racial group in this country face extermination from, or relinquishment of their rights in this way?
The Canadian Government has always meant to,"get rid of the Indian problem."..and have tried in many ways.
The Indian Act, divide and conquer tactics and misinformation along with legislation against us. All have hurt our struggle to be equal nations, as the founding nations with treaties had sought to lay out in the settling of this continent.
Stop with your whining about your tax dollars going to the native communities. This is a government lie you've been told. Every barrel of oil, every cedar shake, every diamond dug up, each fish caught...these are our resources and the land and seas from which they are taken are still not settled in the spirit of sharing as set out by the treaties. Unless you knuckle daggers out there are sending your kids to exclusive private schools, paving your own streets using your own health care and water treatment facilities, have your own private police forces etc...you get the picture, then for sure you are getting your full bang for your buck, tax dollar wise.
Now to connect the dots for you. While the Government each year states they have a budget for the First Nations of say 10 billion dollars, know that just a little over half ever reachs the First Nations. The rest is eaten up in the departments overhead, including salaries, per diems, travel and pensions. Then of course the department can list a program which is available to all Canadians but will state "including Aboriginals" as beneficiaries of the said program. While these programs may not directly impact First Nation communities,the inclusion as "beneficiaries of," gives the Government the ability to say they have spent "X" amount of dollars on the First Nations in any given year. Your Government lies, we native people know it, and now so do you.
regards Debra
This post will deal with the issues of the Governments racist and callous attitudes towards the First Nations of this country and the half truths the rest of the populace is fed.
I have in the past blogged about institutionalized racism, but if this needs revisiting then here goes. It is difficult to deal with public opinion targeted at our people with that public opinion largely being fed by the Canadian Government. In public opinion all citizens are Canadian and as such should all be treated the same. This is not the way to look at the situation of indigenous peoples. As a member of the United Nations Canada has the obligation and legally binding duty to promote the rights of self determination as set out in section 35 of the Constitution act.
The Indian Act is genocidal. It infringes on fundamental human rights including the right for one to choose whom they will partner and parent with. Does any other racial group in this country face extermination from, or relinquishment of their rights in this way?
The Canadian Government has always meant to,"get rid of the Indian problem."..and have tried in many ways.
The Indian Act, divide and conquer tactics and misinformation along with legislation against us. All have hurt our struggle to be equal nations, as the founding nations with treaties had sought to lay out in the settling of this continent.
Stop with your whining about your tax dollars going to the native communities. This is a government lie you've been told. Every barrel of oil, every cedar shake, every diamond dug up, each fish caught...these are our resources and the land and seas from which they are taken are still not settled in the spirit of sharing as set out by the treaties. Unless you knuckle daggers out there are sending your kids to exclusive private schools, paving your own streets using your own health care and water treatment facilities, have your own private police forces etc...you get the picture, then for sure you are getting your full bang for your buck, tax dollar wise.
Now to connect the dots for you. While the Government each year states they have a budget for the First Nations of say 10 billion dollars, know that just a little over half ever reachs the First Nations. The rest is eaten up in the departments overhead, including salaries, per diems, travel and pensions. Then of course the department can list a program which is available to all Canadians but will state "including Aboriginals" as beneficiaries of the said program. While these programs may not directly impact First Nation communities,the inclusion as "beneficiaries of," gives the Government the ability to say they have spent "X" amount of dollars on the First Nations in any given year. Your Government lies, we native people know it, and now so do you.
regards Debra
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Education of Debra
Hi Friends
Today I will do a more personal story.
As I've mentioned in past blogs I did not grow up on a reserve. I do hasten to say though that I did most certainly grow up native. I was taught by my enfranchised and shunned( by her own community as well as the dominate society) mother not to believe everything the school system was teaching me. My mother told me the story of Louis Riel, as she understood it. A freedom fighter for the causes of Metis and native people in the west. Totally opposite of what the school was telling me.
The school told me natives were savages. Citizens of a primitive or uncivilized societies. Yet they ( the new comers) modeled their constitution and ways of governance, from the native governments here.
The native people were practicing conservation before the white settlers arrived. There was aquaculture, managing the fish stocks, agriculture rearing crops of corn, beans and squash. Animals were hunted in a managed way so as to preserve the way of life enjoyed by the various nations living here.
Then the school of Hollywood got in on the act and tried to teach me that I should be ashame of who I was.
It worked for lots of our citizens, as I was to find out later in life. But once again my uppity mother had the nerve to disagree with the movie industry, too.
"We," she told me, "come from a long line of courageous leaders. Leaders who were to look seven generations into the future to make sound judgments for the Nations. The only error they made was to believe that the leaders of Nations they were dealing with had the same honour or mandate for their citizens."
My mother had been spared the residential school experience, by virtue of the fact of having been her maiden aunts favorite niece and by being sickly. When her Aunt couldn't bear children of her own she took my mother to live with her in upstate New York, away from the residential school problems (for the native communities) here in Canada. The United States had abandoned the residential schools years earlier than Canada had.
The people in our small town made it clear that we were not wanted or welcomed. My father had been from one of the founding and then middle-class families there and his family thought it an abomination he should bring such shame to their good name by marrying "that Indian girl." Sleep with her kind if you must, just don't marry them. My father was disinherited and his family never called our mother anything but his girlie and of course we were referred to as his little half breeds.
The only relatives we actually had were my Auntie and her two daughters. She, too, had out married and as such was banned from her community as well.
In the course of my life time I have met many like me. Products of out marriages who don't necessarily sound like or even look the part. I have also met many "apples" over my life. All of whom are content to stay on the side lines and get by.
I was talking to my son about these issues one day when he told me what a very wise elder had told him. Deep inside of every apple lays a little brown seed, that may someday get planted. Water that seed.
regards Debra
Today I will do a more personal story.
As I've mentioned in past blogs I did not grow up on a reserve. I do hasten to say though that I did most certainly grow up native. I was taught by my enfranchised and shunned( by her own community as well as the dominate society) mother not to believe everything the school system was teaching me. My mother told me the story of Louis Riel, as she understood it. A freedom fighter for the causes of Metis and native people in the west. Totally opposite of what the school was telling me.
The school told me natives were savages. Citizens of a primitive or uncivilized societies. Yet they ( the new comers) modeled their constitution and ways of governance, from the native governments here.
The native people were practicing conservation before the white settlers arrived. There was aquaculture, managing the fish stocks, agriculture rearing crops of corn, beans and squash. Animals were hunted in a managed way so as to preserve the way of life enjoyed by the various nations living here.
Then the school of Hollywood got in on the act and tried to teach me that I should be ashame of who I was.
It worked for lots of our citizens, as I was to find out later in life. But once again my uppity mother had the nerve to disagree with the movie industry, too.
"We," she told me, "come from a long line of courageous leaders. Leaders who were to look seven generations into the future to make sound judgments for the Nations. The only error they made was to believe that the leaders of Nations they were dealing with had the same honour or mandate for their citizens."
My mother had been spared the residential school experience, by virtue of the fact of having been her maiden aunts favorite niece and by being sickly. When her Aunt couldn't bear children of her own she took my mother to live with her in upstate New York, away from the residential school problems (for the native communities) here in Canada. The United States had abandoned the residential schools years earlier than Canada had.
The people in our small town made it clear that we were not wanted or welcomed. My father had been from one of the founding and then middle-class families there and his family thought it an abomination he should bring such shame to their good name by marrying "that Indian girl." Sleep with her kind if you must, just don't marry them. My father was disinherited and his family never called our mother anything but his girlie and of course we were referred to as his little half breeds.
The only relatives we actually had were my Auntie and her two daughters. She, too, had out married and as such was banned from her community as well.
In the course of my life time I have met many like me. Products of out marriages who don't necessarily sound like or even look the part. I have also met many "apples" over my life. All of whom are content to stay on the side lines and get by.
I was talking to my son about these issues one day when he told me what a very wise elder had told him. Deep inside of every apple lays a little brown seed, that may someday get planted. Water that seed.
regards Debra
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Issues in Indian Country
Hi Friends
As you are all well aware, there are a myriad of issues facing the First Nations in Canada, not the least being legislated genocide.
If the Canadian Government has its way, in a few short generations, there will be no more native people left. Oh we will still be here, we just won't be recognized.
Lets for one minute imagine that.
In the year 1876 with the birth of the Indian Act, Duncan Campbell Scott, then deputy minister of Indian Affairs said: " I want to get rid of the Indian problem, our object is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic."
Assimilation is and has always been the ultimate goal of the Canadian Government. So much for the double wampum treaty of "Sharing the land and not interfering in the lives of the each others citizens."
We all know what happened next. Racist polices, genocidal acts, and Government sanctioned internment.
In 1946 Canada amended the Indian Act to allow Aboriginal people the right to retain a lawyer. Prior to this it was unlawful for a lawyer to represent First Nation people.
It wasn't until the Constitution Act of 1982 that Aboriginal people were recognized. Section 25 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the so called non-derogation clause which recognizes Aboriginal rights and freedoms in the Royal Proclamation exist in land claims.
Aboriginal people are also recognized in Section 35 of the Constitution Act itself, which affirms the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights. The Indian Act is comprehensive in that it covers all aspects of Indian lives, including Section 6 which defines who qualifies to be an Indian.
The Indian Act under Sections 2-14 has never replaced Aboriginal Peoples rights to determine citizenship. Section 6 ( which identifies who is entitled to be registered as an Indian) is yet more Government interference, and clearly an attempt to "solve the Indian problem."
First Nations people have been challenged to sort out their citizenship, and present the Government with a membership/citizenship code to be filed in the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada offices in Ottawa.
So can the Aboriginal people of Canada exercise their right to self determination as put forth by Section 35 of the Constitution Act? Existing Aboriginal rights, which have never been extinguished, include the right to self government, and also include the right to determine citizenship.
Until the true significance of the Nation to Nation treaties are under stood by all, this promises to be herculean task facing the nations. We are a Nation within a Nation. Understanding the rights to self determination is difficult to say the least. Any First Nation who attempts to exercise their right will have to fight the government to create their own citizenship codes and have them recognized.
Each First Nation person in Canada is by law a citizen of Canada so the argument then is that, as a result each, individual is entitled to the rights in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the law of the Constitution of Canada.
Deciding citizenship codes promises to lead to fighting internally and externally. Governments will fight to keep the numbers down, and the First Nations may fall into this same trap. The only way is for the Nations to separate benefits from citizenship. It is of the utmost importance to be careful of what is requested from the courts and what is accepted.The validity of the treaties rests on the self determination and inherent authority of the first nation people. These treaties are what have seeded the land upon which all of Canada rests.
Assimilation, genocide...a rose by any other name...
regards Debra
As you are all well aware, there are a myriad of issues facing the First Nations in Canada, not the least being legislated genocide.
If the Canadian Government has its way, in a few short generations, there will be no more native people left. Oh we will still be here, we just won't be recognized.
Lets for one minute imagine that.
In the year 1876 with the birth of the Indian Act, Duncan Campbell Scott, then deputy minister of Indian Affairs said: " I want to get rid of the Indian problem, our object is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic."
Assimilation is and has always been the ultimate goal of the Canadian Government. So much for the double wampum treaty of "Sharing the land and not interfering in the lives of the each others citizens."
We all know what happened next. Racist polices, genocidal acts, and Government sanctioned internment.
In 1946 Canada amended the Indian Act to allow Aboriginal people the right to retain a lawyer. Prior to this it was unlawful for a lawyer to represent First Nation people.
It wasn't until the Constitution Act of 1982 that Aboriginal people were recognized. Section 25 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the so called non-derogation clause which recognizes Aboriginal rights and freedoms in the Royal Proclamation exist in land claims.
Aboriginal people are also recognized in Section 35 of the Constitution Act itself, which affirms the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights. The Indian Act is comprehensive in that it covers all aspects of Indian lives, including Section 6 which defines who qualifies to be an Indian.
The Indian Act under Sections 2-14 has never replaced Aboriginal Peoples rights to determine citizenship. Section 6 ( which identifies who is entitled to be registered as an Indian) is yet more Government interference, and clearly an attempt to "solve the Indian problem."
First Nations people have been challenged to sort out their citizenship, and present the Government with a membership/citizenship code to be filed in the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada offices in Ottawa.
So can the Aboriginal people of Canada exercise their right to self determination as put forth by Section 35 of the Constitution Act? Existing Aboriginal rights, which have never been extinguished, include the right to self government, and also include the right to determine citizenship.
Until the true significance of the Nation to Nation treaties are under stood by all, this promises to be herculean task facing the nations. We are a Nation within a Nation. Understanding the rights to self determination is difficult to say the least. Any First Nation who attempts to exercise their right will have to fight the government to create their own citizenship codes and have them recognized.
Each First Nation person in Canada is by law a citizen of Canada so the argument then is that, as a result each, individual is entitled to the rights in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the law of the Constitution of Canada.
Deciding citizenship codes promises to lead to fighting internally and externally. Governments will fight to keep the numbers down, and the First Nations may fall into this same trap. The only way is for the Nations to separate benefits from citizenship. It is of the utmost importance to be careful of what is requested from the courts and what is accepted.The validity of the treaties rests on the self determination and inherent authority of the first nation people. These treaties are what have seeded the land upon which all of Canada rests.
Assimilation, genocide...a rose by any other name...
regards Debra
Monday, September 7, 2009
First nations economy
Hi Friends
Today lets see if we can devise an economic plan, shall we?
Many First Nation communities are located miles from nowhere and this brings a plethora of problems. Most have no economy nor economic plans.
We therefore must be more creative than most.Though I'm no expert there are people who are. Economists, scientist, and horticulturists to consult. To do something about our circumstance seems to me at least preferable then awaiting the Governments limited and insulting aid.
I don't know how profitable they are but how about some wind farms on those wind swept shores, or how about some hydroponic green houses (no soil needed) for those 6-8 servings a day of fruits and vegetables the food guide suggests for our optimum health.
Our leadership must devise better ways for our people. Better than welfare, better than subsistence existence.
We as the first people of this land must have more insight into the natural gifts given to us by the Creator for our use and benefit. Eco tourism, health walks conducted by the elders, tastes of native cuisine prepared by our own people...
I've recently read the book Dances with Dependency, and the author got it right when he asked, "would our ancestors recognize us today?" How far we have been beaten down. Yes we have suffered, but the only way back from the brink is to take charge of our own recovery. Nobody else cares. Every one else is too focused on their own suffering to give a damn about us.
It's in our hands to raise our selves up. We can do this.
Shun the Indian Act and become the profits of our own good fortunes. Stop playing the white mans game. Stop the court challenges to win back limited (by the Indian Acts racist wording) freedoms. We can only be free by being our own authors. Then and only then do we stand a chance of moving the hearts and minds of others to our plight. It is more rewarding to back the under dog. It is better to have tried and failed then to vastly succeed at doing nothing at all. Let us - let our ancestors recognize us once more as the strong resourceful descendants of those who have gone before.
regards Debra
Today lets see if we can devise an economic plan, shall we?
Many First Nation communities are located miles from nowhere and this brings a plethora of problems. Most have no economy nor economic plans.
We therefore must be more creative than most.Though I'm no expert there are people who are. Economists, scientist, and horticulturists to consult. To do something about our circumstance seems to me at least preferable then awaiting the Governments limited and insulting aid.
I don't know how profitable they are but how about some wind farms on those wind swept shores, or how about some hydroponic green houses (no soil needed) for those 6-8 servings a day of fruits and vegetables the food guide suggests for our optimum health.
Our leadership must devise better ways for our people. Better than welfare, better than subsistence existence.
We as the first people of this land must have more insight into the natural gifts given to us by the Creator for our use and benefit. Eco tourism, health walks conducted by the elders, tastes of native cuisine prepared by our own people...
I've recently read the book Dances with Dependency, and the author got it right when he asked, "would our ancestors recognize us today?" How far we have been beaten down. Yes we have suffered, but the only way back from the brink is to take charge of our own recovery. Nobody else cares. Every one else is too focused on their own suffering to give a damn about us.
It's in our hands to raise our selves up. We can do this.
Shun the Indian Act and become the profits of our own good fortunes. Stop playing the white mans game. Stop the court challenges to win back limited (by the Indian Acts racist wording) freedoms. We can only be free by being our own authors. Then and only then do we stand a chance of moving the hearts and minds of others to our plight. It is more rewarding to back the under dog. It is better to have tried and failed then to vastly succeed at doing nothing at all. Let us - let our ancestors recognize us once more as the strong resourceful descendants of those who have gone before.
regards Debra
Friday, September 4, 2009
education edukation edukashun
Hi Friends
Today lets talk about education. The residential school issues have tainted the native communities trust in the education system.
Our children are leaving school under educated and unemployable. The first nations schools are in deplorable condition with no books, no computers, uncommitted teachers, and lets not forget to mention the moldering buildings.
The break down of the education system is not just a first nations issue. The Canadian education system has been under going changes for the last 30 years, and not for the better.
We need to wake up, and soon.
What is the job of the schools? Are they merely warehouses for children, day-care facilities indoctrinations centers? Is this truly what we want them to be? Shouldn't the schools be there to teach the children "how to think" not what to think?
Literacy of all sorts has suffered. The fact that there is a debate over the teaching of evolution vs creationism in this, the 21st. century tells me we have lost our way.
High school is not enough these days for the market. Most employers ask for post secondary diplomas.
In a revamped system, the students would have all their basics down by high school, and from that point on the focus could be on good citizenship, with civics and money management and other practical skills taught.
I do think there are some new topics that should be added to the curriculum, and some old ones put back.
We remove civics class from schools then expect the graduates of such a system to make an informed choice when it comes time to vote for the new government. I'm sure the governments don't mind, it's so much easier to lead the complacent then the informed.
Ask your self, could Stephen Harper have gotten away with lying to the Canadian public, calling a coalition government undemocratic, especially as we have already had one under Robert Borden.( he called his , Unionist) a coalition of Conservative and Liberal.
How many times have I heard, " math isn't my best subject,or I'm not good at math"( as to imply that its okay to be bad at math) yet it is arguably the most applied skill in life. Bill paying, cooking, etc.
Lets focus our efforts on getting our young people ready for real world issues.
Economic ( and not the "game theory" product of John Nash's fevered paranoid mind)...but real money management courses, and of course reading and writing with spelling and grammar.
Strangely gone missing in our current system.
Every politician, parent and agency of every kind all talk about how," our children are our future..."
Is this really true? Then I ask what kind of future are we setting them up for?
We do not let children fail any more because it might damage their psyches. Where is our concern for those same psyches when we send illiterates out into the world?
Lets have our children leading the next revolution, developing environmental technology, or discovering the medical break thoughs of tomorrow and stop being a brain drain around the world.
Do it for the children, our most valuable resource.
Today lets talk about education. The residential school issues have tainted the native communities trust in the education system.
Our children are leaving school under educated and unemployable. The first nations schools are in deplorable condition with no books, no computers, uncommitted teachers, and lets not forget to mention the moldering buildings.
The break down of the education system is not just a first nations issue. The Canadian education system has been under going changes for the last 30 years, and not for the better.
We need to wake up, and soon.
What is the job of the schools? Are they merely warehouses for children, day-care facilities indoctrinations centers? Is this truly what we want them to be? Shouldn't the schools be there to teach the children "how to think" not what to think?
Literacy of all sorts has suffered. The fact that there is a debate over the teaching of evolution vs creationism in this, the 21st. century tells me we have lost our way.
High school is not enough these days for the market. Most employers ask for post secondary diplomas.
In a revamped system, the students would have all their basics down by high school, and from that point on the focus could be on good citizenship, with civics and money management and other practical skills taught.
I do think there are some new topics that should be added to the curriculum, and some old ones put back.
We remove civics class from schools then expect the graduates of such a system to make an informed choice when it comes time to vote for the new government. I'm sure the governments don't mind, it's so much easier to lead the complacent then the informed.
Ask your self, could Stephen Harper have gotten away with lying to the Canadian public, calling a coalition government undemocratic, especially as we have already had one under Robert Borden.( he called his , Unionist) a coalition of Conservative and Liberal.
How many times have I heard, " math isn't my best subject,or I'm not good at math"( as to imply that its okay to be bad at math) yet it is arguably the most applied skill in life. Bill paying, cooking, etc.
Lets focus our efforts on getting our young people ready for real world issues.
Economic ( and not the "game theory" product of John Nash's fevered paranoid mind)...but real money management courses, and of course reading and writing with spelling and grammar.
Strangely gone missing in our current system.
Every politician, parent and agency of every kind all talk about how," our children are our future..."
Is this really true? Then I ask what kind of future are we setting them up for?
We do not let children fail any more because it might damage their psyches. Where is our concern for those same psyches when we send illiterates out into the world?
Lets have our children leading the next revolution, developing environmental technology, or discovering the medical break thoughs of tomorrow and stop being a brain drain around the world.
Do it for the children, our most valuable resource.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Who is a citizen?
Hi Friends
Today lets talk about First Nation citizens.
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has charged the Nations with defining just that.
The constitution Act defines 3 type of Aboriginal people, Indian, Metis, and Inuit but the latter two are not defined as Indian as per the Indian Act. Not all First Nation people have status nor do all First Nation people have membership in bands.
Under section 10 of the Indian Act bands can assume control of their own membership.
Part of this process is the formulation of their own rules or codes. As a result some status Indians will NOT be members of a band, While on the other hand some members of bands will NOT meet the requirements of registration under the Indian Act. Just as it is today.
Recognition of registered Indian Status by the Federal and Provincial Governments, have meant eligibility to a wide range of services and programs(by province, or territory) for those who meet the strict requirements of band membership as well as Indian status.
Historically, eligibility to status and membership have been controversial and complex. Over the years,there have been many rules deciding who is eligible for registration as an Indian under Indian Act rules.
What I've found out thus far about the various nations codes does nothing to eliminate these issues.
For example some nations have gone with two parent rule (both parents must be status 62s) some have adopted 50% blood quantum, and speak the language, much like Quebec's language laws,(put in place to preserve the language)-more on this topic at a later date,
and yet others have gone one parent, but then have attached such a variety of conditions as to make it even more prohibitive.
Come on you can't have it both ways people. You can't have bigger numbers to fight for the adherence to the treaties, but less people to share with.
Enter the Union of Ontario Indians. The Anishinabek Nation has named a commissioner to create a citizenship law for its 42 member First Nation.
The law proposed to do several things, chief among them, replace the concept of status with citizenship akin to those used by the worlds sovereign nations. Currently if your the grandchild of an out married women (native non-native marriage) you have no status.Where do these citizens belong? In a country of hyphenated citizens, where are they from?
The Anishinbek Nations solution is a law that will determine citizenship based on the linage of at least one grandparent.
Ambitious yes. Doable yes. To make it so, we need the full commitment of all the First Nations. A willingness to embrace your off reserve members and a determination to include the grand children of the enfranchised women. It is beyond the time when First Nations started looking at citizenship exactly as other Nations such as Canada does.
As in the Greek legend of Pandora's box, let us not let envy, greed, jealousy,and racism stand between us, and always remember that at the bottom of Pandora's box lay hope.
Today lets talk about First Nation citizens.
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has charged the Nations with defining just that.
The constitution Act defines 3 type of Aboriginal people, Indian, Metis, and Inuit but the latter two are not defined as Indian as per the Indian Act. Not all First Nation people have status nor do all First Nation people have membership in bands.
Under section 10 of the Indian Act bands can assume control of their own membership.
Part of this process is the formulation of their own rules or codes. As a result some status Indians will NOT be members of a band, While on the other hand some members of bands will NOT meet the requirements of registration under the Indian Act. Just as it is today.
Recognition of registered Indian Status by the Federal and Provincial Governments, have meant eligibility to a wide range of services and programs(by province, or territory) for those who meet the strict requirements of band membership as well as Indian status.
Historically, eligibility to status and membership have been controversial and complex. Over the years,there have been many rules deciding who is eligible for registration as an Indian under Indian Act rules.
What I've found out thus far about the various nations codes does nothing to eliminate these issues.
For example some nations have gone with two parent rule (both parents must be status 62s) some have adopted 50% blood quantum, and speak the language, much like Quebec's language laws,(put in place to preserve the language)-more on this topic at a later date,
and yet others have gone one parent, but then have attached such a variety of conditions as to make it even more prohibitive.
Come on you can't have it both ways people. You can't have bigger numbers to fight for the adherence to the treaties, but less people to share with.
Enter the Union of Ontario Indians. The Anishinabek Nation has named a commissioner to create a citizenship law for its 42 member First Nation.
The law proposed to do several things, chief among them, replace the concept of status with citizenship akin to those used by the worlds sovereign nations. Currently if your the grandchild of an out married women (native non-native marriage) you have no status.Where do these citizens belong? In a country of hyphenated citizens, where are they from?
The Anishinbek Nations solution is a law that will determine citizenship based on the linage of at least one grandparent.
Ambitious yes. Doable yes. To make it so, we need the full commitment of all the First Nations. A willingness to embrace your off reserve members and a determination to include the grand children of the enfranchised women. It is beyond the time when First Nations started looking at citizenship exactly as other Nations such as Canada does.
As in the Greek legend of Pandora's box, let us not let envy, greed, jealousy,and racism stand between us, and always remember that at the bottom of Pandora's box lay hope.
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