Cautionary Tale of Tom-foolery

Hi Friends
I've been consumed with the taxing efforts of the Ontario government, of the Indigenous peoples here. This is not to say that there haven't been a myriad of other First Nations issues to opine about.
Just yesterday in the Toronto Star was an article of interest for me and all other First Nations people.

Yeah...I believe Tom Flanagan is concerned about the impoverished First Nations in this country.

Yes this is Mr. Harper's mentor and the author of the racist ramblings "First Nations, Second Thoughts"
What a turn around in thinking. I wonder why? He grew a heart?... at his age? He's been visited by three ghosts...ala Scrooge in a Christmas Carol? I hope I'm not being too wary here, but lets look at all the possible ramifications of his radical plan, shall we?

True Toronto doesn't lose the land base when he (Flanagan) buys a lot, but then, Toronto isn't considered a Nation with in this Nation Canada is it? The fact is, there are many poor people in the GTA who have this right to own property, yet do not, now, nor will they ever be able to own property. Has this made it easier on them to alleviate their impoverished circumstances? Of course not. How will this be so for First Nations citizens then?

Just the idea of one nation asking another one for "title" of it own land is patently ridicules. Did America ask Canada for its land base, or Mexico ask America...
What does Flanagan think the land claims process is all about? We own the lands, not them.
Property rights for some cultures are around the out right ownership. Here in Canada the property rights only extend to usage, but not exclusively to the title holder. We only have to look at Ipperwash Provincial Park, and the situation around that issue.
What happened was in 1942 under the war measures act the Government of Canada appropriated the land of the Stoney Point Reserve. This was to be returned to the band once the war was over and no military instillation was judged to be of use at the site. This is around the Canadian property laws where all land in Canada is judged to be owned by the crown.
Ownership of land can be held separately from ownership of rights over that land, as was the case in Ipperwash.

The reserves here in Canada do not have economies to engage the populations and this leaves a large number on social assistance. To qualify for welfare of any kind you can not own property. So the peoples only options would be to either have to either sell or rent or starve. Their properties could then be sold off to non-aboriginals and the land base of the Nations lost. In the cases of corp. take overs, the corporation need only lend money (given you have real property, you now have collateral) and they have an avenue of exploitation of reserve lands.

Could this be the reason for Mr. Flanagan's deep concern for the First Nations of this country? I could be wrong, but I think this is just another of his attempts in his quest at assimilation of the First Nations in this country.
Regards Debra

Newly minted Indians... coming soon...to a rez near you!

Hi Friends
The First Nations communities are facing an influx of about 45,000 new members added to the status lists within the next few months. Good news, bad news.

This is a redressing of the second generation cut off, and it will keep the numbers of our citizenry up, for the time being, but is it a true fix? It still remains a made in Canada Government fix. This is still a colonialist policy that ultimately goes toward the assimilation of the Indigenous peoples.

Within two generations the Indigenous First Nations will be effectively wiped out by this policy. The dominant society is still setting the rules as to who is a citizen of the First Nation.

It is imperative that the First Nations utilize the constitutional provision set out in section 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act and make their (and here I'll say citizenship) codes to protect their rights to name their own citizens, or face legislated extinction.

In the mean time lets congratulate the heroic women that we owe such deep gratitude to, Jeanette-Corbiere-Laval and Sharon McIvor. Teach your children these names and give our youth and especially our girls a sense of pride in these women and their great accomplishments, taken on at enormous expense personally and financially to the benefit of all the nations. These cases started out as personal trials, but quickly morphed into something much bigger and they stood their ground on behalf of all the women of the various First Nations. They quite simply personify the best in us.

regards debra

better late than never

Hi Friends
The First Nations in Ontario are about to embark on a protest in effort to halt the imposing of the HST on their citizens. Since I am an off reserve citizen, I do indeed pay taxes. Income tax as well as property taxes. In the immigration hand books the government states, that First Nations, of this country do not pay taxes.
Lying by omission is still lying.

The truth is many members of any First Nation pay taxes. If they live or work off their reserve, and ( I think the number is 70% of most reserve populations live and or work off their territory,) I would say then that we as Nations have been being taxed for quite some time.

Right about here I wonder aloud, where is our First Nations leadership? Where is our representation from the AFN? Who is ultimately responsible for protecting the rights of those members living off reserve? Our rights are diminished by our addresses. Does that sound right or fair?

As to my personal feelings about this tax, my position is that the Nations are a day late and a dollar short on this issue. The Canadian government can truthfully claim they have been taxing the First Nations of this country for the past twenty five years (at least) and no one sought to protest then. Some hard truths just don't lend themselves to sugar coating.

But, in conclusion, I'll say it is still better late than never.

regards Debra