Hi Friends,
As you know I am an advocate of education, and have blogged about it in the past. From what I've been reading in the press of late it remains relevant and bears repeating so
here is the link.
The only thing I feel compelled to add to my previous entry is, in an increasingly technological society we absolutely need our youth to be computer savvy as well capable and literate adults. These goals of proficiency on all levels are attainable and, I would argue, necessary.
regards Debra
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Now Thats What I'm Talking About...
Hi Friends
At long last I have a story from the papers that I am overjoyed to bring to your attention. There is a First Nations Chief, (Chief Jack Mussell in Skwash B.C) who personifies what we all should be getting from our reserve leaders. Elected Chiefs and councils acting in the best interest of their communities. There are plenty, even the national daily papers had to concede that.
Their stories were all but ignored, save honorable mention, in their otherwise scathing reports of our dishonorable leaders. Who can blame the editors of these papers though; after all, scandal is what sells, especially anything to do with the Aboriginal communities.
Kudos to the Edmonton Journal for going against the tide in bringing us this story.
I share the good Chief's opinion - that we must now ride to our own rescue. Thank you chief Jack Mussell, for leading by example and setting a standard for others to strive for and, more than that, emulate.
Regards Debra
At long last I have a story from the papers that I am overjoyed to bring to your attention. There is a First Nations Chief, (Chief Jack Mussell in Skwash B.C) who personifies what we all should be getting from our reserve leaders. Elected Chiefs and councils acting in the best interest of their communities. There are plenty, even the national daily papers had to concede that.
Their stories were all but ignored, save honorable mention, in their otherwise scathing reports of our dishonorable leaders. Who can blame the editors of these papers though; after all, scandal is what sells, especially anything to do with the Aboriginal communities.
Kudos to the Edmonton Journal for going against the tide in bringing us this story.
I share the good Chief's opinion - that we must now ride to our own rescue. Thank you chief Jack Mussell, for leading by example and setting a standard for others to strive for and, more than that, emulate.
Regards Debra
Monday, November 8, 2010
INAC's Optimism...
Hi Friends
After a full week of investigative reports about the abysmal conditions found on the various reservations here in Canada, the minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development weighs in with his ...unique take on things.
His position is "I actually think there has been much progress, and I am not a pessimist. I think things are moving in a very good direction. I'm quite optimistic."
optimistic about what exactly, I'd like to know? The "final solution" to the Indian problem as set out on by the first minister of Indian Affairs, Duncan Campbell Scott, so many decades ago?" To me at lest this seems to be the reason for his, and this governments optimism.
This piece of drivel, from the minister responsible, after the investigative report on third world living conditions. This after the government has effectively shafted the Native Womens Association of Canada doling out more money and power to the police and banning the "Sisters in Spirit" moniker from getting any funding if they use that name???Whatever could be the reason for that?Was it because the NWAC has done such a good job of branding for this very worthy cause, and that maybe the Canadian as well as the international press have noticed and reported on it? Femicide=Genocide.
While The Star was reporting on reserves here in Ontario, the Winnipeg Free Press was also running stories about conditions on their reserves.Is this any way for any one to live?
I am sure even our most hardened among us would agree that this is an unconscionable treatment for a government to indulge in towards any segment of their society. Who indeed would wish these living conditions on any one? Can Minster Duncan's optimism be correctly guessed as the ability of a segment of Canadian society's ability to not survive these abysmal conditions much longer, and that he will have indeed finally solved the "Indian Problem?"
We the Indigenous people are in an undeclared war with this country's colonizer governments to this very day. To live cheek to jowl in these horrific conditions with the colonizers who to this day reap obscene profits from the theft of your country is nothing less than criminal. I assert that Canada's government is engaging in war crimes against the Native people here, and they should be charged with these crimes against humanity, and held accountable.
I sincerely hope this is not just my opinion!
regards Debra
After a full week of investigative reports about the abysmal conditions found on the various reservations here in Canada, the minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development weighs in with his ...unique take on things.
His position is "I actually think there has been much progress, and I am not a pessimist. I think things are moving in a very good direction. I'm quite optimistic."
optimistic about what exactly, I'd like to know? The "final solution" to the Indian problem as set out on by the first minister of Indian Affairs, Duncan Campbell Scott, so many decades ago?" To me at lest this seems to be the reason for his, and this governments optimism.
This piece of drivel, from the minister responsible, after the investigative report on third world living conditions. This after the government has effectively shafted the Native Womens Association of Canada doling out more money and power to the police and banning the "Sisters in Spirit" moniker from getting any funding if they use that name???Whatever could be the reason for that?Was it because the NWAC has done such a good job of branding for this very worthy cause, and that maybe the Canadian as well as the international press have noticed and reported on it? Femicide=Genocide.
While The Star was reporting on reserves here in Ontario, the Winnipeg Free Press was also running stories about conditions on their reserves.Is this any way for any one to live?
I am sure even our most hardened among us would agree that this is an unconscionable treatment for a government to indulge in towards any segment of their society. Who indeed would wish these living conditions on any one? Can Minster Duncan's optimism be correctly guessed as the ability of a segment of Canadian society's ability to not survive these abysmal conditions much longer, and that he will have indeed finally solved the "Indian Problem?"
We the Indigenous people are in an undeclared war with this country's colonizer governments to this very day. To live cheek to jowl in these horrific conditions with the colonizers who to this day reap obscene profits from the theft of your country is nothing less than criminal. I assert that Canada's government is engaging in war crimes against the Native people here, and they should be charged with these crimes against humanity, and held accountable.
I sincerely hope this is not just my opinion!
regards Debra
Monday, November 1, 2010
Crab-Pot Mentality
Hi Friends
The investigative reporting via the Toronto Star goes on. Today the reporter has chosen to highlight the successful Nations with their casinos and casino royalties, which they have shared amongst themselves. Oh wait a minute thats not really the story is it?
This is the story of how after months of bidding on the site for a casino, that would be bringing a much need economy to the communities, it was awarded to NOT the highest bidder, but to the community who would give away the highest share of the profits to other First Nations communities. Rama offered a high 20% share of the profits and was awarded the casino.
Now for a little back story to all of this. The nineteen nineties were heady times for Indigenous peoples here in Canada. The Oka Crisis had just happened and the government of the day had just set up the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples...it seemed at last that the Nations were united, and not just that, but the government of Canada recognized it and would be looking into ways to bring the Native populations into the fold.
The AFN asked the various Aboriginal communities, to solidify these good feelings of solidarity, by choosing a word in each of their own languages that best described their communities and incorporate these monikers into their community identities. Rama became Mnjikaning (in honour of the fish fence that defines the community). It was during these feel good times that the casino deal was made.
Then as the saying goes, money changes everything. The various ins and outs of this deal, and ultimately what has been perceived as to what went wrong can all be found on the internet, and, the comments sections of any Aboriginal blog sites, and so on. To say that things soured would be an understatement. Rama was sued, by their 133 other First Nations partners, and in retaliation pulled out of the Union of Ontario Indians (of which they were members) and opted to drop the AFN directive of the community name, in favor of Chippewas of Rama.
I'll ask here, are we incapable of alliances? The answer, hell no! We are the members of one of the oldest confederacies on this continent. We are known as the Council of the Three Fires. The union of the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi confederacy. What could have, should have and would have been done with intelligent experienced leadership, can only be speculated on now.
There is a story in First Nation communities that goes like this. There is a pot full of crabs. Singly the crabs could easily escape the pot, but instead they grab at each other to keep them from escaping, which ensures their collective demise.
So now I'll leave it to you to decide...was this INAC meddling, or Indian Act interference or was it crab pot thinking that brought about this shameful state of affairs?
regards Debra
The investigative reporting via the Toronto Star goes on. Today the reporter has chosen to highlight the successful Nations with their casinos and casino royalties, which they have shared amongst themselves. Oh wait a minute thats not really the story is it?
This is the story of how after months of bidding on the site for a casino, that would be bringing a much need economy to the communities, it was awarded to NOT the highest bidder, but to the community who would give away the highest share of the profits to other First Nations communities. Rama offered a high 20% share of the profits and was awarded the casino.
Now for a little back story to all of this. The nineteen nineties were heady times for Indigenous peoples here in Canada. The Oka Crisis had just happened and the government of the day had just set up the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples...it seemed at last that the Nations were united, and not just that, but the government of Canada recognized it and would be looking into ways to bring the Native populations into the fold.
The AFN asked the various Aboriginal communities, to solidify these good feelings of solidarity, by choosing a word in each of their own languages that best described their communities and incorporate these monikers into their community identities. Rama became Mnjikaning (in honour of the fish fence that defines the community). It was during these feel good times that the casino deal was made.
Then as the saying goes, money changes everything. The various ins and outs of this deal, and ultimately what has been perceived as to what went wrong can all be found on the internet, and, the comments sections of any Aboriginal blog sites, and so on. To say that things soured would be an understatement. Rama was sued, by their 133 other First Nations partners, and in retaliation pulled out of the Union of Ontario Indians (of which they were members) and opted to drop the AFN directive of the community name, in favor of Chippewas of Rama.
I'll ask here, are we incapable of alliances? The answer, hell no! We are the members of one of the oldest confederacies on this continent. We are known as the Council of the Three Fires. The union of the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi confederacy. What could have, should have and would have been done with intelligent experienced leadership, can only be speculated on now.
There is a story in First Nation communities that goes like this. There is a pot full of crabs. Singly the crabs could easily escape the pot, but instead they grab at each other to keep them from escaping, which ensures their collective demise.
So now I'll leave it to you to decide...was this INAC meddling, or Indian Act interference or was it crab pot thinking that brought about this shameful state of affairs?
regards Debra
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