Hi Friends
As another year draws to a close and the fall harvest has once again been gathered and stored away for the coming winter months I feel compelled to relate a small story to you in celebration of Thanksgiving.
Now I am well aware of the history revisionists versions of this holiday and have even heard my own Nations bemoaning any celebrations of this time of year. I see it somewhat differently though. Thanksgiving was celebrated here many years before the arrival of the white man, on these, the shores of Turtle Island. This was a harvesting time as well as a meeting and trading time for our people, as everyone prepared for the long winter months ahead. Goods were exchanged and stories told, and I imagine great fun was had by all at this time. So in the spirit of our ancestors, enjoy your feasts and your stories. Now allow me to share a story that means a lot to me.
It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a new Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets, and when he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his people that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared. But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked,
"Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded.
So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again.
"Is it going to be a very cold winter?"
"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter."
The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again.
"Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"
"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's going to be one of the coldest winters ever."
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.
The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting wood like crazy!"
On that note, have your self a wonderful time this Thanksgiving Day holiday week-end, and surround yourselves with warmth and laughter, good times shared with family and friends!
regards Debra
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
History 101
Hi Friends
Well it is autumn once again and as I have taken a significant break from blogging I feel it is time once again to get back to it and will be taking a look at any gains we may have made and re-examining others.
Sadly there seems to be NO major changes for the First people of this land, and I find my self once again opining on some pretty obvious short comings of our, shall I call them, "settler societies"? Educating Canadians of their governments' duplicitous nature as regards the First Nation, is not something that I take lightly.
Lets start from the ground up.Please don't decry the spending of tax-dollars on Aboriginal reserves...this is not your tax dollars, but could be more characterized as rental fees.
By the way you're late on your rent, and as you have partied here on our shared lands for centuries, and have caused nearly irreparable damage, we are now going to have to come to some agreement on a damage deposit.
The hostile acts you have perpetrated on our First Nations people here will be another thing we will need to be addressing. The wiping out of the Beotuk Nation is just the start. The genocide you initiated along with the undeclared war on my ancestors that continues unabated to this day will need to be examined!
But thats another blog.
regards Debra
Well it is autumn once again and as I have taken a significant break from blogging I feel it is time once again to get back to it and will be taking a look at any gains we may have made and re-examining others.
Sadly there seems to be NO major changes for the First people of this land, and I find my self once again opining on some pretty obvious short comings of our, shall I call them, "settler societies"? Educating Canadians of their governments' duplicitous nature as regards the First Nation, is not something that I take lightly.
Lets start from the ground up.Please don't decry the spending of tax-dollars on Aboriginal reserves...this is not your tax dollars, but could be more characterized as rental fees.
By the way you're late on your rent, and as you have partied here on our shared lands for centuries, and have caused nearly irreparable damage, we are now going to have to come to some agreement on a damage deposit.
The hostile acts you have perpetrated on our First Nations people here will be another thing we will need to be addressing. The wiping out of the Beotuk Nation is just the start. The genocide you initiated along with the undeclared war on my ancestors that continues unabated to this day will need to be examined!
But thats another blog.
regards Debra
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Stand up...
Hi Friends
Though it has been a while since my last post, many things have been going on in Canada as well as in Indian country. In the near future I hope to be back on blogger and back to opining on these and many other stories. Today though I want to mention the up coming Ontario provincial elections.
Federal, municipal, and now provincial elections have taken, or are about to take place. Next it will be time once again for the First Nations to hold their elections. During these heady times leading up to one or another election, there are always promises made, only to be broken. Politicians are willing liars with short term memories. Knowing this fact, allows me to view politics, and by extension politicians in a rather different light than some others in the Aboriginal community.
Now as I have said I live and work off reserve and alway have. I am the daughter of an enfranchised Indigenous mother. I am also in an age group to have been witness to many struggles for recognition of Indians and Indian rights. Sovereignty is one, and though our treaties were signed between sovereign nations, we are decades away (and some may say even longer) from having our sovereignty back. I also recognize the corner we have been painted into by the legislators, via the "Indian Act" and though we have recourse through the Canadian constitution (section 35) to one day get back to that through "self government" we live today in this system.
Many in the Aboriginal community are upset and angry with the politicians for failing to recognize us and our struggles, during their election runs. It is pointed out, correctly, that we here in Ontario are one of the largest Aboriginal populations in the country. Yet none of the parties running here in Ontario have even mentioned Aboriginals or our struggles, in any way in their platforms.
This is not surprising to me, nor should it be to other Aboriginals in the province. We don't vote, so why would the politicians bother to court us? In this respect we as Nations resemble the spoiled child wanting to make up the rules of the game, or else we might threaten to take our ball and go home! Only thing being, we are not in the position of doing that or even threatening it. We don't own the ball. We are unfortunately at the bottom of the heap...in so very many ways that our petulant foot stompings are recognized as just that, by the politicians, and we are no closer to being taken seriously then the spoiled child previously mentioned.
The majority of any First Nation community lives off reserve, and it can be argued that for the off reserve as well as on reserve members to ignore non-Aboriginal elections, only hurts us all in the long run.
It is an established fact that our citizens are over represented in the penal system of this country. It is also a fact that there are not enough Aboriginals on the juries, or in the jury pool. Do we have some responsibility for this situation, well yes some, and here is why!
Jurors are selected from a jury pool formed for a specified period of time—usually from one day to two weeks—from lists of citizens living in the jurisdiction of the court. The lists may be electoral rolls (i.e., a list of registered voters in the locale), people who have driver's licenses or other relevant data bases.
This is only one good reason to vote, and why I encourage other First Nations citizens to get out and vote. I also want to have a say in policies that will affect me, no matter where I happen to live, or what specific community I am identified with.
This is not assimilated thinking as some will undoubtedly accuse me of, but more a realistic view of what many already know, and many more of us will find out. The off reserve populations face yet another growth jump via the Sharon McIvor court ruling. This is also a good thing for the First Nations as we move forward in our efforts to assert our sovereignty. These newly recognized First Nations members will undoubtedly bring more to their communities than just numbers. They will be bring hope, creativity, education, and intelligence to help lift the Nations up. These are exciting times for the Aboriginal communities as we welcome our blood-lines home.
This is also a cautionary time for us. We must be full participants where ever possible to stem the tide of wasted lives of our youth as they face overwhelming odds in the Canadian court systems, with a punitive Prime Minister in office, with punitive crime legislation about to be introduced. Addressing the poverty and criminality in our communities takes more than hoping for an awakening of the hearts and minds of Canadians, but our being there to speak up when need be for our fellow Indigenous people.
Remember, when we don't speak for ourselves we run the risk of having some one else speak for us, and isn't that how the residential school fiasco was characterized?
Excerpt from the residential school apology delivered in Parliament by Stephen Harper
.."These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, `to kill the Indian in the child.' Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country." June,2008
Something to think about during this up-coming provincial election.
regards Debra
Though it has been a while since my last post, many things have been going on in Canada as well as in Indian country. In the near future I hope to be back on blogger and back to opining on these and many other stories. Today though I want to mention the up coming Ontario provincial elections.
Federal, municipal, and now provincial elections have taken, or are about to take place. Next it will be time once again for the First Nations to hold their elections. During these heady times leading up to one or another election, there are always promises made, only to be broken. Politicians are willing liars with short term memories. Knowing this fact, allows me to view politics, and by extension politicians in a rather different light than some others in the Aboriginal community.
Now as I have said I live and work off reserve and alway have. I am the daughter of an enfranchised Indigenous mother. I am also in an age group to have been witness to many struggles for recognition of Indians and Indian rights. Sovereignty is one, and though our treaties were signed between sovereign nations, we are decades away (and some may say even longer) from having our sovereignty back. I also recognize the corner we have been painted into by the legislators, via the "Indian Act" and though we have recourse through the Canadian constitution (section 35) to one day get back to that through "self government" we live today in this system.
Many in the Aboriginal community are upset and angry with the politicians for failing to recognize us and our struggles, during their election runs. It is pointed out, correctly, that we here in Ontario are one of the largest Aboriginal populations in the country. Yet none of the parties running here in Ontario have even mentioned Aboriginals or our struggles, in any way in their platforms.
This is not surprising to me, nor should it be to other Aboriginals in the province. We don't vote, so why would the politicians bother to court us? In this respect we as Nations resemble the spoiled child wanting to make up the rules of the game, or else we might threaten to take our ball and go home! Only thing being, we are not in the position of doing that or even threatening it. We don't own the ball. We are unfortunately at the bottom of the heap...in so very many ways that our petulant foot stompings are recognized as just that, by the politicians, and we are no closer to being taken seriously then the spoiled child previously mentioned.
The majority of any First Nation community lives off reserve, and it can be argued that for the off reserve as well as on reserve members to ignore non-Aboriginal elections, only hurts us all in the long run.
It is an established fact that our citizens are over represented in the penal system of this country. It is also a fact that there are not enough Aboriginals on the juries, or in the jury pool. Do we have some responsibility for this situation, well yes some, and here is why!
Jurors are selected from a jury pool formed for a specified period of time—usually from one day to two weeks—from lists of citizens living in the jurisdiction of the court. The lists may be electoral rolls (i.e., a list of registered voters in the locale), people who have driver's licenses or other relevant data bases.
This is only one good reason to vote, and why I encourage other First Nations citizens to get out and vote. I also want to have a say in policies that will affect me, no matter where I happen to live, or what specific community I am identified with.
This is not assimilated thinking as some will undoubtedly accuse me of, but more a realistic view of what many already know, and many more of us will find out. The off reserve populations face yet another growth jump via the Sharon McIvor court ruling. This is also a good thing for the First Nations as we move forward in our efforts to assert our sovereignty. These newly recognized First Nations members will undoubtedly bring more to their communities than just numbers. They will be bring hope, creativity, education, and intelligence to help lift the Nations up. These are exciting times for the Aboriginal communities as we welcome our blood-lines home.
This is also a cautionary time for us. We must be full participants where ever possible to stem the tide of wasted lives of our youth as they face overwhelming odds in the Canadian court systems, with a punitive Prime Minister in office, with punitive crime legislation about to be introduced. Addressing the poverty and criminality in our communities takes more than hoping for an awakening of the hearts and minds of Canadians, but our being there to speak up when need be for our fellow Indigenous people.
Remember, when we don't speak for ourselves we run the risk of having some one else speak for us, and isn't that how the residential school fiasco was characterized?
Excerpt from the residential school apology delivered in Parliament by Stephen Harper
.."These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, `to kill the Indian in the child.' Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country." June,2008
Something to think about during this up-coming provincial election.
regards Debra
Friday, July 1, 2011
Red and White... Canada Day...
Hi Friends
Today is Canada day,. and as is the case, with some holidays here in this country, there is both positive and negative reasons connected to the acknowledgement of the day for me.
I am from both sides of this coin. This is the usual circumstance for any one of mixed heritage I suspect.
If not for the colonization of this country I would not be here. If not for the abusive nature of the English Crown towards both sides of my parents heritages, their story that would not have happened.
The sad story of an *unabated* attempted genocide of my mothers people, as well as the merciless treatment of my father's ancestors, is all, within the interwoven fabric of this country, and its holidays.
As my mothers daughter I am anguished at the treatment of the Indigenous people from contact onward. These same colonizers, were also responsible for the indentured servitude of my father's father. My mother was an Indigenous woman, and my father's side of the family were what were known as *Home Children* or more correctly, impoverished orphans rounded up and sent out of England, to the colonies as indentured servants.
This would make you think that I should hold no fond feelings for this day. This could not be further from the truth. I have traveled the entire breadth of this country, and have been witness to many hopeful struggles of both the Indigenous peoples, as well as newly immigrated Canadians.
I have also seen the majesty and rugged beauty of all of this country has to offer, and this is what I celebrate on Canada Day...not the politics or the political past but the hopeful imagined future we could all share in, in the beauteous surroundings we all have access to.
Happy Canada Day
regards Debra
Today is Canada day,. and as is the case, with some holidays here in this country, there is both positive and negative reasons connected to the acknowledgement of the day for me.
I am from both sides of this coin. This is the usual circumstance for any one of mixed heritage I suspect.
If not for the colonization of this country I would not be here. If not for the abusive nature of the English Crown towards both sides of my parents heritages, their story that would not have happened.
The sad story of an *unabated* attempted genocide of my mothers people, as well as the merciless treatment of my father's ancestors, is all, within the interwoven fabric of this country, and its holidays.
As my mothers daughter I am anguished at the treatment of the Indigenous people from contact onward. These same colonizers, were also responsible for the indentured servitude of my father's father. My mother was an Indigenous woman, and my father's side of the family were what were known as *Home Children* or more correctly, impoverished orphans rounded up and sent out of England, to the colonies as indentured servants.
This would make you think that I should hold no fond feelings for this day. This could not be further from the truth. I have traveled the entire breadth of this country, and have been witness to many hopeful struggles of both the Indigenous peoples, as well as newly immigrated Canadians.
I have also seen the majesty and rugged beauty of all of this country has to offer, and this is what I celebrate on Canada Day...not the politics or the political past but the hopeful imagined future we could all share in, in the beauteous surroundings we all have access to.
Happy Canada Day
regards Debra
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Aboriginal days, and The Pow-Wow Trail
Hi Friends
This will just be a short post to wish all a happy Aboriginal days, and safe travels on the Pow-Wow trail.
This time of year our communities get together for the warm wonderful times and celebrations of Pow-Wows and other summer time pursuits. Winter is over, and the spring time plantings are in, and as we await the autumn harvest, and in the lazy days of summer, the Pow-Wow trail beckons.
Here let me encourage all my off reserve *C-31 & C-3* cousins,to get out and embrace your culture. Join us at the scared fire and on the Pow-Wow grounds and get set to awaken your Indian spirits.
The pageantry of the opening parade with the dancers arriving in full regalia; the vendor's booths set up with typical event merchandise and authors doing book signings; the entire community abuzz with activity.
Drums, beating out the heart-beat of our mother Earth, voices raised in honour songs, jingles on the jingle dresses, and bells on the ankles and the regalia of the fancy dancers all competing for attention. Teasing and laughter from all corners of the grounds, and the hand drums and the round dances calling for the participation of all. Who but the most sour among us could not have a good time in this festive atmosphere.
This is also a time to visit the scared fires and make your semaa (tobacco, tied up in red cloth) offerings for the ancestors. This too is an intrinsic part of Pow-Wow. In honor and loving memory of those who have been before.
Indian tacos, and corn soup, fried baloney sandwiches and all other manner of First Nation *cuisine* is there to be sampled.
I don't have to remind you to have a good time! We all just do, when we get our dance on and relax around our own...
Little wonder the *settlers* were so (un)settled by our exuberance at these celebrations. Poor bastards never knew what fun could be had, and got all nervous...still do I'll bet!
I won't be posting for a while, as I will be getting out to as many Pow-Wows as I can make it to, and having a good time going to not just my own Nations but other Nations Pow-Wow celebrations.
Renewing my spirit, for the months ahead.
Happy Aboriginal Days and safe Pow-Wow trails to all..
Regards
Debra
This will just be a short post to wish all a happy Aboriginal days, and safe travels on the Pow-Wow trail.
This time of year our communities get together for the warm wonderful times and celebrations of Pow-Wows and other summer time pursuits. Winter is over, and the spring time plantings are in, and as we await the autumn harvest, and in the lazy days of summer, the Pow-Wow trail beckons.
Here let me encourage all my off reserve *C-31 & C-3* cousins,to get out and embrace your culture. Join us at the scared fire and on the Pow-Wow grounds and get set to awaken your Indian spirits.
The pageantry of the opening parade with the dancers arriving in full regalia; the vendor's booths set up with typical event merchandise and authors doing book signings; the entire community abuzz with activity.
Drums, beating out the heart-beat of our mother Earth, voices raised in honour songs, jingles on the jingle dresses, and bells on the ankles and the regalia of the fancy dancers all competing for attention. Teasing and laughter from all corners of the grounds, and the hand drums and the round dances calling for the participation of all. Who but the most sour among us could not have a good time in this festive atmosphere.
This is also a time to visit the scared fires and make your semaa (tobacco, tied up in red cloth) offerings for the ancestors. This too is an intrinsic part of Pow-Wow. In honor and loving memory of those who have been before.
Indian tacos, and corn soup, fried baloney sandwiches and all other manner of First Nation *cuisine* is there to be sampled.
I don't have to remind you to have a good time! We all just do, when we get our dance on and relax around our own...
Little wonder the *settlers* were so (un)settled by our exuberance at these celebrations. Poor bastards never knew what fun could be had, and got all nervous...still do I'll bet!
I won't be posting for a while, as I will be getting out to as many Pow-Wows as I can make it to, and having a good time going to not just my own Nations but other Nations Pow-Wow celebrations.
Renewing my spirit, for the months ahead.
Happy Aboriginal Days and safe Pow-Wow trails to all..
Regards
Debra
Saturday, June 4, 2011
(Reform)ing Canada...
Hi Friends,
Now that Harper and the conservatives have their majority they have plans of introducing many of their more unpopular policies. One of the most unpopular ones has to be the tough on crime bills, known to be wholly unnecessary, given the irrefutable evidence of crime trending downward. With their newly won majority government, it remains to be seen if they will be exercising much restraint, or, as promised in his election night speech, *a government for ALL Canadians, not just the ones who voted for the conservatives.*
Mr. Harper is a man who likes to play shell games, with policies. He has proven to be a master manipulator of parliamentary rules and has in the past played fast and loose with democracy. Do I see him changing his ways? Not really.
This is concerning to me and doubtlessly many others when he is about to take on the governing of our country with an unfettered hand. Some things to remember about Harper is he is a former reformer with their extreme right wing philosophies. He is also a fundamentalist christian, with their creationist, beliefs, and last but not least an arrogant control freak.
His religious beliefs are a concern, as he has incorporated them into his governing style. Science and fact are out the window, replaced by faith and opinion.
Canada's scientific research, and researchers of all kinds have had their funding quietly slashed, and even more disquietingly in the speech from the throne, the conservative government has added that it will be funding a new political entity: "religious freedom". Could this be a nod to the immigrant community vote ...or some thing more sinister, you be the judge
Other policies about to be resurrected by the Harper conservative government are the *tough on crime* legislation, to be introduced within the first one-hundred days. Long gun registry, scrapped, minimum sentencing introduced, and longer wait times for pardons...they already took away the (two for one) credit for time served. The Aboriginal community is very nervous over thisfor obvious reasons.
I was heartened to see a segment of Canadian society thought this alarming enough to protest the throne speech.Brigette DePape showed her distrust of this man and his policies for all of the country to see! Can we as a country hold the conservatives to their promise to govern with us all in mind? Will our M.Ps be voting their conscience, or as in the conservative parties constitution, be admonished to support their leader? I have a conservative M.P in my riding, so I will be calling on him to represent me, NOT Stephen Harper's wishes. Can I really know if I am being represented? No.
The Order of Canada was just given out last week, and on this civilian medal is the Latin motto:Desiderantes Meliorem Patrian, (translation) "They Desire a Better Country"
So do I.
Regards Debra
Now that Harper and the conservatives have their majority they have plans of introducing many of their more unpopular policies. One of the most unpopular ones has to be the tough on crime bills, known to be wholly unnecessary, given the irrefutable evidence of crime trending downward. With their newly won majority government, it remains to be seen if they will be exercising much restraint, or, as promised in his election night speech, *a government for ALL Canadians, not just the ones who voted for the conservatives.*
Mr. Harper is a man who likes to play shell games, with policies. He has proven to be a master manipulator of parliamentary rules and has in the past played fast and loose with democracy. Do I see him changing his ways? Not really.
This is concerning to me and doubtlessly many others when he is about to take on the governing of our country with an unfettered hand. Some things to remember about Harper is he is a former reformer with their extreme right wing philosophies. He is also a fundamentalist christian, with their creationist, beliefs, and last but not least an arrogant control freak.
His religious beliefs are a concern, as he has incorporated them into his governing style. Science and fact are out the window, replaced by faith and opinion.
Canada's scientific research, and researchers of all kinds have had their funding quietly slashed, and even more disquietingly in the speech from the throne, the conservative government has added that it will be funding a new political entity: "religious freedom". Could this be a nod to the immigrant community vote ...or some thing more sinister, you be the judge
Other policies about to be resurrected by the Harper conservative government are the *tough on crime* legislation, to be introduced within the first one-hundred days. Long gun registry, scrapped, minimum sentencing introduced, and longer wait times for pardons...they already took away the (two for one) credit for time served. The Aboriginal community is very nervous over thisfor obvious reasons.
I was heartened to see a segment of Canadian society thought this alarming enough to protest the throne speech.Brigette DePape showed her distrust of this man and his policies for all of the country to see! Can we as a country hold the conservatives to their promise to govern with us all in mind? Will our M.Ps be voting their conscience, or as in the conservative parties constitution, be admonished to support their leader? I have a conservative M.P in my riding, so I will be calling on him to represent me, NOT Stephen Harper's wishes. Can I really know if I am being represented? No.
The Order of Canada was just given out last week, and on this civilian medal is the Latin motto:Desiderantes Meliorem Patrian, (translation) "They Desire a Better Country"
So do I.
Regards Debra
Thursday, May 19, 2011
One People... One Nation... One Leader
Hi Friends
Well the new parliament is about to resume, and the re-elected Prime Minister has re-Christened Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada..
Many in the Indigenous communities are wondering just what this may mean. The government's official response is: the new name makes the department more inclusive of the Innu and Metis as well as the Indians.( One major problem with this thinking is, the other two groups of Indigenous people do not have treaties with the crown, and thus do not have the same relationship that the Indians have.)
I too have my own misgivings over this latest turn by the Harper Conservative government.
Mr. Harper is a former reform party member, who had as it's stated agenda; "One Canada for all." The Reform were always anti-Indian, and the special relationship the First Nations have with the crown. They had actively campaigned on assimilation of all Indians, and an end to the treaties.
We are to become all equal, under his leadership, as to him the Indigenous people having a recognized and unique status here has never sat well. First Nations have been called everything from a drain on the public purse, to communists by the Reform. His right hand man, Tom Flanagan and the Calgary school, were and still are a great influences on him, and his policies.
Prime Minister Harper has never had the luxury of a majority rule before, and this has been a good thing. This is not the case now.
This election has been a game changer in a very frightening way. We here in Canada have lost our three party system, and have been reduced to a two party governance model. The media/corporate Canada has handed a majority to the Harpercons and as the dust settles we are all left to see just how this will change Canada. (Nor am I the only one in my community seeing dark days ahead for the First Nations people.)
I am not a conservative supporter, nor am I a fan of Mr. Harper, and his ideologies. Even with the steading hand of the opposition he was very much one to push his own agenda, and I see no chance of him ever becoming a moderate in his leadership style. That the press would not present an unbiased accounting, has made the entire process of an election laughable at best and has cast them as co-conspirators at worst. I condemn them for the huge dis-service they have done to the voters, and the country as a whole. This is what happens when the robber barons take charge of the press and they lose their freedoms.
As a well known German once said. Ein volk. Ein reich. Ein fuhrer!
At least that is how some of us in the Indigenous community are seeing things. Lets hope we are wrong!
Regards Debra
Well the new parliament is about to resume, and the re-elected Prime Minister has re-Christened Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada..
Many in the Indigenous communities are wondering just what this may mean. The government's official response is: the new name makes the department more inclusive of the Innu and Metis as well as the Indians.( One major problem with this thinking is, the other two groups of Indigenous people do not have treaties with the crown, and thus do not have the same relationship that the Indians have.)
I too have my own misgivings over this latest turn by the Harper Conservative government.
Mr. Harper is a former reform party member, who had as it's stated agenda; "One Canada for all." The Reform were always anti-Indian, and the special relationship the First Nations have with the crown. They had actively campaigned on assimilation of all Indians, and an end to the treaties.
We are to become all equal, under his leadership, as to him the Indigenous people having a recognized and unique status here has never sat well. First Nations have been called everything from a drain on the public purse, to communists by the Reform. His right hand man, Tom Flanagan and the Calgary school, were and still are a great influences on him, and his policies.
Prime Minister Harper has never had the luxury of a majority rule before, and this has been a good thing. This is not the case now.
This election has been a game changer in a very frightening way. We here in Canada have lost our three party system, and have been reduced to a two party governance model. The media/corporate Canada has handed a majority to the Harpercons and as the dust settles we are all left to see just how this will change Canada. (Nor am I the only one in my community seeing dark days ahead for the First Nations people.)
I am not a conservative supporter, nor am I a fan of Mr. Harper, and his ideologies. Even with the steading hand of the opposition he was very much one to push his own agenda, and I see no chance of him ever becoming a moderate in his leadership style. That the press would not present an unbiased accounting, has made the entire process of an election laughable at best and has cast them as co-conspirators at worst. I condemn them for the huge dis-service they have done to the voters, and the country as a whole. This is what happens when the robber barons take charge of the press and they lose their freedoms.
As a well known German once said. Ein volk. Ein reich. Ein fuhrer!
At least that is how some of us in the Indigenous community are seeing things. Lets hope we are wrong!
Regards Debra
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
To Be Or Not To Be..Theoretically....
Hi Friends
We here in Canada have just come through an election that is proving to be a game changer in many ways, and yet the same old in so many other ways.
Once again voter apathy has handed the hated Conservatives a mandate to govern this country. This time though , Harper got his coveted majority. Given his past fiscal record, and his huge deficit, his trampling of our constitution and criminal behavior along with his historic contempt of parliament charges, you must be asking "how did this happen?" Two words, voter apathy!
Some didn't vote for all the same old reasons, and will continue to tout these excuses from now till dooms day. I think it was Albert Einstein who said: to do the same thing over and over again, and to expect a different result is the very definition of insanity.
What happened here on election night has scary overtones for all of us, yet will ultimately be so much worse for others. To not vote, was to hand the election to an ideologue with no checks or balances in place. This conservative government is unpopular with most of the people and some even say a majority conservative government could even be characterized as dangerous. I am in the second category.
I used social media, to track the polls and to post platforms of the various parties as well as try to get the message out that this is an important and very needed vote from all who will be impacted most by this party. Voting strategies were set up and posted, and debates were entered into, and past policies looked at and discussed. There were plenty of issues past and present from this Conservative government that showed the complete disregard for the First Nations people. Here was going to be a chance to say, as Elijah Harper had for us during the days of the Meech Lake Accord, NO, you must include us, too! The AFN Grand chief Atleo as well as several regional chiefs took to the airwaves and social media to encourage their citizens get out and vote.
Only one segment of the Indigenous population were saying not to vote. These are the "sovereignists" among us. Their message to me, is not unlike the rich who declare the war, and benefit from it, on the backs of the more impoverished members of their society! None of these blood lusters risk their own skin or progeny. Let the lessor among them do the dirty work! In short these sovergeinists, are not going to be the ones effected by their passive aggressive attitude against those who would vote to try to change their circumstances. The ivory tower sovereignists calling the voters "assimilated" and stating that you are now a Canadian and not a First Nation citizen, is just about as insightful as calling your self sovereign.
Sovereignty is defined as , autonomous, independent, self governing.
I have not seen this, nor have any of these people, NO Indian in Canada has since, at least 1876 when the Indian Act was enacted, and still rules over us to this day! What I have seen is specific legislation, governing us to our ultimate demise as a people.
We were not given the vote until the nineteen sixties, did this mean we were sovereign before that? No. We were and are still thought of as wards of the state. We at one time were not even allowed to chose our own chiefs. That was the job of the Indian Agents, who ruled our communities for the government in Ottawa. At that time if you wanted to vote you had to surrender your status in order to participate. This is not the case today.
We fought in their wars, not as allies, but as subjects, the same as the French were conscripted to. The difference being, the "recognized" second founding nation the government of the day brought in conscription. "Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription" was the catch phrase used, as it was recognized that as Canada was NOT under attack, this was not an ally in that situation. The French made that very clear. If our home land was under attack, then we will defend our home soil. This war is in defense of Britain and NOT our war!
We pay their taxes, we fight their wars, we fill their jails, we lose our children to their system, we live under their laws, yet we are sovereign. What are we protecting by not voting in their system? They have the upper hand and always will, because they even tell us who our citizens are, and have plans to legislate us out of existence. Solved the *Indian Problem* in Canada!
To those who refuse to participate, because all politicians are liars and cheats, okay! To those who don't vote to send your message that the politicians offer you nothing, okay! To those who don't vote to send your message that you are sovergein okay! So now do you think your message was received? With so many showing your dislike of the system in exactly the same way, are you confident that YOUR message was received? It is more likely that the message that the politicians got was that you are satisfied with the status quo or you would have made your displeasure known by exercising your constitutionally protected right, by voting! This post is aimed at the sovergeinists, with your message. Did the Canadian government recognize your message, and are they about to dismantle Indian and Northern Affairs Canada? Message recieved? Because I have not heard that reported in any of the major media outlets yet, or did I miss it?
To those who will try to view this post as me telling you to "get over it" this is not my message, But, more of a "get on with it" so we are still here to see this through to a conclusion that was truly envisioned by our ancestors, and then we have a chance to honor their memory and protect our treaties. To not vote is to spit in the eyes of those who have fought and some who have died in this effort to raise the Nations up.
Quebec got Nation status with in the country of Canada by being at the table. We can too.Those at the table eat the cake, those coming late get left-overs and those who willfully turn away, because the slice wasn't big enough can have the crumbs.
regards Debra
We here in Canada have just come through an election that is proving to be a game changer in many ways, and yet the same old in so many other ways.
Once again voter apathy has handed the hated Conservatives a mandate to govern this country. This time though , Harper got his coveted majority. Given his past fiscal record, and his huge deficit, his trampling of our constitution and criminal behavior along with his historic contempt of parliament charges, you must be asking "how did this happen?" Two words, voter apathy!
Some didn't vote for all the same old reasons, and will continue to tout these excuses from now till dooms day. I think it was Albert Einstein who said: to do the same thing over and over again, and to expect a different result is the very definition of insanity.
What happened here on election night has scary overtones for all of us, yet will ultimately be so much worse for others. To not vote, was to hand the election to an ideologue with no checks or balances in place. This conservative government is unpopular with most of the people and some even say a majority conservative government could even be characterized as dangerous. I am in the second category.
I used social media, to track the polls and to post platforms of the various parties as well as try to get the message out that this is an important and very needed vote from all who will be impacted most by this party. Voting strategies were set up and posted, and debates were entered into, and past policies looked at and discussed. There were plenty of issues past and present from this Conservative government that showed the complete disregard for the First Nations people. Here was going to be a chance to say, as Elijah Harper had for us during the days of the Meech Lake Accord, NO, you must include us, too! The AFN Grand chief Atleo as well as several regional chiefs took to the airwaves and social media to encourage their citizens get out and vote.
Only one segment of the Indigenous population were saying not to vote. These are the "sovereignists" among us. Their message to me, is not unlike the rich who declare the war, and benefit from it, on the backs of the more impoverished members of their society! None of these blood lusters risk their own skin or progeny. Let the lessor among them do the dirty work! In short these sovergeinists, are not going to be the ones effected by their passive aggressive attitude against those who would vote to try to change their circumstances. The ivory tower sovereignists calling the voters "assimilated" and stating that you are now a Canadian and not a First Nation citizen, is just about as insightful as calling your self sovereign.
Sovereignty is defined as , autonomous, independent, self governing.
I have not seen this, nor have any of these people, NO Indian in Canada has since, at least 1876 when the Indian Act was enacted, and still rules over us to this day! What I have seen is specific legislation, governing us to our ultimate demise as a people.
We were not given the vote until the nineteen sixties, did this mean we were sovereign before that? No. We were and are still thought of as wards of the state. We at one time were not even allowed to chose our own chiefs. That was the job of the Indian Agents, who ruled our communities for the government in Ottawa. At that time if you wanted to vote you had to surrender your status in order to participate. This is not the case today.
We fought in their wars, not as allies, but as subjects, the same as the French were conscripted to. The difference being, the "recognized" second founding nation the government of the day brought in conscription. "Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription" was the catch phrase used, as it was recognized that as Canada was NOT under attack, this was not an ally in that situation. The French made that very clear. If our home land was under attack, then we will defend our home soil. This war is in defense of Britain and NOT our war!
We pay their taxes, we fight their wars, we fill their jails, we lose our children to their system, we live under their laws, yet we are sovereign. What are we protecting by not voting in their system? They have the upper hand and always will, because they even tell us who our citizens are, and have plans to legislate us out of existence. Solved the *Indian Problem* in Canada!
To those who refuse to participate, because all politicians are liars and cheats, okay! To those who don't vote to send your message that the politicians offer you nothing, okay! To those who don't vote to send your message that you are sovergein okay! So now do you think your message was received? With so many showing your dislike of the system in exactly the same way, are you confident that YOUR message was received? It is more likely that the message that the politicians got was that you are satisfied with the status quo or you would have made your displeasure known by exercising your constitutionally protected right, by voting! This post is aimed at the sovergeinists, with your message. Did the Canadian government recognize your message, and are they about to dismantle Indian and Northern Affairs Canada? Message recieved? Because I have not heard that reported in any of the major media outlets yet, or did I miss it?
To those who will try to view this post as me telling you to "get over it" this is not my message, But, more of a "get on with it" so we are still here to see this through to a conclusion that was truly envisioned by our ancestors, and then we have a chance to honor their memory and protect our treaties. To not vote is to spit in the eyes of those who have fought and some who have died in this effort to raise the Nations up.
Quebec got Nation status with in the country of Canada by being at the table. We can too.Those at the table eat the cake, those coming late get left-overs and those who willfully turn away, because the slice wasn't big enough can have the crumbs.
regards Debra
Friday, April 15, 2011
Politics and Estranged Bedfellows
Hi Friends
Today I want to talk about a problem as old as democracy itself - voter apathy!
While many around the world are fighting and dying for their chance to democratically elect their leaders, here in Canada I am arguing with many to get out and exercise their democratic rights to do just that.
The last election we had, only 32% came out, so it can honestly be said that it was none-voters who put this government in power. This government ran on open and accountable leadership, along with Senate reform, and of course our Canadian motto of peace, order and good governance!
This has not been what we have gotten at all, in fact many might argue , just the opposite! We have been thrown into this election because of an historic event here in Canada. Our government has been found in contempt of parliament.
Are the people righteously angry, and chomping at the bit to throw these criminals out of power? Not so much from what I can see! The conservative base does seem to be strong, and are for the most part not overly critical of their chosen representatives. Fear and lies, seem to motivate them the most, while others have a defeatist attitude. Voter apathy is an issue among the ones who can afford it the least. The poor and disenfranchised.
There is a reason why the political parties always have something in their platforms for the older citizens, small as it may be, and why there are always tax breaks for the rich, and corporate Canada. These my friends, are the ones who always vote.
As baffled as I am at the Canadian people for not exercising their democratic right to vote, the Indigenous communities really stymie me. I heard all the rhetoric, and even read many opinions on both sides of the issue. Many Indigenous scholars have written of sovereignty ideas espousing non-participation around the Canadian elections, and just as many have given their opinions as to the necessity of our participation in these elections.
Here is just one of the most comprehensive debates on both sides of the coin that I could find.
Now for my musings on this issue.
Duncan Campbell Scott at the inception of the Indian Act, and as First Minister of the newly created department of Indian and Northern Affairs did not mince his words. This was and still is an assimilationist department with legislated assimilationist policies that are still in use by the Canadian government today.
The ghettos that they have force-relocated our people onto, are not Nations, nor do the transfer payments, and the blood quantization of your citizens, all chosen by them, make us anything but wards of the state. The best we can ever hope for at this point in our histories is dual citizenship. We fight in their wars, we pay into their taxation system, we live on land they have chosen for us, carry their designated Indian status cards and live under their Indian Act policies. How does this make us in any way sovereign? Who is the hypocrite or the assimilated in this scenario?
Do I wish it were different? Of course, but as I am a pragmatist I see things more along the lines of those who note that: "Just because you don't take an interest in politics, don't think that politics won't take an interest in you" To have a say in decisions that affect you then you must go out and vote.
To adopt any other notion is what I have seen in many other areas of Indigenous life. Years of paternalistic dominance has effectively blunted our drive and ambition to the point of always awaiting others to solve our problems for us. This is why there is such a flourishing, so called, "Indian Industry". Lawyers, negotiators, consultants...the Bruce Carson's, and his ilk, waiting with bated breath to swoop down on desperate people living in desperate situations...It does not have to be like this, it is time to ride to our own rescue! To stop the exploitation we must engage and participate in the electoral process to have our own say in the legislation that will affect us all!
We also have many Indigenous people running in hopes of being elected in this federal election. To characterize these Indigenous candidates as assimilated is not only wrong, but it is divisive. To do nothing, is to support the status quo, and accept being a beggar in your own country.
If you do not participate, all you get is ignored.
Since we now have the vote, we must use this tool to our advantage.
It took ONE Aboriginal man (participating, by being an M.L A in the Manitoba Legislature...to stop the Meech Lake accord from passing,) His name is Elijah Harper. Elijah Harper, using just one word, while using their rules, and in their government house, stopped the Mulroney Conservative Government, and the ten provincial Premieres in their tracks.
I get angry every time I read judgmental remarks like, if you vote, you are assimilated and should go all the way and not call yourself, Anishinabek or Cree, or Mohawk, because you are now a Canadian. To this I can only respond, you obviously don't know of the contributions of our war hero's, who fought and died for this country, nor do you show proper respect for the residential school educated, Elijah Harper who, through his participation in the Canadian electoral process stood up for ALL of us, and, with the one word, NO, told the Canadian Government they must consider US too!
Regards Debra
Today I want to talk about a problem as old as democracy itself - voter apathy!
While many around the world are fighting and dying for their chance to democratically elect their leaders, here in Canada I am arguing with many to get out and exercise their democratic rights to do just that.
The last election we had, only 32% came out, so it can honestly be said that it was none-voters who put this government in power. This government ran on open and accountable leadership, along with Senate reform, and of course our Canadian motto of peace, order and good governance!
This has not been what we have gotten at all, in fact many might argue , just the opposite! We have been thrown into this election because of an historic event here in Canada. Our government has been found in contempt of parliament.
Are the people righteously angry, and chomping at the bit to throw these criminals out of power? Not so much from what I can see! The conservative base does seem to be strong, and are for the most part not overly critical of their chosen representatives. Fear and lies, seem to motivate them the most, while others have a defeatist attitude. Voter apathy is an issue among the ones who can afford it the least. The poor and disenfranchised.
There is a reason why the political parties always have something in their platforms for the older citizens, small as it may be, and why there are always tax breaks for the rich, and corporate Canada. These my friends, are the ones who always vote.
As baffled as I am at the Canadian people for not exercising their democratic right to vote, the Indigenous communities really stymie me. I heard all the rhetoric, and even read many opinions on both sides of the issue. Many Indigenous scholars have written of sovereignty ideas espousing non-participation around the Canadian elections, and just as many have given their opinions as to the necessity of our participation in these elections.
Here is just one of the most comprehensive debates on both sides of the coin that I could find.
Now for my musings on this issue.
Duncan Campbell Scott at the inception of the Indian Act, and as First Minister of the newly created department of Indian and Northern Affairs did not mince his words. This was and still is an assimilationist department with legislated assimilationist policies that are still in use by the Canadian government today.
The ghettos that they have force-relocated our people onto, are not Nations, nor do the transfer payments, and the blood quantization of your citizens, all chosen by them, make us anything but wards of the state. The best we can ever hope for at this point in our histories is dual citizenship. We fight in their wars, we pay into their taxation system, we live on land they have chosen for us, carry their designated Indian status cards and live under their Indian Act policies. How does this make us in any way sovereign? Who is the hypocrite or the assimilated in this scenario?
Do I wish it were different? Of course, but as I am a pragmatist I see things more along the lines of those who note that: "Just because you don't take an interest in politics, don't think that politics won't take an interest in you" To have a say in decisions that affect you then you must go out and vote.
To adopt any other notion is what I have seen in many other areas of Indigenous life. Years of paternalistic dominance has effectively blunted our drive and ambition to the point of always awaiting others to solve our problems for us. This is why there is such a flourishing, so called, "Indian Industry". Lawyers, negotiators, consultants...the Bruce Carson's, and his ilk, waiting with bated breath to swoop down on desperate people living in desperate situations...It does not have to be like this, it is time to ride to our own rescue! To stop the exploitation we must engage and participate in the electoral process to have our own say in the legislation that will affect us all!
We also have many Indigenous people running in hopes of being elected in this federal election. To characterize these Indigenous candidates as assimilated is not only wrong, but it is divisive. To do nothing, is to support the status quo, and accept being a beggar in your own country.
If you do not participate, all you get is ignored.
Since we now have the vote, we must use this tool to our advantage.
It took ONE Aboriginal man (participating, by being an M.L A in the Manitoba Legislature...to stop the Meech Lake accord from passing,) His name is Elijah Harper. Elijah Harper, using just one word, while using their rules, and in their government house, stopped the Mulroney Conservative Government, and the ten provincial Premieres in their tracks.
I get angry every time I read judgmental remarks like, if you vote, you are assimilated and should go all the way and not call yourself, Anishinabek or Cree, or Mohawk, because you are now a Canadian. To this I can only respond, you obviously don't know of the contributions of our war hero's, who fought and died for this country, nor do you show proper respect for the residential school educated, Elijah Harper who, through his participation in the Canadian electoral process stood up for ALL of us, and, with the one word, NO, told the Canadian Government they must consider US too!
Regards Debra
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Charlie Hunter is Coming Home...
Hi Friends
This is a sort of good news/bad news story.
On March the 5th of this year I read a little human interest story in the Toronto Star newspaper.
This story was of a young boy from a fly-in Cree community who had died tragically while attending a residential school. This accident took place back in the seventies and his remains were interred some two hundred kilometers away. It proved to be too costly for the family from a fly-in community to be able to afford to visit the child's resting place. His aged parents had only ever been able to visit his grave once, since his death, and now in their own twilight years yearned to be able to tend his resting spot.
While the Canadian Government acknowledged the sadness of this situation,( INAC minister John Duncan sent his condolences ) they also made note that there wasn't any money in the budget to repatriate this child's body back home. This after the much ballyhooed apology, where it was said;
that the residential school period was shameful time in our history was at an end.
Well reading this story it was shockingly evident to me that these were words, flowery words, but just words in the end. As the old adage goes, talk is cheap.
To plead poverty when the government had just announced a thirty billion dollar fighter jet contract, and having just spent one billion dollars for security on a week-end summit in Toronto in the past summer, and to the pledging of billions of dollars for the building of more jails, for what even their own minster had called un-reported crime.
Does this sound like a cash poor government to you?
The expense to bring this child's body back to his community would be a sum total of twenty-three thousand dollars. What a chance to show the Canadian people in general, and the Indigenous people in particular that they stand by the apology. That the new relationship with the First Nations would be vastly different than the previously dark one. But it was not to be! The Canadian government held fast to their original statement of this being too expensive for the government to take on.
Today in the Toronto Star a follow up story ran...and it was the good news part of this post.
Charlie is coming home, courtesy of the good citizens who read this story, and were touched by the plight of this family and the apparent heartlessness of this government.
These people gave their own apology, of sorts, to this family, when this government wouldn't.
regards Debra
This is a sort of good news/bad news story.
On March the 5th of this year I read a little human interest story in the Toronto Star newspaper.
This story was of a young boy from a fly-in Cree community who had died tragically while attending a residential school. This accident took place back in the seventies and his remains were interred some two hundred kilometers away. It proved to be too costly for the family from a fly-in community to be able to afford to visit the child's resting place. His aged parents had only ever been able to visit his grave once, since his death, and now in their own twilight years yearned to be able to tend his resting spot.
While the Canadian Government acknowledged the sadness of this situation,( INAC minister John Duncan sent his condolences ) they also made note that there wasn't any money in the budget to repatriate this child's body back home. This after the much ballyhooed apology, where it was said;
that the residential school period was shameful time in our history was at an end.
Well reading this story it was shockingly evident to me that these were words, flowery words, but just words in the end. As the old adage goes, talk is cheap.
To plead poverty when the government had just announced a thirty billion dollar fighter jet contract, and having just spent one billion dollars for security on a week-end summit in Toronto in the past summer, and to the pledging of billions of dollars for the building of more jails, for what even their own minster had called un-reported crime.
Does this sound like a cash poor government to you?
The expense to bring this child's body back to his community would be a sum total of twenty-three thousand dollars. What a chance to show the Canadian people in general, and the Indigenous people in particular that they stand by the apology. That the new relationship with the First Nations would be vastly different than the previously dark one. But it was not to be! The Canadian government held fast to their original statement of this being too expensive for the government to take on.
Today in the Toronto Star a follow up story ran...and it was the good news part of this post.
Charlie is coming home, courtesy of the good citizens who read this story, and were touched by the plight of this family and the apparent heartlessness of this government.
These people gave their own apology, of sorts, to this family, when this government wouldn't.
regards Debra
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Democracy part two
Hi Friends
Democracy is from the Greek word (demokratia) meaning "rule of the people" or (demos) people, (kartos) power. Democracy is defined as a form of political organization in which all the people through consensus (direct referendum) or elected representatives exercise equal control over the matters which effect their common interests.
We, I have mentioned in past posts are rather new to the game of governing, having only secured the right to vote in federal elections since to the nineteen sixties.
This is not a true statement, and let me clarify! We the Indigenous people know democracy very well. It could be argued that its in our very bones. We have, before colonization, had democratic governments, and it is a known fact that the United States government is famously noted to be inspired, by the Six Nations confederacy.
With our long glorious history of people run governments, when and why did we stray so far from our own ideals? Was it the influence of the Indian agents who in the past, chose the chief and councils (usually from the largest families on the reserve, it being easier to control the people if you had the largest family in your pocket..) or as I have heard lamented over and over again that the problem is INAC rules.
To this I say, INAC didn't force any of us to elect the most corrupt in your community, nor did they instruct you to keep these people in power. That was the Indian agents' ways. Nor does INAC encourage those elected to take advantage of their people. That is the option exercised entirely by the unscrupulous chiefs and councilors.
To the tyranny practiced on some reserves today, and to the despots who harass their citizens for wanting better, shame on you!
You have lived down to the very worst of expectations. You have allied with those who seek to continue colonial rule over us. You have armed our common enemy with example after example of why we are unable to rise up, and be our own men and women capable of governing ourselves. You have cemented us as wards of the state through your unmitigated selfishness. You have pulled our children down, made fools of our elders, and the many courageous men and women activists fighting for our human rights and very dignity to be thought of as equals in our own country.
When you conduct yourselves like tyrants who would intimidate those who would disagree with you, you give credence to those who malign us.
When we are seeing other nations around the world rising up to throw off the mantle of tyrannical rule, you and your greed have condemned us to more of the same..thank you to all the chiefs and councils out there who have followed this race to the bottom...you have done us all a huge disservice.
Regards Debra
Democracy is from the Greek word (demokratia) meaning "rule of the people" or (demos) people, (kartos) power. Democracy is defined as a form of political organization in which all the people through consensus (direct referendum) or elected representatives exercise equal control over the matters which effect their common interests.
We, I have mentioned in past posts are rather new to the game of governing, having only secured the right to vote in federal elections since to the nineteen sixties.
This is not a true statement, and let me clarify! We the Indigenous people know democracy very well. It could be argued that its in our very bones. We have, before colonization, had democratic governments, and it is a known fact that the United States government is famously noted to be inspired, by the Six Nations confederacy.
With our long glorious history of people run governments, when and why did we stray so far from our own ideals? Was it the influence of the Indian agents who in the past, chose the chief and councils (usually from the largest families on the reserve, it being easier to control the people if you had the largest family in your pocket..) or as I have heard lamented over and over again that the problem is INAC rules.
To this I say, INAC didn't force any of us to elect the most corrupt in your community, nor did they instruct you to keep these people in power. That was the Indian agents' ways. Nor does INAC encourage those elected to take advantage of their people. That is the option exercised entirely by the unscrupulous chiefs and councilors.
To the tyranny practiced on some reserves today, and to the despots who harass their citizens for wanting better, shame on you!
You have lived down to the very worst of expectations. You have allied with those who seek to continue colonial rule over us. You have armed our common enemy with example after example of why we are unable to rise up, and be our own men and women capable of governing ourselves. You have cemented us as wards of the state through your unmitigated selfishness. You have pulled our children down, made fools of our elders, and the many courageous men and women activists fighting for our human rights and very dignity to be thought of as equals in our own country.
When you conduct yourselves like tyrants who would intimidate those who would disagree with you, you give credence to those who malign us.
When we are seeing other nations around the world rising up to throw off the mantle of tyrannical rule, you and your greed have condemned us to more of the same..thank you to all the chiefs and councils out there who have followed this race to the bottom...you have done us all a huge disservice.
Regards Debra
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Democracy Part 1...
Hi Friends
Well once again our political system is back under the microscope. This time in a community I know quite well; my home reserve.
I have blogged extensively about election reform, and have opined on many of the bad chiefs, and even taken the part of many maligned others, over some questionable behavior.
This time as I mentioned, it will not be such a blind defending or even a carefully criticizing of chiefs and councils that I know only by name or deed. No, this time I will be able to put names and faces together, along with my personal knowledge of the personalities of the individuals involved.
First things first. A news story broke this week in several media outlets about some disgruntled citizens of an Ontario reserve, writing an anonymous letter asking for a forensic audit or RCMP probe of their community after learning that their community faces a cash crunch. Most disturbing to me, as a lover of democracy, was that these community members felt only comfortable enough to be anonymous...This was way more than disheartening to me because, as I have said, I know this community and even ran for council myself in the past election.
I obviously did not succeed, but the people had spoken, and I was excited to have participated in the democratic process. I took away from this experience some new friendships and even met some distant relatives of mine. A win, win, sort of situation for me.
What is happening today however is much sadder than any election loss, for me, could be. What is now going on in my community is about as far away from democracy as you could possibly get. The people are too afraid of their elected officials to pose a direct question, openly, without fear of reprisal, (why else remain anonymous) from their elected government.
Only the most unrepentant of tyrants would not feel shame over this sorry turn of events. As a lover of democracy I urge you to get on with the request of your electorate and put to bed this notion of our reserve being nothing more than a banana republic.
I dare say, if it were me I'd be anxious to get on with this request from my community, if for no other reason, but to clear my good name.
regards Debra
Well once again our political system is back under the microscope. This time in a community I know quite well; my home reserve.
I have blogged extensively about election reform, and have opined on many of the bad chiefs, and even taken the part of many maligned others, over some questionable behavior.
This time as I mentioned, it will not be such a blind defending or even a carefully criticizing of chiefs and councils that I know only by name or deed. No, this time I will be able to put names and faces together, along with my personal knowledge of the personalities of the individuals involved.
First things first. A news story broke this week in several media outlets about some disgruntled citizens of an Ontario reserve, writing an anonymous letter asking for a forensic audit or RCMP probe of their community after learning that their community faces a cash crunch. Most disturbing to me, as a lover of democracy, was that these community members felt only comfortable enough to be anonymous...This was way more than disheartening to me because, as I have said, I know this community and even ran for council myself in the past election.
I obviously did not succeed, but the people had spoken, and I was excited to have participated in the democratic process. I took away from this experience some new friendships and even met some distant relatives of mine. A win, win, sort of situation for me.
What is happening today however is much sadder than any election loss, for me, could be. What is now going on in my community is about as far away from democracy as you could possibly get. The people are too afraid of their elected officials to pose a direct question, openly, without fear of reprisal, (why else remain anonymous) from their elected government.
Only the most unrepentant of tyrants would not feel shame over this sorry turn of events. As a lover of democracy I urge you to get on with the request of your electorate and put to bed this notion of our reserve being nothing more than a banana republic.
I dare say, if it were me I'd be anxious to get on with this request from my community, if for no other reason, but to clear my good name.
regards Debra
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Power of Four...
Hi Friends
I have heard the call from many of our leaders, both at the reserve and national level, espouse the desire to return to our past forms of governing. Something is wrong in Indian country and we want it fixed. "We need it to be fixed" is more how I look at it.
As a blogger I am on the internet a good deal of the time and have encountered many other like minded bloggers trying to enlighten our readers to our collective struggles. We are all, in our own ways, trying to educate as well as seeking our own answers, to ultimately free our communities from the colonized and colonizing ways that were imposed on us. Along with that we are also using the social networking sites to exchange ideas and opine on a variety of topics, all around the state of Indigenous culture.
Many of the so called " facebook warriors " are of the opinion that we must re-invent the wheel , or so it would seem to me, to the end goal of self governance.
Not so, in my opinion. Nor do we have to piece meal our cultures together to find a workable solution.
By that I mean, I have heard plenty of others, who would embrace a hereditary chief system, (not ever having had one in their past) while others want the clan system brought back. Here I must say, these were all workable systems for the past, when all the citizens of any Nation were located in one area. Not so today. We who live off territory, are as concerned for the welfare of our communities as any community member, living on reserve. Their (on reserve) history is our history as well, their discrimination is what we have all experienced, here I will say our struggles are the same! Your wins will be all of ours collectively! We are your community too!
One thing we all do have, both on and off are the four pillars. Our elders, as well as our youth, need the support of the women and our men need the responsibility of interactions with all the others.
This was what the Indigenous culture had, and can have again.
Not all women are nurturing, nor are all youth thirsty for knowledge, and not all elders are wise, neither are all men brave...enough are however to make a nice start.
Years ago I had opportunity to hear a discussion of what makes for the better elder. Is it the elder who has always lived an exemplary life or is it the one who in his/her youth fell off the path and caroused in a more hedonistic manner? It was decided that both had their place. Some wanted to see the end result of good kind living, while others needed someone who had visited the realms they themselves were looking to crawl out of.
There are lessons we could learn from our past, and ways to incorporate them into our society today! Giving and getting respect for and from all pillars within the communities!
regards Debra
I have heard the call from many of our leaders, both at the reserve and national level, espouse the desire to return to our past forms of governing. Something is wrong in Indian country and we want it fixed. "We need it to be fixed" is more how I look at it.
As a blogger I am on the internet a good deal of the time and have encountered many other like minded bloggers trying to enlighten our readers to our collective struggles. We are all, in our own ways, trying to educate as well as seeking our own answers, to ultimately free our communities from the colonized and colonizing ways that were imposed on us. Along with that we are also using the social networking sites to exchange ideas and opine on a variety of topics, all around the state of Indigenous culture.
Many of the so called " facebook warriors " are of the opinion that we must re-invent the wheel , or so it would seem to me, to the end goal of self governance.
Not so, in my opinion. Nor do we have to piece meal our cultures together to find a workable solution.
By that I mean, I have heard plenty of others, who would embrace a hereditary chief system, (not ever having had one in their past) while others want the clan system brought back. Here I must say, these were all workable systems for the past, when all the citizens of any Nation were located in one area. Not so today. We who live off territory, are as concerned for the welfare of our communities as any community member, living on reserve. Their (on reserve) history is our history as well, their discrimination is what we have all experienced, here I will say our struggles are the same! Your wins will be all of ours collectively! We are your community too!
One thing we all do have, both on and off are the four pillars. Our elders, as well as our youth, need the support of the women and our men need the responsibility of interactions with all the others.
This was what the Indigenous culture had, and can have again.
Not all women are nurturing, nor are all youth thirsty for knowledge, and not all elders are wise, neither are all men brave...enough are however to make a nice start.
Years ago I had opportunity to hear a discussion of what makes for the better elder. Is it the elder who has always lived an exemplary life or is it the one who in his/her youth fell off the path and caroused in a more hedonistic manner? It was decided that both had their place. Some wanted to see the end result of good kind living, while others needed someone who had visited the realms they themselves were looking to crawl out of.
There are lessons we could learn from our past, and ways to incorporate them into our society today! Giving and getting respect for and from all pillars within the communities!
regards Debra
Monday, February 28, 2011
Lets Eat
Hi Friends
Today I'd like to speak about the health issues in the Aboriginal community. Though there are many,
one of the biggest ones is diabetes. This disease not only represents a huge problem for the Nations, but a substantial health expenditure for all Canadians, in the near future.
The best way to tackle this problem and to minimize the impact, would require attention being paid today, to other issues. Poverty being the most important one, needing redress.
Expensive transportation costs have many Northern communities struggling, with such high food costs, that they are eating very poor diets. Diets high in carbohydrates, and high in fats, as well as other refined over processed foods, these being what most families can afford. Fresh fruits and produce rot on the shelves due to their prohibitively high sticker prices. Yet without these nutritious fresh low fat unprocessed foods, health suffers.
We all know the problem with poor diets leading to obesity, and obesity leading to diabetes. This is not just in the Aboriginal community, but in the Canadian population as a whole. However the implications of this latest study has particularly dire consequences for the Aboriginal communities. New studies have pointed out a predisposition among young Aboriginal women to be at higher than is the normal risk for this disease.
With high murder and suicide rates already devastating the communities, it's not as if the Indigenous Nations can afford any more losses, of their people.
The urgency of this looming medical crisis should, at the very least be commanding the utmost attention from those in power. Not just for the Indigenous populations, but for all Canadians.
The sheer cost of managing diabetes in the population of the Canadian people is enough, you would think, to spur the Canadian government to take action.
What we don't need, are more studies, nor do we need any more research on the impacts of diabetes. What this looming epidemic does need, however is a commitment to action. Action on real poverty initiatives, designed to spare the people and the country the expense of managing this deadly disease.
Stop the waste of tax-payers dollars on prisons we don't need, and punitive mean spirited programs that will only widen the gap between the poor and rich, and get serious about leading this country into a brighter, future, with sustainable jobs, safe affordable food, and healthy homes for all!
This is a rich country. Rich enough to spend lavishly on political propaganda, and military machinery. Rich enough to spend on altruistic support for the third world, yet allowing a certain group to languish away in hidden, or out right ignored, third world living conditions. Where is the altruism towards them? When will the Canadian government see the need to address these problems?
regards Debra
Today I'd like to speak about the health issues in the Aboriginal community. Though there are many,
one of the biggest ones is diabetes. This disease not only represents a huge problem for the Nations, but a substantial health expenditure for all Canadians, in the near future.
The best way to tackle this problem and to minimize the impact, would require attention being paid today, to other issues. Poverty being the most important one, needing redress.
Expensive transportation costs have many Northern communities struggling, with such high food costs, that they are eating very poor diets. Diets high in carbohydrates, and high in fats, as well as other refined over processed foods, these being what most families can afford. Fresh fruits and produce rot on the shelves due to their prohibitively high sticker prices. Yet without these nutritious fresh low fat unprocessed foods, health suffers.
We all know the problem with poor diets leading to obesity, and obesity leading to diabetes. This is not just in the Aboriginal community, but in the Canadian population as a whole. However the implications of this latest study has particularly dire consequences for the Aboriginal communities. New studies have pointed out a predisposition among young Aboriginal women to be at higher than is the normal risk for this disease.
With high murder and suicide rates already devastating the communities, it's not as if the Indigenous Nations can afford any more losses, of their people.
The urgency of this looming medical crisis should, at the very least be commanding the utmost attention from those in power. Not just for the Indigenous populations, but for all Canadians.
The sheer cost of managing diabetes in the population of the Canadian people is enough, you would think, to spur the Canadian government to take action.
What we don't need, are more studies, nor do we need any more research on the impacts of diabetes. What this looming epidemic does need, however is a commitment to action. Action on real poverty initiatives, designed to spare the people and the country the expense of managing this deadly disease.
Stop the waste of tax-payers dollars on prisons we don't need, and punitive mean spirited programs that will only widen the gap between the poor and rich, and get serious about leading this country into a brighter, future, with sustainable jobs, safe affordable food, and healthy homes for all!
This is a rich country. Rich enough to spend lavishly on political propaganda, and military machinery. Rich enough to spend on altruistic support for the third world, yet allowing a certain group to languish away in hidden, or out right ignored, third world living conditions. Where is the altruism towards them? When will the Canadian government see the need to address these problems?
regards Debra
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Family Feelings
Hi Friends
We here in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are all celebrating the Family day weekend, along with our Manitoba neighbours who too are celebrating, Louis Riel day.
On this family day week-end I have been thinking of other families. The ones on isolated and marginalized reserves. Families who may very well be mourning their lost loved ones, lost to crime or suicide, or addiction.Families struggling with the ever present realities of poverty.
I have also been thinking of the chiefs of these communities, and asking myself what are their responsibilities to their community members. In any small town in the country there are many poor, eking out a living or subsisting on welfare, and the mayors and town councilors are not being hounded by the media or the tax-payers federation embarrassing them over their salaries. Unabashedly demanding they do better by their citizenry.
Now that sounds like I have taken a side here and have defended the chiefs for their lack of action...I assure you I have not!
The main difference between small town Canada and the reserves is this, most small towns may have a majority of their better off community members being related, and can also be painted as nepotists, as far as the doling out of the plum jobs and appointments, but on the reserves the relationships are always much closer, and the disparages, by definition more hurtful. Those on reserve are not merely friends and neighbours, but are also cousins, in-laws and closer family members, as well as friends and neighbours.
Most small town have a middle class, as well as working poor and then the richer class. On reserve there is only the extremely poor and the well off band administrators.
As it falls to the middle class to pay for social programs via taxation these are met in small town Canada, as well as in the rest of the country. Having no middle class on reserve leaves the reserves with out that safety net. It will, as in times gone by, then, be up to the chiefs and councilors to fill this gap between the haves and have nots.
To that end I have complied a list of relatively inexpensive ideas/solutions for the chiefs to employ at the reserve level, (kind of fill the middle class gap as it were) to invest in their citizens for the betterment of their communities as a whole.
Night after night we hear of kids falling into gang lifestyles, and addictive behaviors, with the main reason being cited, as little or no activities for entertainment of the youth.
Additionally, high unemployment on the reserves leave the adults beaten down and self medicating with alcohol or drugs. Vandalism and violence, are out of control in most of these communities, all studied and assessed as symptoms of extreme poverty.
With real caring for their own, and exercising real leadership skills, the chiefs could, and should take some of their own salaries and invest in their communities. Build a legacy as it were ala the great leaders from our past.
Why not buy a large screen T.V and a DVD/blu-ray player for the children and youth in these communities. This could be set up the school gym, or the community hall as a make shift theater. The good news is the price of large screen televisions have fallen as have the DVD/blu-ray players, and most movies are on DVD/blu-ray format making them easy to ship and store.
Favorite TV shows, cartoon, and dramas as well as many educational programs are also available on disc formate as well.
Take some of your earnings and plow up a community garden plot, with certain rows designated to the seniors home or the school for lunch programs.
Hire the language speakers to run a craft and learning center for the young, and employ the youth for community clean-up projects. The elders have little need of big salaries, nor do the youth really, but these people do need the rewards of salary, as any one would.
These are activities that would foster family and community spirit as well as a notion of self sufficiency in all.
" A leader is a dealer in hope..."
Napoleon Bonaparte
Please enjoy the family day holiday, these people, our children, parents and relatives, are who we all profess to be doing it all for any way!
Regards Debra
We here in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are all celebrating the Family day weekend, along with our Manitoba neighbours who too are celebrating, Louis Riel day.
On this family day week-end I have been thinking of other families. The ones on isolated and marginalized reserves. Families who may very well be mourning their lost loved ones, lost to crime or suicide, or addiction.Families struggling with the ever present realities of poverty.
I have also been thinking of the chiefs of these communities, and asking myself what are their responsibilities to their community members. In any small town in the country there are many poor, eking out a living or subsisting on welfare, and the mayors and town councilors are not being hounded by the media or the tax-payers federation embarrassing them over their salaries. Unabashedly demanding they do better by their citizenry.
Now that sounds like I have taken a side here and have defended the chiefs for their lack of action...I assure you I have not!
The main difference between small town Canada and the reserves is this, most small towns may have a majority of their better off community members being related, and can also be painted as nepotists, as far as the doling out of the plum jobs and appointments, but on the reserves the relationships are always much closer, and the disparages, by definition more hurtful. Those on reserve are not merely friends and neighbours, but are also cousins, in-laws and closer family members, as well as friends and neighbours.
Most small town have a middle class, as well as working poor and then the richer class. On reserve there is only the extremely poor and the well off band administrators.
As it falls to the middle class to pay for social programs via taxation these are met in small town Canada, as well as in the rest of the country. Having no middle class on reserve leaves the reserves with out that safety net. It will, as in times gone by, then, be up to the chiefs and councilors to fill this gap between the haves and have nots.
To that end I have complied a list of relatively inexpensive ideas/solutions for the chiefs to employ at the reserve level, (kind of fill the middle class gap as it were) to invest in their citizens for the betterment of their communities as a whole.
Night after night we hear of kids falling into gang lifestyles, and addictive behaviors, with the main reason being cited, as little or no activities for entertainment of the youth.
Additionally, high unemployment on the reserves leave the adults beaten down and self medicating with alcohol or drugs. Vandalism and violence, are out of control in most of these communities, all studied and assessed as symptoms of extreme poverty.
With real caring for their own, and exercising real leadership skills, the chiefs could, and should take some of their own salaries and invest in their communities. Build a legacy as it were ala the great leaders from our past.
Why not buy a large screen T.V and a DVD/blu-ray player for the children and youth in these communities. This could be set up the school gym, or the community hall as a make shift theater. The good news is the price of large screen televisions have fallen as have the DVD/blu-ray players, and most movies are on DVD/blu-ray format making them easy to ship and store.
Favorite TV shows, cartoon, and dramas as well as many educational programs are also available on disc formate as well.
Take some of your earnings and plow up a community garden plot, with certain rows designated to the seniors home or the school for lunch programs.
Hire the language speakers to run a craft and learning center for the young, and employ the youth for community clean-up projects. The elders have little need of big salaries, nor do the youth really, but these people do need the rewards of salary, as any one would.
These are activities that would foster family and community spirit as well as a notion of self sufficiency in all.
" A leader is a dealer in hope..."
Napoleon Bonaparte
Please enjoy the family day holiday, these people, our children, parents and relatives, are who we all profess to be doing it all for any way!
Regards Debra
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Those who belong...
Hi Friends
Well well well, is Ottawa up to their old tricks, once again?
It would look like it to me at least, but you decide. It seems "Poppa John" Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non Status Indians, and no doubt soon, "butt-in-ski" for Unknown and Unstated Paternity (brothers and sisters left off the latest Indian Act amendment) has decided to take a closer look at what constitutes a Metis person.
read about it here!!
They (Ottawa) say no, but I have a funny feeling about this one. Like the first Minster of Indian affairs, ( Duncan Campbell Scott) this Duncan has, it would seem, the same old agenda.
"I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone.
Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic, and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department, that is the whole object of this bill."
Duncan Campbell Scott (assimilationist) and coincidently head of the Department of Indian Affairs:1913-1932
So now are we to never trust any one with the name of Duncan, weather it be a first name or last? It's looking like that to me.
Maybe the Honorable John Duncan could make a new class of Indigenous citizen. The "apples" and the first so named members could be Shelly Glover, and Senator Patrick Brazeau...just a suggestion.
Being so engaged, then maybe, just maybe, he and the rest of the government bureaucrats would stop the meddling into the Indigenous peoples rights to name their own citizens.
Regards Debra
Well well well, is Ottawa up to their old tricks, once again?
It would look like it to me at least, but you decide. It seems "Poppa John" Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non Status Indians, and no doubt soon, "butt-in-ski" for Unknown and Unstated Paternity (brothers and sisters left off the latest Indian Act amendment) has decided to take a closer look at what constitutes a Metis person.
read about it here!!
They (Ottawa) say no, but I have a funny feeling about this one. Like the first Minster of Indian affairs, ( Duncan Campbell Scott) this Duncan has, it would seem, the same old agenda.
"I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone.
Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic, and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department, that is the whole object of this bill."
Duncan Campbell Scott (assimilationist) and coincidently head of the Department of Indian Affairs:1913-1932
So now are we to never trust any one with the name of Duncan, weather it be a first name or last? It's looking like that to me.
Maybe the Honorable John Duncan could make a new class of Indigenous citizen. The "apples" and the first so named members could be Shelly Glover, and Senator Patrick Brazeau...just a suggestion.
Being so engaged, then maybe, just maybe, he and the rest of the government bureaucrats would stop the meddling into the Indigenous peoples rights to name their own citizens.
Regards Debra
Friday, February 4, 2011
Gazing upon Eden
Hi Friends
With the discovery of an undiscovered tribe in the Amazon forests we have a unique opportunity here to observe an entirely different culture. Different, yet our own, same culture. In the beginning, we were all of this culture. That some have held on to it, to this time, in our collective history, is amazing, and we must, I believe make every effort to preserve it.
That is if we can stop the greed of governments, in their never ending thirst for natural resources. In this case: clear cutting the forest for expansion and ultimately these peoples land.
I am very excited to know that we are sharing the planet with these intriguing people...as I am sure many others are as well. If we manage to keep our distance, we have an unprecedented opportunity here to learn not just about them but ultimately ourselves as well.
Their lifestyle can't be an easy one. Hunter gather societies are subsistence by nature, and by necessity co-operative. As in any society there is a need for rules of some sort, so as to allow for community. How are disputes mediated? What type of governing is practiced? These questions will have to wait until they reach out for contact with us, if they ever do.
They obviously know about us and have so far kept their distance. Should a time come when they do reach out to us, it must be on their terms, not ours.
Tonight as I eat my micro-wave popcorn and drink my coffee, while I watch my satellite t.v. or communicate with my fb friends around the world, I will be for sure thinking of these people and marveling at the thought of our own beginnings.
No doubt there will be other times when they will be on my mind as well. I will be forever wondering who has got the better lifestyle, but I am content to let this be my own mystery to mull over.
Let us, let them teach us, to be ever mindful of where we came from while allowing them the dignity of their existence, among yet separate from us, as they have chosen to date!
Please sign the petition to save them from us, as they have wanted, so far, at least!
Regards Debra
With the discovery of an undiscovered tribe in the Amazon forests we have a unique opportunity here to observe an entirely different culture. Different, yet our own, same culture. In the beginning, we were all of this culture. That some have held on to it, to this time, in our collective history, is amazing, and we must, I believe make every effort to preserve it.
That is if we can stop the greed of governments, in their never ending thirst for natural resources. In this case: clear cutting the forest for expansion and ultimately these peoples land.
I am very excited to know that we are sharing the planet with these intriguing people...as I am sure many others are as well. If we manage to keep our distance, we have an unprecedented opportunity here to learn not just about them but ultimately ourselves as well.
Their lifestyle can't be an easy one. Hunter gather societies are subsistence by nature, and by necessity co-operative. As in any society there is a need for rules of some sort, so as to allow for community. How are disputes mediated? What type of governing is practiced? These questions will have to wait until they reach out for contact with us, if they ever do.
They obviously know about us and have so far kept their distance. Should a time come when they do reach out to us, it must be on their terms, not ours.
Tonight as I eat my micro-wave popcorn and drink my coffee, while I watch my satellite t.v. or communicate with my fb friends around the world, I will be for sure thinking of these people and marveling at the thought of our own beginnings.
No doubt there will be other times when they will be on my mind as well. I will be forever wondering who has got the better lifestyle, but I am content to let this be my own mystery to mull over.
Let us, let them teach us, to be ever mindful of where we came from while allowing them the dignity of their existence, among yet separate from us, as they have chosen to date!
Please sign the petition to save them from us, as they have wanted, so far, at least!
Regards Debra
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Education or Segregration?
Hi Friends
Today to once again tackle the topic of education, specifically Aboriginal education, the province of British Columbia is flirting with a tiered school system or segregation.Mini school for Aboriginal students considered.
Should we even be entertaining this notion? A people that have experienced segregation endorsing further segregation...
First we must ask ourselves what do we want or expect of the school system? Yes the Indigenous culture took some grievous hits in the past, and now in an misguided effort to rectify these lessons of old there seems to be a concerted effort by the school boards to address this. Today many schools are offering Aboriginal study programs, from elementary to university level. In my more cynical moments I look at this as a huge f@#$-you to the Indigenous people. Think about it. Ban the culture and outlaw the ceremonies, and then "sell" it back to them at $500.00 a semester! But lets move on from my cynicism and look at what is happening in the school system today.
To bring in culture the system must remove something else to accommodate it. What would be being removed to this end?
Aboriginal parents like all parents want their children to have access to their culture, as well as a pertinent education befitting the expectations of the modern job market. Can this be done? Yes! Have others done it? Yes!
My own husband is a first generation Canadian citizen. His roots are Ukrainian, with proud Ukrainian parents who spoke their own language at home. They also immigrated to Montreal and were located in a very French enclave. As they came here before the French language laws were entrenched, the family had the option of attending either French or English school board. Being as they were not Catholic, it was decided that the children would be sent to the English school.
My husband's father wanted his children educated in their (Ukrainian history and culture) and as this was not offered to them, my father- in- law and others from the community rented a building and set up their own Ukrainian school, to be held on Saturdays for all the Ukrainian immigrant children in the neighbourhood.
This was a very viable solution to this problem, that many immigrants have seen and solved for their own children with-in their own communities.
When our own children were young we like all other parents wanted the best for, and from, our own sons. To achieve this we began early to make them aware of them selves and the world around them. We fostered a sense of self worth that was knowledge based.
I guess what I notice missing from nearly every article on Aboriginal education issues is the parents. What are their responsibilities? What of the reserve communities, and what are their expectations, and responsibilities? Do they not have a vested interest? What could they be doing to aide the children? We call them our future, yet we are not getting involved enough to bring a brighter future for all. It is a huge burden to place on the shoulders of the young to call them the future, and then do nothing to help them embrace that future. This I believe has led to disillusionment in the young and thus high drop out rates.
I am not apposed to stealing a great idea when I hear one. Why are the reserves not setting up their own community run culturally sensitive learning centers for the children and our collective future?
Let the schools do their job and teach the relevant courses to prepare our young for the modern world. Let us take on the burden of teaching our young their culture, in their own languages.
Become that age old axiom of: "it takes a village to raise a child" for every ones benefit. Most especially the young, the future!
For an insightful and inspiring (true) story on underclass children, read Stand and Deliver by Nicholas Edwards. Or see the 1988 movie.
Regards Debra
Today to once again tackle the topic of education, specifically Aboriginal education, the province of British Columbia is flirting with a tiered school system or segregation.Mini school for Aboriginal students considered.
Should we even be entertaining this notion? A people that have experienced segregation endorsing further segregation...
First we must ask ourselves what do we want or expect of the school system? Yes the Indigenous culture took some grievous hits in the past, and now in an misguided effort to rectify these lessons of old there seems to be a concerted effort by the school boards to address this. Today many schools are offering Aboriginal study programs, from elementary to university level. In my more cynical moments I look at this as a huge f@#$-you to the Indigenous people. Think about it. Ban the culture and outlaw the ceremonies, and then "sell" it back to them at $500.00 a semester! But lets move on from my cynicism and look at what is happening in the school system today.
To bring in culture the system must remove something else to accommodate it. What would be being removed to this end?
Aboriginal parents like all parents want their children to have access to their culture, as well as a pertinent education befitting the expectations of the modern job market. Can this be done? Yes! Have others done it? Yes!
My own husband is a first generation Canadian citizen. His roots are Ukrainian, with proud Ukrainian parents who spoke their own language at home. They also immigrated to Montreal and were located in a very French enclave. As they came here before the French language laws were entrenched, the family had the option of attending either French or English school board. Being as they were not Catholic, it was decided that the children would be sent to the English school.
My husband's father wanted his children educated in their (Ukrainian history and culture) and as this was not offered to them, my father- in- law and others from the community rented a building and set up their own Ukrainian school, to be held on Saturdays for all the Ukrainian immigrant children in the neighbourhood.
This was a very viable solution to this problem, that many immigrants have seen and solved for their own children with-in their own communities.
When our own children were young we like all other parents wanted the best for, and from, our own sons. To achieve this we began early to make them aware of them selves and the world around them. We fostered a sense of self worth that was knowledge based.
I guess what I notice missing from nearly every article on Aboriginal education issues is the parents. What are their responsibilities? What of the reserve communities, and what are their expectations, and responsibilities? Do they not have a vested interest? What could they be doing to aide the children? We call them our future, yet we are not getting involved enough to bring a brighter future for all. It is a huge burden to place on the shoulders of the young to call them the future, and then do nothing to help them embrace that future. This I believe has led to disillusionment in the young and thus high drop out rates.
I am not apposed to stealing a great idea when I hear one. Why are the reserves not setting up their own community run culturally sensitive learning centers for the children and our collective future?
Let the schools do their job and teach the relevant courses to prepare our young for the modern world. Let us take on the burden of teaching our young their culture, in their own languages.
Become that age old axiom of: "it takes a village to raise a child" for every ones benefit. Most especially the young, the future!
For an insightful and inspiring (true) story on underclass children, read Stand and Deliver by Nicholas Edwards. Or see the 1988 movie.
Regards Debra
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A Simple Truth...Three Lefts Turns can make a Right...
Hi Friends
There was a rather disturbing report on APTN the other night over a Cree community in northern Quebec banning a sweat lodge and endorsing Christianity over Native spiritualism.
This was reminiscent of the mosque at ground zero controversy for me. I characterize it more as a tempest in a tea pot. But then I am not of any religious persuasion.
The usually, accepting Aboriginal communities from coast to coast, weighed in with what I can only describe as the usual intolerance of any other religious community.
read the comments as well...
To me this was more of a condemnation of Native spirituality than anything else I have ever heard, done by various First Nations' citizens and directed at other members of a First Nation community. We are no better than the haters from other religious factions within the global communities. For better or worse,... we are the same.
We share many of the same traits as the people we profess to be trying not, to emulate.
Our politicians lie to us. Our men abuse our women, our children are beaten and abused by their own parents, and our elders are every bit as ignored and shuttled off to homes as often as any others.
What is the ultimate lesson here? Have we attained equality, and is this the equality we want?
Now I could mention, "Stockholm syndrome" as a possible excuse, or call for an out right ban on religious practices, or even bully others into adopting my philosophies...but then I am left with another conundrum...exactly how many wrongs does it take, to make a right?
The fact that this story was in the news on Martin Luther King day was not lost on me, and in the words of another famous King I respectfully ask...
"Can't we all just get along?"
Rodney King ( L.A riots May 1992)
Regards Debra
There was a rather disturbing report on APTN the other night over a Cree community in northern Quebec banning a sweat lodge and endorsing Christianity over Native spiritualism.
This was reminiscent of the mosque at ground zero controversy for me. I characterize it more as a tempest in a tea pot. But then I am not of any religious persuasion.
The usually, accepting Aboriginal communities from coast to coast, weighed in with what I can only describe as the usual intolerance of any other religious community.
read the comments as well...
To me this was more of a condemnation of Native spirituality than anything else I have ever heard, done by various First Nations' citizens and directed at other members of a First Nation community. We are no better than the haters from other religious factions within the global communities. For better or worse,... we are the same.
We share many of the same traits as the people we profess to be trying not, to emulate.
Our politicians lie to us. Our men abuse our women, our children are beaten and abused by their own parents, and our elders are every bit as ignored and shuttled off to homes as often as any others.
What is the ultimate lesson here? Have we attained equality, and is this the equality we want?
Now I could mention, "Stockholm syndrome" as a possible excuse, or call for an out right ban on religious practices, or even bully others into adopting my philosophies...but then I am left with another conundrum...exactly how many wrongs does it take, to make a right?
The fact that this story was in the news on Martin Luther King day was not lost on me, and in the words of another famous King I respectfully ask...
"Can't we all just get along?"
Rodney King ( L.A riots May 1992)
Regards Debra
Thursday, January 6, 2011
A little Clarification...
Hi Friends
Today lets explore the real facts behind the racist comments usually found at the end of any and all newspaper articles about, or dealing with, Aboriginal issues, shall we?
As an off reserve member living and working outside of the community, and sometimes the only Aboriginal person they have ever come in contact with, it is usually on me to explain the Aboriginal side of the story to the many uninformed that I come in contact with. I'll start with the taxation thing.
Even new Canadians are told about taxes not being collected from the First Nations. I usually start by clarifying this false notion.
I live and work off reserve and as such do indeed pay taxes,(income, as well as property and GST) just as they do. This is usually met with skepticism as the Canadian government handbook, for immigration, has it stated right in there that Indigenous peoples of this country, do not pay taxes. This seems to be the one and only thing about the First Nations that the government, tell new citizens...my question is...why?
Does this seem designed to set up a divide between the First Nations and the new Canadians, or am I being just too sensitive?
Do the immigration hand books also state that churches are tax exempt as well?
On the subject of religion lets look at what the prevailing school of thought on Indigenous spirituality is, shall we?
Your culture is primitive and wrong and needs to be abandoned for your own growth as a people.
I also see our own people embracing Christianity over First Nations spirituality, for whatever reason: most likely residential school hang-over. It is somehow thought to be primitive to espouse the connectedness of our world.
We are living the upside down life of the colonized. We no longer cheer the collective, as was our way, but praise the individual a la the dominant culture.
We are no longer interconnected with mother earth, as we once were, but each is out for him/herself.
These are not our ways, but the way of the colonizer, as taught to us through the colonization process.
Indigenous spirituality teaches us that we are the least of the Creators gifts. Mother Earth is first, then the water, and the plant life followed by the animals and then and only then man...nothing NEEDS us to survive, but we most definitely need the all other of the Creators gifts to sustain us.
Our way is not to be so pompous as to believe that we are the top, or made in the image of our God, but neither born of original sin, one step away from eternal damnation...and by default necessary for the survival of all other things in our universe! changing Mother Earth to suit us, with no thought to the destruction we leave in our wake. Yet that is the way of the Christian religion, and they think we have it wrong and are savage.
I also believe that the tax issue is the same flipped around thinking being proffered by the governments of the day. They can not reconcile themselves with the basic fact that we as the original peoples, are the true proprietors, and further more, as we have never ceded our lands to them, that these resources belong to the Indigenous peoples and it follows that they are here through our altruism. They can't see the preposterous idea this is; to be taxed by a foreign government in our own land.
The real tax issue debated, weather it be chief's salaries, or tax exemption for the First Nations is: this is a constitutionally protected right of the First Nations here in Canada and must be defended as such.
It is not favored treatment of the First Nations, as so many seem to think it is. You can hardly blame the uneducated masses inability to understand what the Canadian government clearly spins as Indigenous greed. It is a lie, we the First Nations know it, and now so should everyone else.
Can I get an "amen" right here that, the Canadian constitution was brought home by an intellectual, and a leader, that understood that to lead in a democratic society, means the "will of the people must prevail" no matter what your personal opinion may be.
A far cry from the "my way or the hi-way" thinking of the dictatorial current government.
Indigenous issues are not easy to decipher or explain, nor are there easy fixes for us, but for sure we must never give up. To see the true picture some times it is beneficial to do as I do and flip things around...just remember to celebrate our ways while doing it.
regards Debra
Today lets explore the real facts behind the racist comments usually found at the end of any and all newspaper articles about, or dealing with, Aboriginal issues, shall we?
As an off reserve member living and working outside of the community, and sometimes the only Aboriginal person they have ever come in contact with, it is usually on me to explain the Aboriginal side of the story to the many uninformed that I come in contact with. I'll start with the taxation thing.
Even new Canadians are told about taxes not being collected from the First Nations. I usually start by clarifying this false notion.
I live and work off reserve and as such do indeed pay taxes,(income, as well as property and GST) just as they do. This is usually met with skepticism as the Canadian government handbook, for immigration, has it stated right in there that Indigenous peoples of this country, do not pay taxes. This seems to be the one and only thing about the First Nations that the government, tell new citizens...my question is...why?
Does this seem designed to set up a divide between the First Nations and the new Canadians, or am I being just too sensitive?
Do the immigration hand books also state that churches are tax exempt as well?
On the subject of religion lets look at what the prevailing school of thought on Indigenous spirituality is, shall we?
Your culture is primitive and wrong and needs to be abandoned for your own growth as a people.
I also see our own people embracing Christianity over First Nations spirituality, for whatever reason: most likely residential school hang-over. It is somehow thought to be primitive to espouse the connectedness of our world.
We are living the upside down life of the colonized. We no longer cheer the collective, as was our way, but praise the individual a la the dominant culture.
We are no longer interconnected with mother earth, as we once were, but each is out for him/herself.
These are not our ways, but the way of the colonizer, as taught to us through the colonization process.
Indigenous spirituality teaches us that we are the least of the Creators gifts. Mother Earth is first, then the water, and the plant life followed by the animals and then and only then man...nothing NEEDS us to survive, but we most definitely need the all other of the Creators gifts to sustain us.
Our way is not to be so pompous as to believe that we are the top, or made in the image of our God, but neither born of original sin, one step away from eternal damnation...and by default necessary for the survival of all other things in our universe! changing Mother Earth to suit us, with no thought to the destruction we leave in our wake. Yet that is the way of the Christian religion, and they think we have it wrong and are savage.
I also believe that the tax issue is the same flipped around thinking being proffered by the governments of the day. They can not reconcile themselves with the basic fact that we as the original peoples, are the true proprietors, and further more, as we have never ceded our lands to them, that these resources belong to the Indigenous peoples and it follows that they are here through our altruism. They can't see the preposterous idea this is; to be taxed by a foreign government in our own land.
The real tax issue debated, weather it be chief's salaries, or tax exemption for the First Nations is: this is a constitutionally protected right of the First Nations here in Canada and must be defended as such.
It is not favored treatment of the First Nations, as so many seem to think it is. You can hardly blame the uneducated masses inability to understand what the Canadian government clearly spins as Indigenous greed. It is a lie, we the First Nations know it, and now so should everyone else.
Can I get an "amen" right here that, the Canadian constitution was brought home by an intellectual, and a leader, that understood that to lead in a democratic society, means the "will of the people must prevail" no matter what your personal opinion may be.
A far cry from the "my way or the hi-way" thinking of the dictatorial current government.
Indigenous issues are not easy to decipher or explain, nor are there easy fixes for us, but for sure we must never give up. To see the true picture some times it is beneficial to do as I do and flip things around...just remember to celebrate our ways while doing it.
regards Debra
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