First nation Third world Second thoughts

Hi Friends

Its not news that many First Nation communities are living in "developing world" conditions. Many First Nation citizens have to be vigilant, not only to the best efforts of the Canadian government to keep them down, but sadly to their own elected chiefs and councils. What are the reasons for downing your own?

Good question.

Sometimes it's around jealousies stretching back over generations, fear and greed around the welcoming back of your enfranchised members, and yet another is the paternalism surrounding the ever present Indian Act. An even more more insidious motive could be the wanton greed of people who have been held out of larger society for so long. The truly unfortunate lesson of extreme poverty is, "hang on to whatever you can get your hands on and damn the consequences of tomorrow."


Regarding the residents of most reserves I've been to, there is one thing that stands out. Most people I've spoken with have had issues with the oppressive Indian Act and as such are now well versed on all the nuances in the act. The only hope for some, as they see it is to bend their lives into compliance within the Act. I have heard plenty of anger and feelings of frustration, but as yet, have not heard out right opposition to or civil disobedience in response to the Indian Act. This, in my opinion is the most insidious effect of colonialism. The ability to erode the confidence of a people and leave them feeling sterile and frozen in any effort to change their lot.


Having grown up in the turbulent sixties with the examples of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and the civil rights movement on television nightly, I was unprepared for the First Nations communities' seeming acceptance of this racist document to direct their lives.


Being so new into politics, (we have only had the vote since the sixties) as we are, we definitely have a lot of catching up to do. We seem to be quick learners though as some of our politicians have learned how to feather their own nests and line their pockets and ignore the plight of their own people as competently and completely as any other governments.


We come from finer stock then this. It was the ideologies of sharing and kindness that helped us survive to this point in time. These tenets have served us well in the past and can again in the future. It is incumbent on us to find our way back to them, for our own well being.


We must fund our own political efforts. Can the AFN while funded by Canada, really be expected to lobby for the First Nations and their needs against the very gravy-train they are riding? Not very likely. Remember the old adage; you get what you pay for. I'm no lawyer but isn't that a conflict of interest?


Do we have unimpeachable modern leadership to look to in our collective struggle? I believe yes we do. I have met some and have followed the careers of others.
Great charismatic leaders are a rarity in any culture. I believe we have such a man in Ovide Mercredi. I am a fan.
regards debra