Hi Friends
I have blogged before about the ghoulish practices of Mr. Harpers Conservatives as regards the pressing needs of the aboriginal children in Canada.
When do the actions or inaction of any government constitute genocide? I guess, to Stephen Harper and his ilk, the ends justify the means.
Click here
Though this is an independent body and supposedly free from interference from the government what so ever...how many really believe this?
How long have our leaders been bringing these issues to the Canadian government and the Canadian people?
Here is yet another site to check out.
click here
Where is the government's outrage over this deplorable situation? Where is their accountability? Like the residential schools before, who's skirts will they hide behind next time? Yeah it was those fine religious institutions who petitioned the governments to set up the residential schools, but it was the government policies that allowed them to thrive. Who are they in cahoots with this time?
I guess we will have to just wait and see when they apologize for the next round of dead aboriginal children.
Debra
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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
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
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Taxing Times
Hi Friends
The Mc Guinty liberal government has decided to introduce the HST to Ontario.
A harmonized tax (or cash cow) has been used in other provinces of the country with certain exemptions offered. Not so in Ontario. Ontario has not created an exemption for it's First Nations citizens, nor has the Ontario government consulted with the First Nations, as it is lawfully required to do about this proposed tax. First Nations in the province regard this as a direct attack on our rights.
This is particularly disquieting as it was just last month that the newly minted Ontario aboriginal affairs minister (Brad Duguid...pronounced Do-good) was interviewed on Nation Talk and gave a very hopeful interview where he talked about consulting with and bringing new respect to the governments dealings with the First Nations of Ontario.
click here
Is this just another example of the infamous forked tongue of the white politicians?
These are taxing times for the Nations in so many ways. Our patience is being taxed, along with our constitutionally protected rights to nationhood. Will the government be taxing other nation states without their consent?
Here is the where you can email Mr. McGuinty and minister Duguid and let them know what you think of their HST proposal.
click here
click here
regards
Debra
The Mc Guinty liberal government has decided to introduce the HST to Ontario.
A harmonized tax (or cash cow) has been used in other provinces of the country with certain exemptions offered. Not so in Ontario. Ontario has not created an exemption for it's First Nations citizens, nor has the Ontario government consulted with the First Nations, as it is lawfully required to do about this proposed tax. First Nations in the province regard this as a direct attack on our rights.
This is particularly disquieting as it was just last month that the newly minted Ontario aboriginal affairs minister (Brad Duguid...pronounced Do-good) was interviewed on Nation Talk and gave a very hopeful interview where he talked about consulting with and bringing new respect to the governments dealings with the First Nations of Ontario.
click here
Is this just another example of the infamous forked tongue of the white politicians?
These are taxing times for the Nations in so many ways. Our patience is being taxed, along with our constitutionally protected rights to nationhood. Will the government be taxing other nation states without their consent?
Here is the where you can email Mr. McGuinty and minister Duguid and let them know what you think of their HST proposal.
click here
click here
regards
Debra
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Hmmm Lets study this a little further...
Hi Friends
I've been reading a lot lately about the extreme poverty on many reserves in this country. The reality is that third world conditions do not just apply to the reserves, but also for many aboriginals, it extends to the urban centers as well.
This, like every issue surrounding aboriginal communities has been thoroughly studied.
Canada has paid a hefty price economically, as well as reputation wise for the commission of, and then the shelving of these studies. The First Nations have also paid dearly for these ignored recommendations. Trust is gone, replaced by cynicism, reputations are tarnished, fed by racist hate speak around aboriginal issues, and hope has vanished for our young and elders alike.
The residential school survivors are dying off with no chance to tell their stories. The damage done to these communities is being passed off as a failing by the first nations. The government and much of society in general, refuse to acknowledge the genocide perpetrated by their colonialist policies while admonishing the First Nations to "get over it already". The youth in these communities are turning to suicide or to gang activity to deal with the sense of hopelessness they feel by the marginalized lives they lead. The social ills in these communities are only compounded by the sub standard housing and lack of employment, undelivered health care and poor education. The lack of will of those in government to address these issues head on and to do something concrete about them is glaringly obvious with every study shelved or dismissed as unworkable.
The more diabolical reason, that these studies get commissioned, then shelved, may be that the government only commissions these expensive studies to; (A) employ their friends and family
(B) "leak" more defamatory misinformation about the First Nation people
(C) never end their intent to deny the first nations a viable existence, or even more nefariously, finally and forever "rid themselves of the Indian problem" a quest started on in 1876 by Duncan Campbell Scott and the inaugural Indian Act legislation.
Here, I want to suggest yet another study. Lets find out once and for all, why all the studies, and truthfully, why no action?
click here
Debra
I've been reading a lot lately about the extreme poverty on many reserves in this country. The reality is that third world conditions do not just apply to the reserves, but also for many aboriginals, it extends to the urban centers as well.
This, like every issue surrounding aboriginal communities has been thoroughly studied.
Canada has paid a hefty price economically, as well as reputation wise for the commission of, and then the shelving of these studies. The First Nations have also paid dearly for these ignored recommendations. Trust is gone, replaced by cynicism, reputations are tarnished, fed by racist hate speak around aboriginal issues, and hope has vanished for our young and elders alike.
The residential school survivors are dying off with no chance to tell their stories. The damage done to these communities is being passed off as a failing by the first nations. The government and much of society in general, refuse to acknowledge the genocide perpetrated by their colonialist policies while admonishing the First Nations to "get over it already". The youth in these communities are turning to suicide or to gang activity to deal with the sense of hopelessness they feel by the marginalized lives they lead. The social ills in these communities are only compounded by the sub standard housing and lack of employment, undelivered health care and poor education. The lack of will of those in government to address these issues head on and to do something concrete about them is glaringly obvious with every study shelved or dismissed as unworkable.
The more diabolical reason, that these studies get commissioned, then shelved, may be that the government only commissions these expensive studies to; (A) employ their friends and family
(B) "leak" more defamatory misinformation about the First Nation people
(C) never end their intent to deny the first nations a viable existence, or even more nefariously, finally and forever "rid themselves of the Indian problem" a quest started on in 1876 by Duncan Campbell Scott and the inaugural Indian Act legislation.
Here, I want to suggest yet another study. Lets find out once and for all, why all the studies, and truthfully, why no action?
click here
Debra
Monday, October 26, 2009
History 101
Hi Friends
I'm astonished by how very little Non-Aboriginals seem to know about Canadian history.
Flip your thinking about Indians around. It was only with the help and care of the First Nations, that allowed the first settlers to survive, and thrive here. It was also the first nations here that willingly shared their land and their knowledge of the same that gave the new comers a home.
So, far from you and your Government allowing us, anything, it is we, who are suffering your trespassing and interference in our lives. If we could remove greed and fright from your minds, maybe this shared existence, could be the utopia we all planned it to be. We would need only to honor the treaties entered into by the First Nations and the new comers in the spirit in which they were written, Nation to Nation with respect on both sides.
It has become incumbent upon first nations to prove, to the letter, what each and every treaty protects...yet the successive Canadian governments give themselves plenty of lee way on their interpretation of these same treaties. Canada and many Canadians have enjoyed untold wealth from the ill gotten gains of this country, and all at the expense, and to, the degradation of the Indigenous peoples. Our plan of a shared existence became, colonization through the work of the Indian Act, and the will of the Canadian Governments.
All treaties have been, and still are being broken. So don't say; "This was in the past. why should it apply today. I didn't do this to you and yours. I shouldn't be held responsible for what my ancestors did."
Yes, you should, and yes you do continue the sad work of your ancestors every time you let yourself off the proverbial hook, over your elected officials further marginalization and abuse of the Indigenous peoples.
These things can and should be solved but it would definitely take will and honesty and fair dealing to do so. You even have a blue print to follow: the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men to do nothing". (Edmund Burke)
debra
I'm astonished by how very little Non-Aboriginals seem to know about Canadian history.
Flip your thinking about Indians around. It was only with the help and care of the First Nations, that allowed the first settlers to survive, and thrive here. It was also the first nations here that willingly shared their land and their knowledge of the same that gave the new comers a home.
So, far from you and your Government allowing us, anything, it is we, who are suffering your trespassing and interference in our lives. If we could remove greed and fright from your minds, maybe this shared existence, could be the utopia we all planned it to be. We would need only to honor the treaties entered into by the First Nations and the new comers in the spirit in which they were written, Nation to Nation with respect on both sides.
It has become incumbent upon first nations to prove, to the letter, what each and every treaty protects...yet the successive Canadian governments give themselves plenty of lee way on their interpretation of these same treaties. Canada and many Canadians have enjoyed untold wealth from the ill gotten gains of this country, and all at the expense, and to, the degradation of the Indigenous peoples. Our plan of a shared existence became, colonization through the work of the Indian Act, and the will of the Canadian Governments.
All treaties have been, and still are being broken. So don't say; "This was in the past. why should it apply today. I didn't do this to you and yours. I shouldn't be held responsible for what my ancestors did."
Yes, you should, and yes you do continue the sad work of your ancestors every time you let yourself off the proverbial hook, over your elected officials further marginalization and abuse of the Indigenous peoples.
These things can and should be solved but it would definitely take will and honesty and fair dealing to do so. You even have a blue print to follow: the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men to do nothing". (Edmund Burke)
debra
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
From a Member of the Human Race
Hi Friends
Did you see this?click here
Why is this not hate mongering? Can you imagine what the consequences would be if this were any other ethnic group being maligned in this way? What is the defense offered for this hugely offensive piece of drivel? It was meant as a humorous commentary? Where's the humor in it then?
She has written a book? Wow, my question is has she ever even read a book?...May I suggest that at least one of them should be history book.
What is her alma mater...the university of Hollywood? Fun though the oater genre may be, they are strictly for entertainment, and thus not historically factual at all. Sorry to tell you, there is no Santa Claus either. I know, I know. I've seen movies about him too.
You hear young Black comics and rappers refer to their friends using the "N-word" and have even been asked,.." if you guys use this term, then why can't I?" The answer always is..."I don't know, but you had better not"...inference being you're not black, and as such therefore have no justifiable reason what ever to use this most derogatory of terms. Maybe Ms. Marsden should adopt this as a guide post in her writings, so as to not offend, and or insult the culture of others.
The thing I find even more disquieting than the printing of this racist article (and to all you deniers, it is racist) is the numerous blogs in defense of it. The red necked bottom feeders were out in force, with their bemoaning political correctness,and ranting their "poor put upon me" rhetoric. Amazing to me, how Ms. Marsden and her supporters feel victimized when their intolerance of others is pointed out. Sadly mind boggling!
I want to believe we are better than this. Lets stop the racial hate speak, adopt the term Human Race in relation to each other and...evolve...
debra
Did you see this?click here
Why is this not hate mongering? Can you imagine what the consequences would be if this were any other ethnic group being maligned in this way? What is the defense offered for this hugely offensive piece of drivel? It was meant as a humorous commentary? Where's the humor in it then?
She has written a book? Wow, my question is has she ever even read a book?...May I suggest that at least one of them should be history book.
What is her alma mater...the university of Hollywood? Fun though the oater genre may be, they are strictly for entertainment, and thus not historically factual at all. Sorry to tell you, there is no Santa Claus either. I know, I know. I've seen movies about him too.
You hear young Black comics and rappers refer to their friends using the "N-word" and have even been asked,.." if you guys use this term, then why can't I?" The answer always is..."I don't know, but you had better not"...inference being you're not black, and as such therefore have no justifiable reason what ever to use this most derogatory of terms. Maybe Ms. Marsden should adopt this as a guide post in her writings, so as to not offend, and or insult the culture of others.
The thing I find even more disquieting than the printing of this racist article (and to all you deniers, it is racist) is the numerous blogs in defense of it. The red necked bottom feeders were out in force, with their bemoaning political correctness,and ranting their "poor put upon me" rhetoric. Amazing to me, how Ms. Marsden and her supporters feel victimized when their intolerance of others is pointed out. Sadly mind boggling!
I want to believe we are better than this. Lets stop the racial hate speak, adopt the term Human Race in relation to each other and...evolve...
debra
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thanks-for-nothing-day
Hi Friends
Lets talk about respect. Respect for the nation to nation dealings we have with each other. Respect for, and the upholding of the Constitution. Respect for the First Nations in their struggle to assume their rightful place in this country.
When governments run roughshod over the rights of citizens, and carry out a campaign of disinformation against the few, this is what can, and has, led to unrest, ethnic cleansing, civil wars and anarchy in extreme situations.
In the sixties, with a liberal government under P.E.Trudeau.
Canada was making it presence known on the world stage as a peace keeper, and a haven to the disenfranchised. We were proudly multi-cultural, yet the government of the day still sought to assimilate the first nations populations with a little piece of legislation known as the white paper.
This was answered by a young first nations man named Harold Cardinal who wrote a paper of his own dubbed the red paper. After this was put forward, the Liberals shelved the white paper proposition. Small victory. Then in 1982 the Constitution was brought home with section 35 guaranteeing aboriginal and treaty rights. Looked upon as a significant victory. Twenty-five years on still not being implemented...
First Nations communities across the country are suffering unspeakable woes. Who but the most callous among us can look into the face of a child and shrug off the pain and sorrow you see there? When ever I see the leaders of these communities begging for help, or read of the loss of lives to suicide in these communities or hear of the missing women or the disproportionate amount of incarcerated native men and women from these communities, I can only wonder 'where is your compassion for your fellow man?'
We as a country have just celebrated that most native of holidays...Thanksgiving. How many native communities had much to be thankful for do you think?
debra
Lets talk about respect. Respect for the nation to nation dealings we have with each other. Respect for, and the upholding of the Constitution. Respect for the First Nations in their struggle to assume their rightful place in this country.
When governments run roughshod over the rights of citizens, and carry out a campaign of disinformation against the few, this is what can, and has, led to unrest, ethnic cleansing, civil wars and anarchy in extreme situations.
In the sixties, with a liberal government under P.E.Trudeau.
Canada was making it presence known on the world stage as a peace keeper, and a haven to the disenfranchised. We were proudly multi-cultural, yet the government of the day still sought to assimilate the first nations populations with a little piece of legislation known as the white paper.
This was answered by a young first nations man named Harold Cardinal who wrote a paper of his own dubbed the red paper. After this was put forward, the Liberals shelved the white paper proposition. Small victory. Then in 1982 the Constitution was brought home with section 35 guaranteeing aboriginal and treaty rights. Looked upon as a significant victory. Twenty-five years on still not being implemented...
First Nations communities across the country are suffering unspeakable woes. Who but the most callous among us can look into the face of a child and shrug off the pain and sorrow you see there? When ever I see the leaders of these communities begging for help, or read of the loss of lives to suicide in these communities or hear of the missing women or the disproportionate amount of incarcerated native men and women from these communities, I can only wonder 'where is your compassion for your fellow man?'
We as a country have just celebrated that most native of holidays...Thanksgiving. How many native communities had much to be thankful for do you think?
debra
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