The Problems Facing Canadian Natives

[Tanner]

I will be conducting workup trg for a deployment starting in Jun-Jul 05. Like many people who serve in the CF,  I will undergo a long drawn out pre-deployment family goodbye that will last for approx six months. The deployment will probably take me through next X-mas so I will start my shopping soon. Perhaps I'll make a video tape or two for the wife to coveroff birthdays and other missed events. She likes surprises. I will update my will and purchase some extra insurance. You know, in case something happens, they will be cared for. When my family asks me why I am leaving, again, my answer will be that I am a Peacekeeper, that I am going to a foreign country to help protect little boys and little girls.

What they will not hear is that I have a hardened tungsten dart that I am prepared to put through the cranium of some individual who has probably reconciled his family issues in much the same way as I did. They will not hear that I am going to close with and destroy the enemy with every available means before he destroys me. Somehow I don't feel my family would understand the logic, nor would they appreciate the thought that I might be capable of such an act.

Every time I leave camp, I will have placed rounds up the spout. I will be looking for targets. Maybe the kid with the backpack...perhaps the old lady??? Safety's off, "Old lady with bag- On", "Wait!" "Check Fire!!!". If I repeat that fire order enough times maybe it might seem acceptable. Though, the targets at home never looked like these. How will I ever be able to explain this to my children.

With a little luck, I will make it through. Hope I don't end up like Rob. That was a bad scene. Really bad! It was the kid with the backpack. Better remind myself to send his wife a card when I get home. I wonder if she will still be in the Q's? Probably not, it's been awhile.

When I get back, it will take the nerves a few months to relax. The shits may take a while longer, but hey, it should all settle down in good time. Probably need to keep reminding myself not to do the combat appreciations in Canada since the enemy is not really that close.

Eventually, I will discover something in common with my family. I will try to rebuild what's left of the relationship. Maybe it will work out, maybe it won't. They would have gotten on with their lives. Though, the feeling of being a stranger and intruder in you own home is hard to manage.

I choose to call my self a Peacekeeper. I don't debate the minutia regarding the proper application of MOC/ BTS or whatever. Nor do I slap my own back at NDP rallies, I don't really care that much for politicians. I have no patience for lectures on the application of fire on a two way range nor do not tolerate someone presuming to tell me how I should view my job. I sell it to my family the only way I can. The only way that is acceptable TO THEM.

Maybe with time, marriage and children you both will understand.

This will be my last post on this subject. If you choose to discuss something of value, I will participate. Otherwise, Good Luck.

 

[dutchie]

This will be my last post on this subject.

While I don't expect you to reply, I felt compelled to reply to you......

When my family asks me why I am leaving, again, my answer will be that I am a Peacekeeper, that I am going to a foreign country to help protect little boys and little girls.

While I agree (as a parent) that you shouldn't reveal the true nature of your job to young children, we are your colleagues, not your kids. You can call yourself what you are to us, a soldier.

Maybe with time, marriage and children you both will understand.

I've got a little bit of TI, I am married, and I do have kids, so maybe you shouldn't assume.


Anyhow, back to the topic........does any one have anything good to say about our current system and philosophy regarding Native relations?

 

[Bograt]

Anyhow, back to the topic........does any one have anything good to say about our current system and philosophy regarding Native relations?

My greatgrandmother was Inuit. You probably don't mean that kind of native relations....

I have been following this thread with interest. I was particularly interested when Davis Inlet was mentioned. As a person with Metis status, and from Newfoundland I was curious to know other opinions on this topic.

I am a conservative guy. I believe in holding people accountable, and taking responsibility for one actions. Aboriginal leadership, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador is desperately lacking. They are unwilling to tackle basic issues like "dry communities" and basic education. I will not go into the litany issues concerning aboriginal people of the North. It certainly is not a question of money, but rather of leadership and denial. Until aboriginal communities take ownership of their circumstance the status quo will not change.

During the recent band leader elections I do not know what was the more unpleasant site- the intoxicated children and bruised and beaten women- or the band leader candidates unloading the campaign booze from the boat.

 

[dutchie]

Until aboriginal communities take ownership of their circumstance the status quo will not change.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

During the recent band leader elections I do not know what was the more unpleasant site- the intoxicated children and bruised and beaten women- or the band leader candidates unloading the campaign booze from the boat.

That's pretty sad. If this is not uncommon (and I suspect it's not), then there is a huge problem. Maybe a complete and total ban on booze on native reserves is in order?

 

[Bograt]

That's pretty sad. If this is not uncommon (and I suspect it's not), then there is a huge problem. Maybe a complete and total ban on booze on native reserves is in order?

It is not sad. It is horrific. There is an industry associated with supplying remote communities with alcohol. Leaders of these communities are part of the supply chain, and there is big money associated with it. Also, provincial and federal government do not have jurisdiction to regulate the flow of booze in aboriginal communities- only the band does. If leaders are making money from the trafficking, and a populous are alcoholics there will be no change. The Federal and Provincial governments are unable/unwilling to act.

Last year 6 children burned to death in Davis while their parents were drunk. Over the past 2 months 4 aboriginal teens have committed suicide in Labrador.

The situtation is discusting. Its not the result of Colonialism or marginalization. These are addicts who are subjected to criminal local leadership under the name of self government. They slowly drink themselves into extinction while we watch bound to ancient treaties and misguided righteous ideology.

Sorry for the rant.

 

[dutchie]

No applogies required - this is truly a sick and unacceptable situation. Through the realtively good intent of reconciling with the natives we provided the Natives with self-government. We did not, however,   provide the skills to govern or any checks and balances to ensure the government is run fairly.

As a Canadian, you have certain rights, and the government has certain responsibilites (As garanteed by the Constitution and the Charter). I'm no expert, but doesn't the Band profiting from trafficking in booze to the severe detrmiment of their people violate a whole slew of laws? Are these people not still protected by the Constitution and the Charter?

Have the political consequences of opposing band councils on jurisdiction (in this case) prevented us from protecting these CANADIANS from self-destruction assisted by their 'Leaders'? Are we going to 'Care-So-Much' these people to death?

I still don't see a problem with banning all alchohol from reserve/native land. Native self-government be dammed, this is still Canada.

 

[I_am_John_Galt]

As a Canadian, you have certain rights, and the government has certain responsibilites (As garanteed by the Constitution and the Charter).

I think Steyn's point, and I'm inclined to agree, is that the problem is that in Canada there are different rights and responsibilities, depending on who your ancestors were ...

 

[dutchie]

I think Steyn's point, and I'm inclined to agree, is that the problem is that in Canada there are different rights and responsibilities, depending on who your ancestors were ...

I got that, I guess I wasn't clear on my point: we have created   a system that has caused the natives more harm by exempting them from the protections that you and I enjoy. That should be changed, challenged in Court, or ignored altogether.

 

[Canuck_25]

As someone who lives near 2 native reserves and goes to a highschool that has 20% native population in it, i think i can offer whay i see of the "native problem."  Well, the natives at my school get paid 2 dollars a day to attend highschool. Thus, many non natives feel jelous of this, because its discriminate. My step brother works on a native reserve and he is suprised how much money is put into it. He recieves a high salary and dosnt have to work much. His oppinon is that the reserves are very inefficent and should be shut down. Also, the govermental system in each reserve is not elected officails. Those who run the reserve are chosen by birth. Thus, if your a wattams, you will become cheif.

I say scrap reserves, scrap specail privaliges. The native peoples in British columbia are very conservative, and do not want to adjust to change. They practically live for free of our tax dollars and thus do not know how live in regular society.

Now, not all natives are like this. I have native friends who do not live on reserves and i praise them for that. They work regular jobs and dont recieve goverment hand outs, they are also wealthier too.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Welcome to the collision of high ideals ("self-government", in this case) with human nature and cultural traditions.

It took us (for the sake of argument, the anglosaxon-influenced branch of western civilization stemming from the Greco-Roman root) several centuries to get to where we are, and we are not yet free from the friction of selfishness among those in public service.  Why should it take other cultures any less time, if not longer?  We should all just embrace our Canadian Values and let the distinct aboriginal cultures here, as well as foreign cultures in general in other nations, find their own destiny.  Since they have our example to follow or not, surely they will take one or two centuries less to sort it out for themselves.  Regardless, we should not pretend that doctrines of non-interference have no costs.

Or, we could be arrogant and push our values more firmly.

 

[camochick]

As someone who lives near 2 native reserves and goes to a highschool that has 20% native population in it, i think i can offer whay i see of the "native problem."   Well, the natives at my school get paid 2 dollars a day to attend highschool. Thus, many non natives feel jelous of this, because its discriminate. My step brother works on a native reserve and he is suprised how much money is put into it. He recieves a high salary and dosnt have to work much. His oppinon is that the reserves are very inefficent and should be shut down. Also, the govermental system in each reserve is not elected officails. Those who run the reserve are chosen by birth. Thus, if your a wattams, you will become cheif.

I say scrap reserves, scrap specail privaliges. The native peoples in British columbia are very conservative, and do not want to adjust to change. They practically live for free of our tax dollars and thus do not know how live in regular society.

Now, not all natives are like this. I have native friends who do not live on reserves and i praise them for that. They work regular jobs and dont recieve goverment hand outs, they are also wealthier too.

Ok, well i can see how alot of people believe natives live free off our tax money. Yeah they do get alot of money given to them. But at what cost. They had their culture ripped away from them, they were sent to residental schools, suffered abuse, told they couldnt speak their own language.... the list goes on. The government has made a mess of things and instead of owning up to that fact they just shove some moeny at them and tell them to shut up. The cycle needs to be broken. They need to find ways to help them help themselves. This money they give them is obviously not working, but neither would just shoving them off the reserves .The aboriginal governments need to be held accountable as well as the canadian government. I used to think the way you do until i actually talked to two people in depth about their life on a reserve and let me tell you, it's not what you think. But these two made it out and are now in university. 

 

[Infanteer]

http://www.taxpayer.com/pdf/APARTHEID_Canadas_Ugly_Secret_April_2004.pdf

 

[NavyGrunt]

http://www.taxpayer.com/pdf/APARTHEID_Canadas_Ugly_Secret_April_2004.pdf

Thanks for the read there Infanteer.

 

[camochick]

an interesting report. More people should read it before they pass judgement.

 

[pbi]

The cycle needs to be broken. They need to find ways to help them help themselves. This money they give them is obviously not working, but neither would just shoving them off the reserves .The aboriginal governments need to be held accountable as well as the canadian government. I used to think the way you do until i actually talked to two people in depth about their life on a reserve and let me tell you, it's not what you think. But these two made it out and are now in university.  

From what I can make out, this is the answer, right here. The First Nations will have to lead themselves out of the mess: our job is to help them, not smother them with guilt-driven political correctness them nor punish them with vengeful ideas. The'yre Canadians, after all. Cheers.

 

[Canuck_25]

Well, you wont be seeing them leave reserves or seeing reserves abolished. You must realize, many native people resent the white man. Now, the native people see solving the problem of poverty is increasd reserve sizes, ability to log and fish without restrictions (as their ancsestors did) and increased goverment pay outs.

B.C. had a referendum, and British columbians voted in keeping reserves.

 

[Infanteer]

Canuck, BC never had that referendum.   It was an open vote concerning the Nisga'a Treaty Process, and the results were not official.

You should do a little less yakking and a little more reading.

 

[dutchie]

The First Nations will have to lead themselves out of the mess: our job is to help them, not smother them with guilt-driven political correctness them nor punish them with vengeful ideas. The'yre Canadians, after all. Cheers.

That's what really bothers me about this whole issue. First and foremost, Natives are Canadians. IMHO, the Government has allowed their desire to give Natives self-government and self determination to over-ride their responsiblity to protect them as Canadian citizens. Sure, that protection is from themselves, and to protect them, in the case mentioned of Band Leaders bringning in copious amounts of booze, it would entail infringments on the 'soveriegnty' of their Band Council, but so be it.

We had a referendum on Quebec's Distinct Society status, and we as Canadians rejected it. Despite our varied ethnic background, we are all Canadians, all equal. Why should anyone be treated differently (better or worse) because of their ethnic makeup? Haven;t we rejected that as immoral?

 

[Torlyn]

Canuck, BC never had that referendum.  It was an open vote concerning the Nisga'a Treaty Process, and the results were not official.

You should do a little less yakking and a little more reading.

Got that right...  In regards to the Nisga'a Treaty, check the following link.

http://www.gov.bc.ca/tno/negotiation/nisgaa/docs/general_provisions.htm

Notice sections 26 & 27.  I think this is a brilliant solution.  One final payoff, then you're on your own.  The government will offer suggestions, but no more money...  Wonder if this could be implemented as successfully elsewhere in Canada.

T

 

[mo-litia]

I am trained to be soldier, yet I prefer the title of Peacekeeper.

The last time I checked, peacekeeping was a minor military operation - not even one tenth of the job that a soldier does.  We train for war, hope for peace - but I do not go around waving a U.N. flag and shouting, "I'm a peacekeeper, just TRAINED as a soldier!"

Give your head a shake.