The "Native" issue

[CDNBear]

I started something in my intro post, but I think it would be better suited in here. I also see that the same course is being taken in the Oka thread, so perhaps a new thread covering the issuae of the Native issue is in order.

I see terms like "Self Government " and "victimhood", as well as the usual party guest at a Native conversation, alcoholism and gambling.

Oh where to begin.

The issues facing the Natives are blurred by the outward perceptions they create themselves. Now lets face it, you sew, so shall ye reep. I will attack generalizations because they blanket the whole of the Nations unfairly. But still my people do perpetuate the stereotypes we long to purge ourselves from.

I've seem alcoholism up close and in person, being an alcoholic myself, I grew up with a functioning alcoholic. I've seen the res from the inside, the back door deals the crooked chiefs, the organized crime. Those are the very reasons my Grand Father moved us off the res in the first place.

How do we fix that? Send in the QPP? OH Please! They shot their own guy at Oka. Send in the Army? Great, isn't that going to end up like Iraq and Afganistan? A whole lot of innocent people killed in the cross fire. How about we do the liberal thing and throw money at the problem? Great, now the corrupt get richer and the poor stay poor.

The issues are many, so lets break it down and argue out each issue individually.

Lets start with something simple, drinking water. We can send a military water filtration/treatment unit half way around the world to aid sunami victims, but we can't get fresh water on a suffering reserve without spending millions?

Lets start with that, anyone have a reasonable defence of this mind boggling problem?

 

[wallyj]

Most if not all reserves have water treatment plants. The problem is that they are not well maintained by the band.If you want to keep it working the plants require competent maintenance,not a relative who shows up when it breaks down.The way out of the circle of poverty is through education. Unfortunately many on the reserves do not think they should learn the "white man's ways." They want everything the working people have except the jobs.

 

[Researcher87]

Most if not all reserves have water treatment plants. The problem is that they are not well maintained by the band.If you want to keep it working the plants require competent maintenance,not a relative who shows up when it breaks down.The way out of the circle of poverty is through education. Unfortunately many on the reserves do not think they should learn the "white man's ways." They want everything the working people have except the jobs. :lol:

Would you go to all reserves and verify for me that they have treatment plants. If they did we wouldn't be having this problem with 200 + rserves with water problems.

And if they do have plants they are a federal responsibility to run, because Natives are federal responsibility.

 

[EastSideScotian]

Re: RE: The "Native" issue

Most if not all reserves have water treatment plants. The problem is that they are not well maintained by the band.If you want to keep it working the plants require competent maintenance,not a relative who shows up when it breaks down.The way out of the circle of poverty is through education. Unfortunately many on the reserves do not think they should learn the "white man's ways." They want everything the working people have except the jobs.

Where did you get your Information, Most reserves have so many water issues do too little or not Filtration at all. Could be ebcaus eht efew plants they have are maintained poorly and yes natives should maintain their own things.


One issueI would liek to debate is the Whole Native Rights thing, It causes huge Riffs ebtween Canadians and Natives, hwo can we overcome Or comabt that? Like Fishing and Lobster trapping. Lumber.

 

[Researcher87]

With the Native Issue, I would take a strong Native stance to that. Because for example, if industries, like the lobster fishery survived with just White fishers, why can't it survive with a small slice going to the natives for economic survival. The lobsters would still be there. No white person would suffer if Natives want to take a few lobsters or any fishery for example.

For example, The Fraser River, the Fraser River people and there are a few bands, I do apologize because i don't remember all their names, get on annual only 400,000 fish and Stephan Harper would want to get rid of this race based fisheries because he doesn't understand the importance, the spiritual importance of such a fishery and the impact that 400,000 to 0 fish most likely would have on the native communities.

 

[Researcher87]

Anyone else have an idea about the 'Native" issue?

 

[CDNBear]

With the Native Issue, I would take a strong Native stance to that. Because for example, if industries, like the lobster fishery survived with just White fishers, why can't it survive with a small slice going to the natives for economic survival. The lobsters would still be there. No white person would suffer if Natives want to take a few lobsters or any fishery for example.

For example, The Fraser River, the Fraser River people and there are a few bands, I do apologize because i don't remember all their names, get on annual only 400,000 fish and Stephan Harper would want to get rid of this race based fisheries because he doesn't understand the importance, the spiritual importance of such a fishery and the impact that 400,000 to 0 fish most likely would have on the native communities.

Unfortunetly, like in all walks of life, there are those that abuse the environment and all it has to offer.

The Native community is not immune to these abuses. There are Metis that sought out their status just to obtain their harvet card and then go out and rape rivers, lakes and woods of wild life.

There are many stories of Natives taking more then they need and selling fish and or game for a profit outside of treaty arrangements and/or licensing agreements with the Ministry of Natural Resourches. Completely in contrary to the collective agreement not to act like the "white man" in such areas.

In many cases, it's a simple case of instant freedom and a way to strike a blow at or against the "white man". In other instances, it's little more then pure greed or ignorance.

This all brings me to the harshest thing I will say about my people. We are not ready for self Government. On the whole we are unable to control ourselves when given the instant freedom and still not have the skills to wheeled the value of, with self control.

I have taken to task many of the Nations on these issues, and been chastised for it. My status is perminantly jeporized because of my attacks against Tony Belcourt, leader of the Metis Nation of Ontario(MNO). His actions against the Toronto Metis Counsil(TMC) and it's elected leader Hall Taylor are for lack of a better term,criminal. His seemingly corrupt and alleged illegal activities forced Hall Taylor to take the TMC and leave the umbrella of the MNO. In so doing removing Mr. Belcourt's ablity to access their bank accounts, thus causing Mr. Belcourt to take agressive and coersive action against the TMC and Hall Taylor their elected leader.

The documentation outlining Mr. Belcourts alleged criminal activities has been substantiated and handed over to the Federal Government, but as to my knowledge, no action has been taken as of yet and he still heads the MNO.

This is but one Nation. Can you imagine if self Governance was issued tomorrow. There would be a complete melt down in the social order on many if not all reserves across Canada. I realize how condemning this sounds, especially from an advocate, but it is a very real posibility. Is self Governance totally unattainable for the First Nations, no. But it will require a serious over haul of the present Native Government and how moneys are allocated before any form of self Governance would be able to perform effiently and free from corruption of the levels now evident in the present system.

This includes fisheries and wildlife harvesting.

 

[Gonzo]

Look at the history of first nations in Canada. They were taken from their land, forced to abandon their own religion, raped and abused, then thrown in reserves that are like third world conditions. Some become alcoholics and the cycle of abuse continues through generations. Natives have the highest suicide rate in Canada. No one wants to talk about that. Why do they have the highest suicide rate? Maybe their living conditions. When did natives get the right to vote in Canada? The 60's. Before, they had to give up their native status.

 

[Researcher87]

Thank you Gonzo and CDN Bear for your comments, and they are interesting. For one, Natives deserve self-government, there is no doubt but like CDN_Bear states maybe we are moving at it too quickly or in the wrong direction with corrupt Native officials, who through the Indian Act had their positions created who knows when.

 

[lena]

just a side note
the water issue is NOT ONLY a native rez issue
Yes it has come to light as of late but wow its all over nowadays.
ALL WATERS NEED to be looked at....