What do the Indians want? Serisously?
I honestly don't know any more. Some just want the treaties to be honoured and errors to be addressed(much like myself), while others seek for the Feds to pay for some long since past act that I fail to see as relavent.
That is a serious question. I worked with aboriginal children for 8 yrs and was really involved their parents and the aboriginal 'community' in general withing this city . You want to talk about racism and bigotry, I've been called everything from Snow Whitey to a Wanna be Indian. I mean, wtf is up with that? Can't we all just get along without living in the past and holding on to prejudices? IMHO, the feds should up hold the treaty obligations, and the native commuinty should really provide more LEADERSHIP within their own communities and other native communities. Did you know the degree of self-rule with respect to reserves has a direct relation to sucide rates?
I'ld like to tank you for your efforts, and offer you my heart felt apology for the stupidity expressed to you. We are not all that ignorant.
I was wondering if you could PM me some info on the suicide rates and self rule, I would love to have that info at my disposal, for future use, if you wouldn't mind?
I'm babbling and just venting a bit. I guess I have no real point. Heh, Heh.
I wouldn't sell yourself so short, you made a couple good points as far as I'm concerned and I thank you for it.
Ok,thank you very much CDNbear.
You're welcome.
But there has to be some tribe leaders in various reserves, that don't represent the Native community as whole in good light.. I have seen some on Winnipeg news, who don't really, whats the word, represent effectively.
If I wanted to be sued into bankruptcy, I could post a fairly good sized list of Native leaders that have been hilited, by my own small network, as crooks and thieves. The evidence is still forthcoming, so I can not in all good conscience do so, but you are not wrong, we have our share of asshats running the roosts.
In the same light, I can post scandals and crimes committed by every political party, in Canada and the US, so should the Natives encompass the entire Non Native community in the light their leaders create?
So basically the treaties are, in different terms, a surrender agreement?
Nope, not at all. In many cases, the treaties were considered a contract to a working relationship. In the case of the Confederacy, we entered into the Covenant Chain and Two row Wampum agreements, which was an agreement to walk a path side by side as two Nations.
Even if they were terms of surrender, under international law, those terms of surrender must be honoured or renegotiated, for time imemorium.
I can provide you with links to videos and documentation, explaining these if you would like.
Another off-topic questions, do natives still believe in their (irony), native religions?
Yes. But like the Non Native community, it is a wide and varying cross section of religous beliefs. Thanks to the residential schools, a lot of our religion was replaced by Christianity, by force. It is slowly making its way back into the lives of the First Nations and I suspect that will play a large roll in our healing. I for one, am one of those that have been healed by my return to the old traditions and beliefs.
Like the great spirit and all those tales we here about as kids on TV shows, does that old belief still exist amongst Natives.
Yes, very much so. In many cases, The Great Spirit is seen as the Christian God.
I know Matie (french-native cross) woman who I am friends with who is Christian.
I have family that are considered Metis, I have worked with the Metis Nation in my Province, with regards to the corrupt leaders you spoke of earlier.
This is the beauty of freedom of religion, anyone can believe what they want.
Thats what I don't get! Do natives still have the same beliefs their ancestors did centuries ago? or has that been lost?
It was lost, well actually beaten out of us, but it is making its way back into our lives, as I have already stated.
Also, why do they call it "Indian" Affairs. I thought everyone knows its Native/Aboriginal/First Nations.
There is no accounting for some peoples stupidity, and the Fed's are not immune and have made a sport of that.
On that note: What do you prefer to be called! I don't know! lol.
Bear