This comes as no surprise. Not to anyone familiar with the problems in First Nations communities, and not to the Innu themselves. Ray, at Pol:Spy writes:
When the feds moved 680 people from Davis Inlet, where many were killing themselves after a life of gas-sniffing, alcohol abuse and violence, they spent an average of $223,529.00 per person on modern bungalows with heat and running water - something the Innu never had before.Two years later, according to the CBC, the Innu are still abusing alcohol, and now marijuana (though less gasoline, likely because the pot is cheaper than the gas), and suicide is still a problem. But the Innu feared the problems would migrate with them, and they were right.
So how come the Innu could see this before the $152 million was spent and not the bureaucrats? With that kind of vision you would think they'd be the better bureaucrats. Or maybe not.
Here in the west, one of the most visible shortcomings of the Indian reserve system is played out year after year. Unlike the majority of urban Canadians who seldom see or drive through a reserve, many of us do on a regular basis. And it's impossible to ignore that the "modern bungalows" built on reserves are too often vacant and uninhabitable in just a few years.
I live in a small, modest house that is around 100 years old. Though its seen only moderate upgrades (plumbing in the 50's) it is still sound, square, the windows are unbroken, the doors on their hinges and I haven't yet chainsawed a hole in an exteriior wall so cattle can drink out of the bathtub.
Of course, I paid for it myself. And I hold the title. Property on reserves is owned by the band. If it's difficult to create respect for property (and self) among those who do not earn the money to pay for it, try cultivating it in people who have no hope of ever owning it.
Until we come to grips with the reality that racial entitlements breed beaurocratic corruption, stagnation, dependancy and lack of personal responsibility, there will be no end of Davis Inlets, suicide, unemployment and early death among First Nations people.
There has to be a better way to honour treaties than this current Canadian version of "separate but equal".
Well said.
Welfare breeds dependency.
"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."
Well stated position. Only one small issue to bring to your attention.
Property on all First Nations is, in the eyes of the federal government (Indian Act) the property of the queen. So in reality the band does not own any of it's own land and hence you get into the situation that you so eloquently stated.
Which way do we go to honour a nation to nation treaty short of going the American way of shooting all those who oppose.
Maybe it's time we stopped honouring the treaties.
"From each according to their treaty, to each according to their Indian status."
Patooey.
Huh... shooting all those who appose? I'm missing something, who, when and where or is there some context I'm not getting?
Just read an editorial in the latest Western Standard about this very subject. Kevin Libin's message is more about nations,but in reality hits right at home in our own backyards.
The same thing happened in Labrador. I don't have the town's name handy though. The same holds true in the US, where I'm from.
The liberal programs in the United States, i.e. the �War on Poverty� succeeded only in decreasing the incentives of poor people to remain married and working. Out-of-wedlock births soared during and after this period. During 1982, I worked as a legal assistant ina legal services program for the poor. This shows that I put action behind my words bout helping poor people. I was not being paid. During this time, the painter for one of the contractors engaged to rehabilitate slum housing in Westchester County, New York took a liking to a 13 year old girl in one of the apartments he was painting. Can anyone tell us why the 13 year old girl wasn�t in school, and wound up pregnant by the painter? Is this a worthwhile use of taxpayer and government money?
The even-more-liberal attorney I was working under had, let us say, a very serious difference of opinion with me about this matter. I asked her what the 13 year old girl�s mother did for a living. She said �she�s a mother�. If she was being a full time mother, then, how did her daughter wind up pregnant at the age of 13 by a painter? When liberals became uncomfortable with these questions I began to move to the right somewhat politically. Does anyone thing this is the only time a government program for the poor people has gone seriously awry.
For example the legal service program sponsored organizational meetings for apartments that were seriously run-down. The goal was to obtain an administrator to replace the slumlord who was draining the buildings. My suggestion that the money that was due for rent be pooled so that the administrator, when appointed, would have some money t actually repair the buildings was hooted down derisively. The suggestion also cost me my volunteer position. Not really a loss though. That day, I learned I was pass� the Bar, and began practicing law privately as a bankruptcy legal assistant (while awaiting formal admission) in January 1983, and was admitted to practice on February 9, 1983. And what net gain did those legal services I helped provide give to the poor people? Probably none.
Think simple. Learn different. Macinstruct.net