The best stuff is usually found in the comments;
There is a substantial difference between assimilation into a specific culture or dominant group and integration into the mainstream of socio-economic life. No one is forced to assimilate in Canada. Given the diversity of our demographics, I'd be hard pressed to imagine what you might assimilate with. We are not a homogeneous society that one might find in European countries or the Middle East or even, to a somewhat lesser extent, the US.
Integration is another matter. It relates to joining and participating in the economic system with a view to pursuing economic stability (at minimum) and, for those who choose, pursuing economic prosperity. What you pursue and for what reasons is your choice and you are free to practice your culture and believe in whatever you want while you're at it. Every group that has come to this country from anywhere has done this and achieved some measure of success,
In my view Canadian Natives need to recognize the difference between assimilation and integration and actively pursue the latter. This is essential if you want to have decent living standards, good health, stability for your children and the ability to influence and have an impact on the broader social and political landscape. All the commissions, studies, treaties, white papers and working groups in the world will not achieve this for you. Nor will protests and media events. On the other hand if you choose to live outside the mainstream and not integrate, then you will live forever in the margins and not much will ever change. It is possible to live outside the mainstream successfully but it takes a great deal of self-reliance, self-discipline and talent. It's for the few, not the many.
If you continue to try to leverage guilt, historical grievances or a sense of entitlement, nothing will change. Politicians will continue pay lip service to you. They'll come out for the photo opps and say some supportive words, maybe promise a committee or study but that's about all you'll get. The mainstream has little interest in your issues and no appetite for what are seen largely as demands for special treatment. You don't have the political clout to drive change at the political level and won't until you integrate. That's just the reality of socio-economic systems. Integration means participation. If you don't play you will watch from the sidelines.
Progress is made by those who show up, participate and contribute. If you want the benefits of our economic system, you have to get on board the train. You can practice your culture from the inside and have the best of both worlds.
Every culture contains its own restrictions on economic participation, whether it's not working on the Sabbath, not borrowing or lending money at interest, or living in small communal-property villages. Economic integration is still cultural assimilation - it's merely a question of the degree to which a subculture assimilates.
"Rethink",the commenter,is spot on! This comment should be sent to every MP and Indian activist in the Country.
The writer of the article is just another of the Indian political elite in Canada, her quote," Taiaiake Alfred and Tobold Rollo summarized Volume Two of the RCAP in a recent pamphlet, helping to clarify “the most crucial and imminently needed..." destroys her credibility as a person who is actually seeking solutions,instead of just more power by the Indian politicians in a Country they didn't build( to paraphrase Barack Obama).
Day by day,Theresa Spence (allegedly) grows weaker,and Canadians patience grows ever thinner. The Indians/Natives/Abos don't seem to realise that no one is respected for anything BUT hard work,a term that has never been used in the Indian Industry.
btw, just read that the Alberta government is considering a study to investigate the viability of shipping tar sands bitumen by rail through Alaska. I hope and pray they DO go ahead,in a F*** you reply to the BC government and Native blackmailers of BC.
Natives have already integrated, they've abandoned their traditional roots for gas fired four wheelers and trucks. They don't hunt the land traditionally the sit on white man's inventions and enjoy a seditary lifestyle. Face it they want us to deliver the goods and wares of colonialism to their front door paid for by the taxpayer.
The comment is excellent. Integration not assimilation. But the writer of the article would reject this; she instead is asking for, essentially, native sovereignty.
She states
"... Second, the inherent right of indigenous peoples to self-govern must be given real expression. Third, indigenous governments must have control over their own social, cultural, economic, housing, health, and educational services and the duty to consult must be replaced by federally structured shared jurisdiction. Fourth, funding must be provided to build this capacity after which such monies will cease to be needed. Fifth, all restrictions on treaty negotiations over rights to land and culture must be removed and replaced with a good faith approach."
Her second point is unacceptable, for setting up a separate economic unit within Canada makes no sense. Nor does 'shared jurisdiction' make any sense, for you do not share the land or the economy. You either govern it, legislate its rules..or you do not.
Heh, and she wants the Canadian taxpayer to pay for this economic and social infrastructure. Heh..and even suggests a time when the money won't be needed. How's that for utopian naivete?
As for treaty negotiations and land claims, these were dealt with many years ago. It's over.
As the commenter wrote so very well, the natives must integrate into the modern economy. Their choice; either remain as dependent wards or move into the modern world economy.
Alberta government is considering a study to investigate the viability of shipping tar sands bitumen by rail through Alaska.
The Northern Railway idea is being led by well-known native Tom Jackson. Of course that sort of news doesn't get published much.
http://unfnrailco.com/
A company called G7G has put forward a rail project to deliver oilsands product to Valzez Alaska. Completely bypassing BC. The rail link will transport up to five times the amount planned for the pipeline. They have already received approval from the approx 630 Indian bands enroute. As a BC resident, I find the irony of the oilsands people completely cutting BC out of the equation to be delicious. And given that Valdez is declining as a port because of the decling production from the Alaskan north slopes, the fact that Canadian oil money will transform Valdez into a superport is also ironic.
That comment by Rethink is one of the best I have ever read regarding the natives, as are subsequent comments by the same commenter and sums up well what needs to be done. A few of the replies to Rethink can simply be labeled as "send a bigger cheque".
Hopefully Canadian natives that think like this commenter make their voice heard. One thing is sure, it can not go on the way it is now, and as the second last paragraph in the comment says their lives will not improve.
Question is, who has the courage to make the necessary changes?
That is what all of us think but no one could have said it better. If only natives and politicians would read it and take note but we know that will never happen. A real shame too.
Number 1....there is NO Metis,Cree,or any other "native" community of Lac Ste Anne.There is only the Mission.Once a year,at the end of August,up to 10,000 natives come from all over Canada and the US for a week long drunk,while bathing in the "sacred" waters of the lake.Ironically,the other 51 weeks,we use the Mission for AA meetings.
But then I guess claiming a fictional town is how they also "own" 110% of BC.
As to the necessary courage Ken(Kulak)....not one native, as we have made them dependant on the reservation/welfare system(same as blacks in the states)...and our white politicians do not have the gonads to tell them to STFU and get a life,especially the Chiefs,who steal as much as the politicians.
And no....like I've said before,I am NOT racist.I hate ALL freeloading a*&holes equally.
with reserve idians it can be summed in one word, ATTITUDE.This negative attitude is a tool , just as with the palistinians,used by their elite for their own purpose, in the case of the FN that purpose is position and theft. Shut the damn reserve system down and help those who have been enslaved by it to establish themselves in main stream society. As commentor staes, integration!
To all the so called Indian Nations (Joke) living in Canada. What are you going to do with the 33M Whitemen living on Your So Called Land. Best integrate while you still can. The new waves of immigrants do not feel the same, have not drank the liberal Hollywood KoolAid about the Noble Savage. It will not end well for you.
But they are QUITE willing, ET, to remain as dependent wards. They are only complaining that they are not getting enough EBT cards and Obamaphones. However, you are STILL lucky. At least they do not appear to have learned how to properly "chimp out" yet. Of course, that may only be a demographics thing...
For those of you who live in the West, make sure you turn your channel to The Source tonight. Ezra has an outstanding take on this issue. Clear, concise and very informative.
Yep, Ezra pretty much nails it. You know what they always say, the best defence is a good offence, and what Spence is doing is definitely offensive. She is nothing but a crooked embezzler fighting to save her own copious skin. If the media continues to spin this they will suffer a terrible backlash now that the facts are coming out. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Idle Some More folks jettison her in short order now that her malfeasance has been exposed.
Rick, I saw most of the show this afternoon and you are right. Ezra had some interesting information regarding our MSM media darling Chief Spence and the additional money she got under another name. What a corrupt reserve that is.
Not another dollar to Santas's Helpers, Anonymous whatever.
Not since I found out they distribute to the local reserve. There they have the nerve to phone the fire department to make sure they are on the list.
Should make sure they get sunscreen for their palms, they're outstretched so much.
I cannot agree more with the post and comments above, based on my read of the article, actually. Ms. Vowel demands the following, as a quid pro quo, as the law students (of which she continues to be one, apparently) say:
"First, Canada and Canadians must acknowledge Canada’s past and present colonialism."
Which didn't seem quite right to me (as I have no intention or predilection whatever of being, you know, "colonial", and am therefore entirely not willing to admit it), so I hunted around to try and hone her definition a bit. I found this:
AFN Press Release, September 30, 2009 -- in which the AFN castigated PMSH for saying that "We (Canada) also have no history of colonialism.":
Colonialism: the control or governing influence of a nation over a
dependent country, territory, or people; the system or policy by
which a nation maintains or advocates such control or influence.
By comparison, I found this at Dictionary.com, regarding the definition of colonialism, January 2, 2013:
1. the control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory, or people.
2. the system or policy by which a nation maintains or advocates such control or influence.
3. the state or condition of being colonial.
4. an idea, custom, or practice peculiar to a colony.
Considering that the first two points match identically, why would the AFN feel compelled not to mention the other two points, exactly? Seems to me to be a bit of selective editing, I'd say (surprise, surprise).
So, if your opening salvo is to totally impugn the motives of "the other side", I'm guessing you'd be disappointed to find that we're light-years apart, and going in seriously opposite directions.
I'd say that we need to get over that one first: emotional over-reach is never effective, if you're really trying for a solution.
From the first moment I heard about the idle no more, it had the aroma of the circus that revolved around the myriad consitutional chin wags that happened back in the 80's, at least this time the government isn't buying it.
It also has that bouquet of Occupy, where the objective has little to do with a solution and more to prove that the system isn't working for them. The real objective is to cause a disturbance and chaos anything for publicity.
On a side note just heard on the news tonight that the court has ruled the natives blocking he CN tracks in Sarnia must leave, however (this being Dalton's Ontario where protesters and vandals run unmolested) the judge allowed the police discretion in how and when they would remove the protesters.
I don't understand why all the Liberals and NDP are so concerned about Chief Scammer T Spence of the Pissycat cat tribe in Northern Ontario. She looks like she is doing OK. She has more chins than a Chinese phonebook. She will not starve to death anytime soon. What happened did she get word through the grape vine that she is going to get a forsenic exam by the RCMP. They really should be examining all off shore accounts on these gangsters and hoodlums.
I'd say that we need to get over that one first: emotional over-reach is never effective, if you're really trying for a solution.
Posted by: David Southam
The Chiefs and perps running the native scam do NOT want a solution,so they will play on the "white man guilt" which I do not know about you,but I have none.
None, actually, after all we've been through.
Hopefully, this time, the Attorney-General of Ontario, whoever it is now, and the Ontario Provincial Police obey the court and don't precipitate another needless Caledonia (which wasn't needed either, if the then-Attorney General of Ontario and the Ontario Provincial Police had heeded the court ruling in that particular situation).
RFB @7:45...it is nothing but a combined 'Hate Harper' fest.
Ezra's excellent coverage, via BCF:
http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.ca/2013/01/fact-checking-chief-honey-boo-boos.html
Cut to the chase. This is the "Indian Business".
The Chiefs (poverty pimps as Darcey J liked to say) do not want change because they get fat milking the system.
Keeping the population ignorant and dependent is part of the scam.
Any threat to that situation provokes fear in the cholesterol choked hearts of those who enjoy power in the Indian Business.
Spence blew the scam in her own little patch and is desperate to get out of the consequences. Spence is one of the stupidest of her ilk and deserves to pay for it.
As for the MSM ..... what do you expect?
There is no reason on God's earth to play into the game these frauds are running.
BTW ... Captcha is one seriously flawed tool.
RFB: "She will not starve to death anytime soon."
Darned right she won't! She's on a diet, not a fast.
On every level, Chief Spend's "fast" is a farce. She doesn't represent "a sovereign nation" and has no right to demand a "nation-to-nation" meeting with the PM. If she doesn't like what his government's doing, she can vote him out at the next election -- and, no doubt, force all the other band members to do the same.
As a Canadian taxpayer who has no special access to the PM and his government except through conventional channels, I resent that Chief Honey Boo Boo is playing the "race" card to get special privileges. I also resent the fact that she's pulling this stunt in order to avoid government monitoring of all the money that's been channeled to her band. Any other group receiving the amount of tax dollar$ her band has would be asked to account for where it's gone.
Why not her?
*
"The rate of deaths from injuries is 3 to 4 times higher for Aboriginal children than for other children in Canada."
Source: Government of Canada (2002) Healthy Canadians – A Federal Report on Comparable Health Indicators 2002. Ottawa: Health Canada.
*
I heard Chief Chubby was drinking Boost. she could go for years. hope CBCpravda does put as much effort into this as they did promoting Omar Khadr
There are so many things that could be said but, quickly, aboriginals (or whatever one wishes to call them) believe they and they alone have a monopoly on suffering. I am sorry that two hundred years ago they were screwed over by a foreign power. Do you know who else was screwed over? A lot of people. They don't, however, ruminate over it again and again and beg for cash as though they deserve it year after year. They soldier on as either assimilated peoples or separate ones. Which do the aboriginals wish to be? If they had their own cash, they could preserve or dispense with whatever cultural practices they wished. No one would care. Furthermore, we can cut this 'colonialism is murder' crap. Yes, a lot of aspects of colonialism (the world over) were regrettable. However, a lot of things ended up being a boon to the existing populations, as well, so there's that. Does anyone wish to go to the lands of their ancestors and leave Canada? I wouldn't (perhaps only to visit). As someone here so astutely pointed out, attitude is key. Where is the attitude to survive?
Also, why isn't anyone high-tailing it to Attawapiskat and going over Spense's financial records with a fine-tooth comb or asking the residents how crappy a chief she really is?
Back in 2006, I attended a three day FN conference on the topic of self-governance, gambling and substance abuse issues and barriers to employment as well as the overall health of FN bands and reserves in BC, and other related topics.
In BC, as of 2006, all of the FN groups were already well on their way to being self-governing-having their own social services, designated FN RCMP officers that pretty much have full autonomy and carte blanche to do as they see fit with FN offenders and their own justice system-healing circles being the most talked about in the media, but not the sole avenue bands or reserves take as justice measures with their members.
Had candid conversations with members from many FN reserves and bands in BC and heard the same complaints of administrative corruption-some bands and reserves are much worse than others.
The one sentence that stands out in Rethinks superb analysis and commentary is: "If you continue to try to leverage guilt, historical grievances or a sense of entitlement, nothing will change."
It's a truism that FN Band administrators are using said tactics on a macro level towards the rest of the Canadian population, including government officials. What is perhaps lesser known is that the band administrators use these same tactics on a micro level with their own band members who want empowerment, self-determination, and sustainable employment to free themselves from the increasingly corrupt, coercive band administrators who will and do osterize members and entire families socially and economically when a member doesn't support a bands official stance publicly.
It was evident to all, including the conservative government enemies, some years back when Harper-incidentally a popular cree and Metis last name-who is well known for not giving into emotionalism, displayed genuine emotion in his personal and public apology and promise to make amends with all FN peoples in Canada for it's past treatment of FN peoples. This genuine act of contrition and amends was well received by FN peoples despite CBC's rhetoric to the contrary. Hence the need for enemies of our current government to move in and be idle no more in limiting bribe money to FN groups and offering them 'cultural and moral support' through these agencies to assist FN band administrators in holding onto their power and undermining as much of Harper's genuine goodwill towards FN peoples as possibly while simultaneously delaying the growth of Canada's resource industry in quid pro quo deals hidden from the band members and the general public.
Hunch is that many of Chief Spence's band members have been secretly longing for the conservative government to intervene for quite some time now, to ensure the members are able to spend the funds given in good faith by the conservative government for the empowerment and self-determination of the FN people themselves-not to be spent on brand new trucks for band administrators and frequent trips to Casino's while their children are cold, hungry, and living in slum conditions, albeit with big screen TV's.
The money poured in to movements like 'Idle No More' ensure the coercive tactics and bribery continues unabated to pacify and entertain what are considered useful idiots in the subversion plan aimed at the Federal Conservative Government and Canada's resource industry.
Agree that captcha is seriously flawed.
captcha is no issue at all -- I could getcha a version with pictchas, if you need one -- John Crosbie, Minister of International Trade, Western University, 1988.
A company called G7G has put forward a rail project to deliver oilsands product to Valzez Alaska. Completely bypassing BC.... As a BC resident, I find the irony of the oilsands people completely cutting BC out of the equation to be delicious. Posted by: Bruce on January 2, 2013 4:37 PM
That's simply untrue, as the map at the link posted above and the link here clearly shows.
http://unfnrailco.com/ESW/Files/UNRailCo_Update_Nov-14-2012.pdf
The proposed railway will go right through Fort Nelson, which is in BC according to all maps I've seen. Does Bruce believe Northern BC will secede and join Alberta or Yukon? Perhaps there's more to this than we're being told
Living around Caledonia is an education. One thing learned is the "demonstrations" like blocking the rail line take place with the tacit approval and sometimes active assistance of the OPP and the provincial government.
Another thing learned is that talking to an Indian "activist" is like talking to any commie. Meaning you can't talk to them. Reason is not part of their deal.
How many days can a person go without food. Methinks that there has been the odd Big Mac and Bucket of KFC snuck in under the cover of darkness, as she certainly hasn't lost any wight or look de-hydrated since she started this a couple of weeks ago. Funny how the CBC when interviewing her asks her if she will carry on until death. At this rate IT'll be until next Christmas before we see any change in her.
"Progress is made by those who show up, participate and contribute. If you want the benefits of our economic system, you have to get on board the train. You can practice your culture from the inside and have the best of both worlds."
Perhaps another far more successful group of "Indians" best exemplifies this concept: the Sikhs.
That turban might be their cultural badge but it does not prevent them from getting on in Canada as soldiers, bus drivers, farmers, grocers, doctors, constables and yes, even Tim Hortons franchise owners.