Canada also granted its subject peoples independence.� Just like other old imperialists the Canadian government replaced its old colonial budget with a new colonial budget.� The new term in Canada was development assistance, the same type of euphemism as foreign aid.� In Canada the term for independence was self government.� What that meant was that accountability in how government funds were spent would henceforth be non-existent.� The western governments of the 1970s and 1980s didn’t ask how their foreign aid money was being spent.� Such an act of intrusion into the affairs of now sovereign states was a form of neo-colonialism. The Canadian government behaved in the same way toward our “First Nations.”�
No matter how many black eyed women, gasoline sniffing juveniles and drunken Indians began appearing on the nightly news casts the blame was always whitey’s.� We interfered before, reasoned the bien pensants, look what happened.� Let’s just stay clear.� It’s an internal matter.� To assuage our guilt we’ll just send a cheque.
To me the aboriginal population of Canada are Canadians.� If we treat them as something separate, something to which – literally – the laws of Canada cannot apply we will never truly give a damn.� We can treat them as ex-colonial subjects.� We can buy into the post-colonial line about exploitation and long term cultural damage.� We can continue to sign the cheques.� We can continue to be damn smug about it all.� Or we can raise one hell of a fuss.� A group at the Poundmaker Reserve are making a fuss.� A few bloggers are making a fuss.� This time it isn’t about whitey.� It hasn’t been about whitey for some time.� The Japanese in Canada had their property confiscated and their liberty revoked during the Second World War.� Their fate was in some ways harsher than that of the Aboriginals.� Yet, they have succeeded.
Perhaps the real reason the Japanese, the Indian Indians, the Chinese and many others succeeded in Canada was because no one tried to help.� No one felt guilty about the injustices leveled at them until long after they can became successful members of Canadian society.� Racism wasn’t the problem as much as welfare handouts.
Hopefully the rebels at Poundmaker understand that.� The last thing we need is to get rid of the new imperialists and see them replaced by the same old, same old.
Darcey, at Dust My Broom got the ball rolling on this one, and others have joined in to publicize the story. He has a number of posts up detailing the events.
London Fog, BumF, Ianism, Debbye, Catprint In The Mash, GenX 40, Mitchieville,
Blank Out Times.
Request for Support;
Poundmaker Working Group;
Dianne J.Tootoosis
Box 490
Cut Knife,Sask.
SOM ONO
For Monetary Donations;
Dianne J.Tootoosis
Cut Knife Royal Bank
Savings Account # 7000763
Transit # 1768