Campaigning at Norway House Cree Nation;
My people have forewarned me that this contest is even dirtier than previous elections. As a witness to those messy affairs, I find that hard to fathom. Prior to arriving, I receive a frantic call from one of the elders. �Can you please stay with Marcel Balfour,� she pleads, �there are rumours they are planning to have him beat up.�
[…]
On Wednesday, March 15, one day before the vote, the talk among friends and acquaintances is all about who may win the election. It turns out the old Northern store building has been stocked up with new furniture and appliances, and band members have been hauling things home all day. �Didn�t chief Louis Stevenson just use the same election ploy over at Peguis?� they joked. �Nah, Indian Affairs said it wasn�t vote-buying, so there!�
The reports expand: �Band members have been coming out of the office all day with money!� someone remarks. �Now is the time to get money from them,� another says. �After all it is our money, anyway.� This, I remember, has been going on for many past elections here. Nor do I find it unusual to discover the tires on my car have been slashed.
“Politics as usual” on the rez – or maybe not.
beardy…
so far i have’nt seen any constructive debate from you. more like aggressive and one way. maybe you should take a leaf from your dene brothers as posted above and go to court to try to resolve your claim. you would get a lot more support if you did it that way instead of the way its playing out now.
Sorry your family got duped Denis, but the Six Nations people did not get duped like you. They signed legitimate and constitutionally recognized Treaties that were never implemented by the federal government.
That is why they protest and that is why other First Nations are supporting that action because they too have treaties that were never implemented by the federal government.
Thats why I call your argument comparing apples to oranges.
It takes 20 years for a constitutional argument of this magnitude to play itself through the court system.
We already have 20 years of supreme court rulings upholding and legitimizing the Treaties. It would be more waste of time and money to litigate every matter.
The smart move it to take what we have learned already from the courts and academia (Royal Commissions, etc) and move on, but NOOOOO the govt still does not want to relent and to honourable live up to their obligations. that is why the six nations protest.
The terrorists in caladonia need to be stopped.
If it was you or me we would be in jail. I stand 100% behind the owners of the disputed land. I know this beardy twit will call me a racist, even though I married a full blooded cree. She thinks that all the terorists belong in jail to.
Please read all this Blog. Never once have tried to dispute or dismiss anyone’s argument by calling them a “racist”. Instead I’ve called people “uninformed”, “uneducated” or “ignorant” to the law.
I’m sure Free has NO arguments against all what I have expressed above. I don’t need to resolve to name calling to debate an issue.
I’ve argued that the Six Nations poeples are exercising their democratic rights. If you believe the Six Nations people are terrorists, why haven’t the police and government declared that the six nations people are terrorists.
Its because they are not terrorists, they are pursuing a legitimate claim supported by the laws of this country. they are citizens of a democratic country trying to assert their rights just like evry other Canadian has a right to.
Thats enuff folks its been a blast
They are NOT exercising anything except there ability to terrorize other Canadians.
blah blah blah Free
“Its because they are not terrorists, they are pursuing a legitimate claim supported by the laws of this country.”
The problem is that they are persuing the so called claim by using illegal tactics. Next thing you know beardy will be calling these thugs freedom fighters.
Mackenzie Pipeline: this pipeline has been in the planning stages since the ’70’s. The Dene, Deh Cho, and others have been holding up on progress on the pipeline for most of that time. For about the last year almost all planning work on the pipeline has stopped because negotiations with the Aboriginal groups have gone nowhere.
If they don’t reach a deal soon, it is possible that Exxon will cancel the project, and move on to bigger and better projects elsewhere…like Africa. There are lots of other places where they can invest billions, and those other countries are happy to take their money.
Texas Canuck
Not freedom fighters, just people wanting whats owed to them. They’ve waited over a 100 years to get it, do you expect them to wait another 100 years for the govt to finally be honourable and deal with the Treaties.
That would be Crazy, nonsense, BS in all its glory.
The Six Nations people aren’t waiting anymore! That’s why they protest.
Beardy, I believe the documents that Kate posted in her caledonia thread, the two pdf files that were originally posted on the Caledonia site, show, point blank, that the land was given away by the Mohawks.
For another excellent argument, please go to this comment on Dust My Broom.
http://www.dustmybroom.com/?p=3548#comment-16097
A commentator named Skyclad sums it up better than I ever could…
If you disagree and can refute those two pdf files, and skyclad’s post, please do…..the floor is yours
raskolnikov
So, is there a chart somewhere that says if you feel wronged by government that you can resort to anarchy after xx days, weeks or years?
Beardy, maybe you should read your own posts to see what you are really saying. Get off the philosophical ivory tower for a moment and think logically, if possible. You break the law, you go to jail, period. If you don’t agree with the law then change it the proper way.
The only real authorities in this matter is the law.
So your argument about some research existing out there that shows that the Six Nations people gave the land must be someone’s opinion otherwise why would the govt still allow the protest to continue and to be negotiating with the Six Nations people.
I’ve read many educated opinions about such matters, but at the end of the day the law prevails as it should
what do you do Texas Canuck if the govt is not following their own laws? sit back and choke on it. no way
you wouldn’t stand for it either.
That’s called anarchy. Beardy, you are truely a piece of work. Now if you will excuse me I have a bridge to burn…
Beardy:
first, the government did try to stop the protest…..second, the government is doing exactly what you want them to do..pay attention and negotiate….perhaps they realize it’s the only way to get the message across, or, even more, that’s it’s the “right thing” to do from a contemporary perspective, which means the PC-thing to do…..if they do the proper thing and call in the army and take out the Mohawks, they risk bad PR and accusations of genocide and atrocity etc etc…..welcome to life in a liberal world ruled by special-interest groups….uphold the law (the one that prohibits tresspassing and arson) and you’re genocidial dictators
that being said, when the proper documents are forwarded and it shows that the Mohawks gave the land away and it does not belong to them, will you go away and let Henco develop their land?
The law is the law, after all.Although I have to admit, from my personal experience, the law is the law for Indians only when it suits them…a verdict they disagree with and suddenly it’s not the impartial law that we so sorely need to hold up society, but a reminder of the colonial oppression we live under….if the courts find the land to be henco property…do you feel the mohawks should, or would, just walk away? Do you really believe the whines and accusations will not begin?
and as for your claim that “some research” exists…i believe those pdf files are copies of official agreements signed by mohawks….hardly the loose threads of a casual researcher…
as for skyclad’s argument…..I failed to see your rebuttal….
all you did was claim the law is the law…we aren’t arguing about the law…we are arguing about your ability to debunk the pdf files and skyclad’s post….can you do that, now that i’ve asked you directly? Can you show me how those two files saying the land was given over are illegal, and hence, are invalid?
your belief in the power of the law is irrelevant….can you, or can you not, argue against the pdf files and skyclad’s post?
I also have to point out that if you really believe the law is the only thing that matters(and I’ll take that to mean the “colonial” laws of Canada) and has ultimate authority, then the input of a body such as the clan mothers is negated…for they have no legal authority according to the laws of canada.
You also write:
“Further, the fact is that the First Nations people are the only ones who are in the position to make their governments accountable. Correct?
By voting, in a similar manner to the way every one did when they voted the liberals out the last election.”
But first nations members don’t vote for who gets to represent them at a national level, only chiefs vote for AFN leaders. Not exactly democracy. At an individual FN level, we can see from this very post how corrupt the majority of fn elections are, so exactly how are we holding our band governments more accountable than non-abs? We can be bought, we engage in gross nepotism, and we commit the same electoral crimes as third-world bannana republics…and, to top it off, almost every Indian I know of and read about is steadfastly against the new accountability law being introduced by the feds….so exactly how how are we holding our Indian governments more acocuntable?
Also:
“Everyone should except the fact that First Nations will always govern themselves, despite whose taxes are being spent or what crimes or being committed..”
If that’s the case, then why are you falling back on Canadian law to defend your claim that it is, in fact, the only thing that matters?….if the Mohawks are a seperate nation, what do they, and their supporters, care about ‘colonial’ laws? Who needs laws when you know you’re right?
Also:
“First Nations are still maturing too despite being dictated to by Indian Affairs.”
But I thought we had 1000s of years of tradition behind us? How much more mature as a people can we get? Also, from what I can gather, we don’t want to mature, we want to regress back into the imagined halcyon precontact days. Also, there’s one easy way to stop being dictated too by INAC, close it down and shut down the reserves.
Can you please disprove the two files and skyclad’s post now?
If the government caved in to every claim, Canada would cease to exist. Every band, every council just wants their billions. The simple reason why goverments keep waiting hundreds of years to settle is simple. We can’t afford it. It would be irrational suicide for any government of any stripe to submit to this never ending extortion. Treaty or no treaty. Get that? We can’t afford it. The neverending ongoing demands would bankrupt the country and every industry in it. As long as demands exceed what is possible, treaty or no treaty, nothing will ever get done. What is being asked for is irrational. Any government who thinks they could ever satisfy people like Beardy, is kidding themselves and lying to their citizens. It will NEVER happen Beardy. You will all have to, at some point take responsibility for yourselves, like everyone else. Reality.
that’s the exact reason why i loathe treaties chazz….as an indian what the hell do I want with 150 year old pieces of paper that have been rendered completely irrelevant by the passage of time?…i would no more adhere to these things as I would a 15th century guide to chivalry, or a victorian guide on how to treat women and minorities….they are dead pieces of paper with no use in the world circa 2006…..
it’s an ambarrassment how many of our Pimps cling to these things like depserate gamblers waiting for the big score
“Ottawa Core – precisely what “point” do you think I was trying to make?
Give it your best shot.”
well, gulp, your goddess, m’am, i think you’ve proven my “point”. the explanation to validate my personal observance will be forthcoming, barring unforseen technical glitches.
http://www.ottawacore.com/blog
Beardy’s – Way to go! You defended yourself quite well against eceryone else on this blog.
I’ve been reading this rag for a while now. I find its a good way to keep a finger on the conservative movement pulse. The side of the policy that PMSH won’t come right out and say.
What you’ve got to realize, Beardy’s, is that this blog is just part of a larger conservative propaganda machine. The Frazer Institute, The Western Standard, SDA, Dust My Broom, you get the picture. I bet if you could look closely enough, you would find funding trickling (or gushing!) around in these connections as well.
So there’s no use arguing here. It just feeds the machine.
So many idiots – so little time.
Hey Beardy,
One of my ancestors once farmed the land on which most of Harvard University now stands. (No fooling. His name was Olmsted.) Poor bugger sold the place for $10/acre and thought that he was getting a good deal. Damned academics really screwed him!
Shouldn’t I and a few hundred other descendents be entitled to compensation? What’s good for Six Nations should be good for us. Hell, I think that we should get the land back and make those university parasites pay rent to keep their buildings there. I’d go down there, set up some barricades and burn a bridge or two, but hard-ass Yankees aren’t pushovers like Ontario cops, so I think I’ll pass.
Meanwhile, I’d like to see the federal and Ontario authorities grow some balls and deal with those thugs and vandals in the same way that they’d deal with any other criminal gang.
Hey Beardy,
One of my ancestors once farmed the land on which most of Harvard University now stands. (No fooling. His name was Olmsted.) Poor bugger sold the place for $10/acre and thought that he was getting a good deal. Damned academics really screwed him!
Shouldn’t I and a few hundred other descendents be entitled to compensation? What’s good for Six Nations should be good for us. Hell, I think that we should get the land back and make those university parasites pay rent to keep their buildings there. I’d go down there, set up some barricades and burn a bridge or two, but hard-ass Yankees aren’t pushovers like Ontario cops, so I think I’ll pass.
Meanwhile, I’d like to see the federal and Ontario authorities grow some balls and deal with those thugs and vandals in the same way that they’d deal with any other criminal gang.
Sorry for the double post. My finger twitches when I’m agitated.
This is nothing but a Big C conservative Blog site, where everyone preachs to the converted.
When someone expresses a different opinion they are immediately told off with slurs and insults.
BUT GUESS WHAT THIS WORLD DOES NOT BELONG TO the Conservatives.
THERE ARE MORE (left)LIBERAL MINDED PEOPLE in this country than the extreme (right)conservative minded people. The proof is in Harper’s minority. The proof is in the liberals getting re-elected over and over again despite the waste of taxpayers money.
It all makes me laugh.
No one can argue against this point! HA HA HA
ONE LAST JAB TO MAKE FUN OF ALL OF YOU – Harper and Duceppe make strange bedfellows. One wants to separate while the other wants to rule autocratically.
I’ll find a BloG that is more broad based and open minded.
Thank you and good bye
Yes Beardy, do go and find a site where mindless violence, extortion and dependency are considered virtuous. Is that part of the much vaunted First Nations culture?
Yes Beardy, do go and find a site where mindless violence, extortion and dependency are considered virtuous. Is that part of the much vaunted First Nations culture?
Kate, I can’t stop laughing! You have been titled “part of a conservative propaganda machine”. Man, between North Sask and Beardy’s Cree, they should start their own blog so they can cry to each other……
how can so many people be so ignorant of historical facts and documentations, first you complain that there is no evidence that the First Nations people are soverign and when they show proof, you say oh thats an old piece of paper that isnt relevant anymore, make up you minds. so if it isnt relevent, I guess the Treaty of rights and freedoms arent anymore either because they are old and out dated?
The Haudenosaunee People (Iroquois, or Six Nations People for you ignorants) are a soverign nation and always have been, blame your own Government for coming to North America and forcing ELECTED government upon us, our TRADITIONAL government has nothing to do with your precious tax money only the elected governments. The tradional government has always practised their soverignty our, we still uphold our treaties, a long time ago, we RENTED land to you europeans because we wanted to live harmonuosly and peacefully. But then and heres the kicker guys… you came and raped our women, burnt our houses, gave us blankets with small pox on them. If thats not terrorism, then frankly I dont know what is. Now tell me, whats an old ratty bridge that was going to be torn down, compared to house, would you perfer your women to be raped and ur houses to be burnt or will you finally shut up about the stupid bridge already? it was closed off, I’ve been there, it was a hazard, no none of the inbreeds in caledonia will be climbing all over it.
ok, sorry guys but since i’ve read some discriminations in this blog thought i’ve give it a try but sorry, i grew up with good value, it doesnt sit well with me. Love and Peace
how can so many people be so ignorant of historical facts and documentations, first you complain that there is no evidence that the First Nations people are soverign and when they show proof, you say oh thats an old piece of paper that isnt relevant anymore, make up you minds. so if it isnt relevent, I guess the Treaty of rights and freedoms arent anymore either because they are old and out dated?
The Haudenosaunee People (Iroquois, or Six Nations People for you ignorants) are a soverign nation and always have been, blame your own Government for coming to North America and forcing ELECTED government upon us, our TRADITIONAL government has nothing to do with your precious tax money only the elected governments. The tradional government has always practised their soverignty our, we still uphold our treaties, a long time ago, we RENTED land to you europeans because we wanted to live harmonuosly and peacefully. But then and heres the kicker guys… you came and raped our women, burnt our houses, gave us blankets with small pox on them. If thats not terrorism, then frankly I dont know what is. Now tell me, whats an old ratty bridge that was going to be torn down, compared to house, would you perfer your women to be raped and ur houses to be burnt or will you finally shut up about the stupid bridge already? it was closed off, I’ve been there, it was a hazard, no none of the inbreeds in caledonia will be climbing all over it.
ok, sorry guys but since i’ve read some discriminations in this blog thought i’ve give it a try but sorry, i grew up with good value, it doesnt sit well with me. Love and Peace
One last thing, the land was no officially given up, there was a bill or whatever you guys write, stating that only officials would be able to do business with the government and the person who ‘supposedly signed over the land was not an official (meaning traditional chief, elected by the clan mother). and you cannot argue that it is a legal documentation because i cannot get some canadian out of Ottawa to sign over all of Canada to me, there would be ground in court for that