Harper to meet with Chief Spence/First Nations leaders

[kibbs]

If they won't vote then what right do they have to make demands of the government? Is it that they don't vote because they are encouraged not to?

i can see the point .If you believe that you are part of a sovereign nation ,than you vote in that nations elections .If you want to deal with Canada you do it through negotiation like any other nation would.
Many First nations people said to heck with it .Moved to town ,got a job and pay taxes
There is a still a core group that will not let go .They will die fighting for their nation.
The trick will be in assuring them their culture will survive within Canada,just like we have made certain allowances with french culture.

[Roadster]

If you must always fight you have a problem,,, time they got over what happened many years ago and blended in so they get the respect and rights they want,,, no one is keeping them back from having that. They just think they don't have it.

[kibbs]

If you must always fight you have a problem,,, time they got over what happened many years ago and blended in so they get the respect and rights they want,,, no one is keeping them back from having that. They just think they don't have it.

There is a couple of ways you can blend things ,you can stick the all in a blender mix the all up and everything is all one thing .Or you you can put the in a pan slowly cook them together ,so they maintain their flavour and yet the flavours of the other ingredients improve it as well.I like to think of Canada as a nice roast beef dinner with all the carrots and potatoes in the pan .Not some quick fast fruit shake.

[Roadster]

Ok, if we are gonna talk food then let's make it all edible at the same table,,, not one big table full of food and a little one off the side everyone forgets about and then it goes to spoil. The point is to make them as one with all the rights they are kinda seeking but already have. That chip on some of their shoulders is holding them back, not us. They can do as well for themselves as any Canadian and if they feel they can't it's because they hold themselves back,,, step out in to the big community and blend in.
As far as guaranteeing them their culture,,, why? Let them guarantee their own culture stays alive, like we all do if we choose. Why do they need someone else to keep their wishes for them? They can visit home, have celebrations as they always do, no one says they can't. Keep feathers and talking sticks and drums,,, what ever they like, those things are cool,,, no one says they can't have their things, continue carving and teaching their culture. Why would you need to live way up north to do all of this stuff? Muslims have their churches here,,, Jewish, and many others hold their worship and even their own holidays here.

[kibbs]

As far as guaranteeing them their culture,,, why?

Because their nation had just as much as the french did in the foundation of this nation,This country exists because we united against the Americans.They were not conquered ,they were legislated. They are our brothers in founding this country ,Not someone just off the plane.

[Roadster]

And so,,,,

[Snman]

.........and so, what kibbs ignores is that politicians need the French vote, hence all the pandering to Quebec. What politicians don't need is the native vote. So, save your own culture if you must, we're already busy with the French Canadians.

[Roadster]

^^^ 10/10 ^^^

[waterwings]

Idle No More - Anthony Sowan.

I've been #IdleTooLong about this whole topic, and I feel like I need
to express my point of view without disrupting innocent travelers on
highways, and cargo carrying freight trains.
First, allow me to clarify that I am a Cree man with full status. I
have family in positions of political power in this very province, and
should declare that my opinions are my own. While everyone needles
over the finite details of the current situation, I'd like to paint my
thoughts for you with much broader strokes.

I'm so very proud of my culture. The way the plains Indians lived on
this land was a fantastic example of community, art, respect for our
environment, ingenuity, and spirituality. I'm proud of the native
inspired tattoos that I sport permanently on my body. As a father, I'm
teaching my son that same respect and understanding of where his blood
derives from, in the hopes that his pride will outshine the prejudice
he will inevitably experience growing up, or at some point in his
life.

I'm also very proud to be Canadian. Our vast mosaic of cultures,
languages, and beliefs make up this welcoming land of opportunity for
all. Whether you like it or not, we all have the same citizenship, but
some have a different view on the value of it.

I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of the government bills,
documentation, or policy that is driving the current protests, but
I've intently watched news stories, read columns, and have regularly
monitored the comments being made on facebook. Based on all of this, I
feel the need to break my silence on this issue.

1 - It's embarrassing how the #IdleNoMore protest is being handled.
Blocking major traffic thoroughfares does nothing good to bring
support and awareness to your cause, it creates immediate animosity
towards you. Protesting freely in parks or in front of government
buildings seems like a much more productive way to attract the
attention of those you seek. The politicians. Not the regular
welder-Joe who's just trying to get to work. Hold him up and cost him
money? See how much support you'll get out of that guy...

Clarify what you are protesting for, or against. I've never seen such
a passionate group of people go forward in protest in such disarray,
and without clearly stating what it's all about. If it's generally
about your need to be consulted, respected, justified for being
mistreated, or the preservation of your culture, then let's be out
with it and start a constructive discussion.

Understand that you do not need to be consulted for anything any more
than the Canadian citizen next to you does. Your opinion on things
doesn't count "more" than anyone else's.
Respect is earned, not given.

There's no question that the native people of yesterday were
brutalized, hunted, tortured, and humiliated for decades. It's awful,
and no one should ever have to suffer like that. The elders of the
time signed those treaties to bring peace, and offer what they hoped
would be a leg-up in a new world that they realized couldn't be held
at bay. But those days are long over. It defies logic to have the
current population pay for the tragedies committed by people that came
so long before them.

The preservation of your culture is YOUR job, not anyone else's. For
example, Polish, Irish, and Ukrainian societies thrive all over the
country with very little or no support from government coffers. They
celebrate traditional dance, language, and food all by simply passing
it down from generation to generation. Native communities can do the
very same thing (and generally do), but without financial support.

2 - "This movement is about the whole environment, its not just about
the treaties....The bill that passed now un protects the rivers,
lakes, forests, land, etc, etc, so we need this bill to further
protect ur childrens futures.....thanks to Harper Govt....rigs n
developemtn will pollute the air, waters, etc, etc.."

It's no secret that our Canadian economy is driven by the oil and gas
industry. Yes, there have been some awful environmental blunders due
to a plethora of different reasons. I heartily agree that we need to
protect our natural areas that support wildlife, but I also know that
there is aggressive legislation, and powerful government offices in
place that already have that very same sentiment at heart. Millions of
Canadians support green technology and research, as well as lobby for
stronger federal policy. So if that's what this is all about, there's
no need to blockade anything, as a majority of people would already
agree with you.

3 - "It is about the 480 page Bill that the government has passed
without you knowing about it. It went through the house of commons and
the senate in 2 wks. 480 pgs long...do you think that many people had
time to read it? It says that under age criminals can be punished as
adults. It makes more budget cuts. The librarians at schools are being
budget cut. It is about ALOT more than Aboriginals, it's about
everyone in Canada. The Aboriginals are the ones who started to
realize the Bill was gonna to do irreversable damage!"

Back in the days of copying notes off a blackboard or projector in
school, I'm certain I've WRITTEN 480 pages in two weeks, let alone
read that many. In a political world where literacy at a high level is
demanded, I'm willing to bet that most could plow through that many
pages in a very short period of time. I suppose the content would be
laden with bureaucratic jargon and would need time to fully
interpret...but that's why you have a legal team.
Quite frankly, I agree with underage criminals being tried as adults,
and I'm willing to bet that a landslide majority of canadians will
agree with me.

Budget cuts are a reality of our democratic world. I'm not sure if
this means that librarians from schools are being removed, or the
library itself, but the fact of the matter is, our schools rely on a
healthy economy for funding. When money gets tight, things get
sacrificed. I truly hope that the readily available knowledge in a
library would be the last to go.

4 - "It's not about the Aboriginals! That is what they are doing to
distract you from what it really is about! It only affects the
aboriginals- just like it will effect ALL of us!"
This is very confusing, but seems to sum up the general knowledge
about what is going on. Who is "they"? Are we going into conspiracy
theory depths here? Do people not realize that we have an official
opposition in place as a natural government watchdog to debate
everything that in-power government is trying to enact? If there were
truly earth shattering implications in the bill in question, the
opposition would be whistle blowing and bleating into any available
microphone available so fast it would make your head spin.

First and foremost, I'm a human being just like you. I believe in
equality. Across the board equality. Our country is so multicultural,
that to give any specific group levity over everyone else is
completely ridiculous. I'm not familiar with the particulars of old
treaties signed, but I get the gist because I have used some of the
special privileges provided to me. I do not pay for health care. I did
for awhile in my young working life, but then the government
discovered my native status and sent me a HUGE apology letter, and a
cheque for every dime I had put into the system. Odd. I lived just up
the street from my fellow truck driving friends, did the same job,
paid the same taxes...yet there I was with this benefit because of my
racial background and some papers that were signed all those years
ago. I've used it for eye wear. This was particularly handy when I was
“up against it� financially, but had broken my glasses welding. Here's
the thing though, why should I have an advantage on a co-worker who
might be in the same situation? It's not fair, and it needs to stop.

I move that Canadians start their own march towards coast to coast
equality, or at least the serious discussion of it. Our country should
offer no free rides to anyone. No help for those who refuse to help
themselves. No quarter for those who would inhibit the lives and
success of others. No limit to what anyone can accomplish with a
steely resolve, and a great idea. It doesn't matter who built the
first camp fires and communities on this land, it's those that work
hard to continue to stoke the flames of collective well being that
matter.

As a man that stands by his word, I pledge to never again use my
native status to further myself in a way that isn't available to every
other Canadian. I will leave my son unregistered, and will teach him
the importance of keeping it that way. I am a proud native man, and a
hard working, forward thinking Canadian that believes the
opportunities and advantages this country has to offer should be
available to everyone equally.

- Anthony Sowan

[LoneWolf_53]

You can't possibly imagine how much I appreciate and respect your post.

Thank you for taking the time to share that.

[Bpeep]

Ditto that.

[Roadster]

And another Ditto dat,,, even tho we had it a week or so ago it's one that should be seen again soon.

[wolfen_one]

Kibbs wrote....Because their nation had just as much as the french did in the foundation of this nation,This country exists because we united against the Americans.They were not conquered ,they were legislated. They are our brothers in founding this country ,Not someone just off the plane.[/quote]




Most of us were born here and not" just off the plane." All Canadians are legislated and many other cultures contributed to the growth of our nation. What do the Chinese, Ukrainian, German, Italian and other cultures demand for their industrious contributions? Many faced severe hardships to survive here and will still tell you how lucky they are to be Canadian. Some people will never realize how lucky they are.

[Ken7]

wolfen_one
Most of us were born here and not" just off the plane." All Canadians are legislated and many other cultures contributed to the growth of our nation. What do the Chinese, Ukrainian, German, Italian and other cultures demand for their industrious contributions? Many faced severe hardships to survive here and will still tell you how lucky they are to be Canadian. Some people will never realize how lucky they are.

You are so very true!!

[kibbs]

Most of us were born here and not" just off the plane." All Canadians are legislated and many other cultures contributed to the growth of our nation. What do the Chinese, Ukrainian, German, Italian and other cultures demand for their industrious contributions? Many faced severe hardships to survive here and will still tell you how lucky they are to be Canadian. Some people will never realize how lucky they are.

None of these were founding nations or cheated .lest we forget.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/ ... ories.html