To begin, I am an aboriginal, born in Saskatoon but raised all over Canada. I can tell you that as a First Nations member I am always conflicted when I hear about the latest land claim protest involving some kind of interference, obstruction or intimidation. I feel humiliated, embarrassed and outrage, but at the same time I can understandably relate to the frustrations many aboriginals have had with the various levels of government. To clarify, my band has a total membership of about 1200 people. In real world terms, the totality of my heritage, a line which leads back almost 1000 years on this continent, is gone. My particular subspecies of the Homo Sapien is virtually extinct (which prevents me from having much sympathy for those who cry out against discrimination towards their people, try genocide on for size). Compounding this issue is the current Conservative Federal governments’ quiet efforts to peel away all the rights and privileges we as a people have fought for (and deserve, quite frankly). “When is enough, enough” I hear often on your show from listeners regarding Native matters, and I agree. Eventually a line must be drawn, and we as a people must finally truly unite to protect our heritage for generations to come. I fully believe that were we capable (and today we are not, as corruption and in fighting runs rampant in so many bands) to self-govern, we should, and once given that right, all funding from the government should cease. Not unlike Quebec, I hope for a day when the First Nations of Canada are united and declared “A nation unto themselves within Canada”.
What shocked me about the show yesterday was the absolute lack of perspective so many callers demonstrated regarding these matters. Yes the tactics used by the Mohawks blocking ViaRail are illegal and reprehensible as is the current occupation in Caledonia. I am disgusted by images of Six Nations members, holding rifles at blockades with their faces covered, as if it were broadcast live from Palestine. What offends me most about my own people (and I think all minorities share this) is our propensity for living up to our own stereotypes. Our leaders are unable to control the young men and women of our bands due to frustration at the snail’s pace our governments have addressed these issues. This does not however justify the actions of these people, nor the inability to prevent them from giving us all a bad name.
While the constant cry for arrests and legal action is never muted, I have heard no such consistency from the public when the TTC goes on a wildcat strike and shuts down the entire city, or when CUPE goes on illegal strike, forcing the basic engine of service for the taxpayers to grind to a halt.
That is why I also believe perhaps the First Nations should unionize and then strike for their claims. Perhaps then, the inconvenience of shut down rail-lines, highways and access to beaches would be more acceptable to the general public.
And perhaps less people would die.
1 comment:
Hmmm ... I don't know where that picture of masked people with rifles came from, but it was NOT Caledonia/Six Nations.
There are no guns there. There have been no guns there. There will be no guns there. The Clan Mothers do not allow it.
Unionizing sounds good ... but I think it is already happening in a way. There is a lot of agreement and unity across the whole country, and a lot of support for the June 29 day of action.
I hope you will also be out there reminding Canadians that the land is for SHARING, not TAKING.
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