Canada and First nations people going to War??

[jjinvan]

So who's recieving the free healthcare at a rate of 85% that you quote who don't pay taxes?
As far as education goes other than FN's who are the other people who
are not paying taxes that recieve the education. I'll answer this small bit,
of course it's not the kids who are paying taxes that recieve the free
education. They aren't earning money to pay taxes but I'm sure their
parents are paying the taxes that put them through school.
So just who are you talking about then?


...........QM'r

One example? People on welfare.

Many studies have shown that it is the poorest 10% of the population who 85% of the healthcare budget is spent on (mostly because they get free drugs as well as the fact that many of them are drug addicts or have AIDS etc...) No I am not saying all poor people are drug addicts, but sure as heck most drug addicts are poor people.

The poorest 10% of the population isn't paying any income tax and gets more 'gst rebate' than they pay in gst.

Many people on welfare have kids too, who get a nice free education.

So, like I said, there are many people getting free healthcare and free education who aren't natives.

 

[jjinvan]

The thing is, do you know WHY the government is letting the natives get away with the things that they let them get away with?

Do you know WHY the government just paid them over $500 million for land on the island that has a value of between $150-200 million?

Because 'we', the voters, have made it clear in polls that we consider it a priority. At least that's what the polls commissioned by the liberals and NDP say.

What do you think would happen if the vast majority of voters wanted things to change?

Things would get very ugly.

But.. the natives are making a BIG mistake if they force things to get ugly now, when they are basically getting a lot more than the government HAS TO give them according to the constitution.

Once things are already as bad as they can get, popular opinion will turn against the natives and against the idea of the government not sticking to the exact letter of the constitution, then they will start to lose a lot of the things that they think 'aren't enough', but they will already have used up their threats and posturing, so the only other alternative would be to take on the military.

Good luck with that one, especially against the shiny new tanks.

And, guess what happens to public opinion the first time the natives kill some soldiers?

 

[jjinvan]

What is this sud you refer to where NA fish are different from that?

sud = south, ie: southern US and south america.

I'm guessing LaCreme is a nation, like me.

 

[geewhiz]

Two issues about the same people

There are two issues here.

First is poverty of people who happen to be living on Indian Reserves who carry Indian Status Cards.... guess what, the few people who killed a girl at the Gorge were not paying taxes either, yet we have the cops investigating, social workers swarming, crown prosecutors challenging, legal aid lawyers defending, judges working . . . and so on. (On the legal side.) What I am saying, when there is poverty, there is some correlation to criminal activity. So what have all First Nation leaders have been saying all this time, "Give us the means to get out of the poverty cycle."

Which brings us to the second issue. Well, if "I" owed the land, and some damn squatters took over, I guess I would use my shotgun to assert my "rights" to my property. Squatters, being Canadian citizens, did not listen to their parents, the Crown, which made a deal in 1763, to kill our enemies (the French) and we will make sure you are taken care of. Some of the kids (the Americans) decided to say screw that law, we will take the Ohio River Valley because they aren't using it in a civilized way: farming and praying to our Protestant version of Jesus. Come back to Canada, in 1885, the Canadian kids decided that the American brothers were doing the right thing, just take the land (treaties were becoming scarce as it was easier to take it by force). Into the 20th century, some do gooders decided it was cool to force Christianity onto the owners of the land. By 1968, someone decided that it was not cool to have Canadian immigrants and First Nations, all would be assimilated as Canadians. Residential schools came, destruction of language and culture, ego and pride. Also, some Anglo/Franco people said, too bad, we squatted so long ago it is ours now and besides, like all immigrants you have to prove to us you are worthy of being Canadian.

Which comes back to today. If someone took my land, I would look for my shotgun. Now for a native, it means the SQ, OPP, RCMP and the Army beam down your neck. For a non-native, it would mean that when my great-great-great grandfather bought that 640 acre parcel for $5, I should have paid the local Haida government instead of Gov. James Douglas representing the Colony of British Columbia and the Hudson's Bay Company.

What the rail blockage around Winnipeg is, give us what you owe us. Let us create schools, hospitals, industry, jobs and hope for ourselves instead of us begging for our rights and getting kicked in the face because it is too expensive to have clean water in the taps, too expensive to keep you away from mould in houses and too dangerous to allow you to have self-government.

I would NEVER advocate war or violence, but most provincial governments, the federal government and some municipal governments would rather have the status quo because some people in power believe that the Indian question will either die off or disappear through assimilation. As a reminder, it was our Indian Act that laid the cornerstone for apartheid in South Africa.

 

[LaCreme]

fish fish

This does not make sense LC as the natives are allowed to take untold
numbers of salmon like never before. They don't fish in the same style
as they used to do with dip nets standing on a rock outcropping like in
the old days. Today they proliferate the river with drift, set and gill nets.

All these fish except for a few are sold............period !

What is this sud you refer to where NA fish are different from that?


.............QM'r

hummmm.. i saw a wonder full reporter on this topic.. well i am not native my self but i know this story.. some where in Canada the native were not allowed to fish but the tourist yeah.. the native claim it wasn't fair because American where allowed too..because they where not eating those fish daily like native would. and doctor from japan came visit them and make comparison and find out more about what happen in japan..

of course they had found mercury but (%) less then Japanese fish.
as you know our water travel too..

also some native didn't listen and got sick that why the Japanese doctor where there for to cure a similar medical report they had over there.

about those north American fish..
i use to love fish in the island back where i grow up..
i am in Canada since i am 6 yrs and since i am here i do boycott fish.
because of the bad taste compare from where i had it from the sea and salt mmmmm Dominican fresh crispy fish...is similar as Cuban food.
adorable like Japanese crispy chicken Japanese teriaki..

+ if i behave good do you think ill be able to go to the us again?
dial Lacreme if you have idea in mind

 

[jjinvan]

There are two issues here.

First is poverty of people who happen to be living on Indian Reserves who carry Indian Status Cards.... guess what, the few people who killed a girl at the Gorge were not paying taxes either, yet we have the cops investigating, social workers swarming, crown prosecutors challenging, legal aid lawyers defending, judges working . . . and so on. (On the legal side.) What I am saying, when there is poverty, there is some correlation to criminal activity. So what have all First Nation leaders have been saying all this time, "Give us the means to get out of the poverty cycle."

Which brings us to the second issue. Well, if "I" owed the land, and some damn squatters took over, I guess I would use my shotgun to assert my "rights" to my property. Squatters, being Canadian citizens, did not listen to their parents, the Crown, which made a deal in 1763, to kill our enemies (the French) and we will make sure you are taken care of. Some of the kids (the Americans) decided to say screw that law, we will take the Ohio River Valley because they aren't using it in a civilized way: farming and praying to our Protestant version of Jesus. Come back to Canada, in 1885, the Canadian kids decided that the American brothers were doing the right thing, just take the land (treaties were becoming scarce as it was easier to take it by force). Into the 20th century, some do gooders decided it was cool to force Christianity onto the owners of the land. By 1968, someone decided that it was not cool to have Canadian immigrants and First Nations, all would be assimilated as Canadians. Residential schools came, destruction of language and culture, ego and pride. Also, some Anglo/Franco people said, too bad, we squatted so long ago it is ours now and besides, like all immigrants you have to prove to us you are worthy of being Canadian.

Which comes back to today. If someone took my land, I would look for my shotgun. Now for a native, it means the SQ, OPP, RCMP and the Army beam down your neck. For a non-native, it would mean that when my great-great-great grandfather bought that 640 acre parcel for $5, I should have paid the local Haida government instead of Gov. James Douglas representing the Colony of British Columbia and the Hudson's Bay Company.

What the rail blockage around Winnipeg is, give us what you owe us. Let us create schools, hospitals, industry, jobs and hope for ourselves instead of us begging for our rights and getting kicked in the face because it is too expensive to have clean water in the taps, too expensive to keep you away from mould in houses and too dangerous to allow you to have self-government.

I would NEVER advocate war or violence, but most provincial governments, the federal government and some municipal governments would rather have the status quo because some people in power believe that the Indian question will either die off or disappear through assimilation. As a reminder, it was our Indian Act that laid the cornerstone for apartheid in South Africa.

So, in the end, which version of the globe do you use to set borders?

You seem to forget one simple fact: You are talking about two groups of people (Natives and non-native canadian citizens) who were both BORN HERE.

I guess you forgot that people born in a country aren't Immigrants?

Or were you referring to all the people who came over in the 1800s and are still alive?

Nevermind that if you add up all the land claims files by native bands in BC we would have to fill in some of the ocean and make new land because it adds up to over 125% of the area of the province.

 

[Nickthenoob]

JJ why are you suddenly looking for fracas? What is your motivation here? I
ve only been here a short time and don't get you right now.

Nic

 

[LaCreme]

There are two issues here.


Squatters, being Canadian citizens, did not listen to their parents, the Crown, which made a deal in 1763, to kill our enemies (the French) and we will make sure you are taken care of. Some of the kids (the Americans) decided to say screw that law, we will take the Ohio River Valley because they aren't using it in a civilized way: farming and praying to our Protestant version of Jesus.

well went i did arrived in Canada in 1989 they force me to speak french and later i had a job they force me to speak English.."by the way in am born here"

last winter i did visit in Amos a native reserve and they were pretty well organise.
they don't border me much they eat forest wild animal..
" dude" i am not into that but i respect those who do it. wont mind to try if it nothing else to eat. is just i would love sometime to have that treatment.. to have a house and pay no tax and satellite t.v. but i am not native and i am sure any of them are not willing to give it up....

 

[LaCreme]

JJ why are you suddenly looking for fracas? What is your motivation here? I
ve only been here a short time and don't get you right now.

Nic

nic you make me think hard hard.. because right now i have none ha!!!!!
and i love what JJ has to say!

 

[LaCreme]

Yep, setting the military on them would be the best way to deal with them IMO. Free education, no taxes. Yep, they have lots to bitch about

yeah bring it on.. that is paradise.. who pay for that? (us)( us)( us )(us)( us )(us)( us)( us)( us) and you too.. oh la la i love those lovely bitcherie for breakfast. it feed my brain. yumm yummm then braaaaaaa i love you

 

[InTheBum]

What this country needs!

There are two ways to deal with "white people". You either use a gun or
you separate him from his money.
What kind of radical terrorist fucking bullshit is this???
He proudly proclaims his threat on National TV and, NO, I don't think he has been arrested yet.




...........QM'r

What this country really needs are some politicians with some balls! Hang these useless native pieces of shit from flag poles in the capital!!!!!! Native people are a complete drain on society and should have all their free hand-outs lifted and let them sink or swim like the rest of us!!!!!!!

 

[metoo113]

Never cared for the term Native when applied to the First nations.

native,
a person who was born in a particular place; an indigenous person

By all definitions that I found all Canadians who were born here are Native.

Lets say First Nations.

 

[jjinvan]

JJ why are you suddenly looking for fracas? What is your motivation here? I
ve only been here a short time and don't get you right now.

Nic

As I said in an earlier post, what controls the government's position on this issue is public opinion. The problem right now is that the public (who answer the polls the government does on the issue) generally has no clue about the complex problem involved.

When the government does a poll (yes I know, it's actually a polling company that does it for them, but you know what I mean) they ask about 1,000-2,000 people and that represents the entire country, so ONE person understanding a bit more can make a big difference, if the dice fall the right way.

So, my motivation is to try to get people to think a bit, on the off chance that one of the people I get to think will be randomly selected in the next government poll on the issue.

So far on this thread, we have seen some pretty simplistic views on the problem, on both sides. IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE.

The fundamental problem with the current status quo is that the 'leaders' of the native bands are super rich and the rest of the natives are super-poor. The leaders then use the fact that the others are super-poor to get them angry and demanding more and more from the government, which then goes to make the leaders richer and the super-poor stay the same and stay angry.

Why don't the super-poor rise up and try to change their internal structure? Because get what? Their leaders now control their education system and believe me, they are kept as ignorant as possible.

Any time the government tries to change anything they are told to butt out, and the failed attempts of past governments to do anything positive are trotted out.

The ONLY hope for change is to get more natives properly educated and hope that they will have an effect. Right now, any 'honest politicians' in the native bands are run off the reserve, killed, or intimidated into silence by those who are very happy with the status quo.

As far as giving them things when they rise up goes, that is POINTLESS because it is a truely bottomless pit. The leaders will continue to get richer and the rest will stay just as poor and unhappy so the leaders will continue to be able to get them to rise up against the government and demand more and more.

To top it all off, you have the drug and alcohol problems, now I'm not going to get into the biology of addiction because I'm not in the mood to debate it with those who have no understanding of human physiology and the genetic differences involved, but there are HUGE problems with drugs and alcohol and the numbers of native babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome is staggering. Many of those babies are now adults and there appears to be a teratogenic effect of the syndrome (ie: their kids aren't normal either) that passes through both males and females. This is a HUGE problem.

FAS causes mild to moderate mental retardation and a HUGE increase in agression and violent tendencies. It is caused by maternal exposure to alcohol and has certain genetic sensitivity (the natives seem to be VERY predisposed to being sensitive). Some research is now showing that the children of FAS adults (male and female) show signs of FAS even if their mother didn't drink during pregnancy, so it is presumed that there is some genetic alteration which takes place as well.

Throw an internal organized crime ring running casinos, loan sharking, drug trafficing, cigarette and alcohol smuggling, and pimping into the mix while supporting many of the current leaders in maintaining their profitable status quo and you get a heck of a mess.

So, if there's one thing that we should NOT complain about, it is encouraging natives to get a higher education. Each native that we put through university will easily save us 100 times the cost of their university over the course of their life if they live to retirement age, unless they become one of the 'leaders'.

 

[LonelyGhost]

1. FN have the lowest standard of living in Canada, and more 'other'
Canadians have computers in their homes than FN on reserves have
indoor plumbing!

2. FN have the highest rates of homicide, suicide, incarceration,
alcoholism, drug addiction, AID/STI's, diabetes, and tuberculosis.

3. While women fought for and got the right to vote in the 1920's,
Aboriginals who fought for Canada in all the wars did not get the
right to vote until the 1960!

4. Residential schools: read it and weep. Absolute brutality.

5. Finally, for all those 'free taxes' BS, it is horribly off-set by the
Indian Act that forbids FN to borrow money against the land or
house value of property on reserves ... they cannot get business
loans to operate on reserves ... it is legislated poverty.

Finally, if you really want to be a proud Canadian, be aware that
the Indian Act was the 'model' for Apartheid in South Africa -- it was
meant to keep FN 'held apart' from the rest of society so they could
not 'integrate' nor benefit if they did.

Its one thing to be stupid, its another to have no shame.

And this whole thread is the most offensive pile of racist
hatred that I have ever encountered.

Shame on all of you!

ps: edited for correct date that ANY FN could vote: 1960 ... FN could vote
since the 1920's but ONLY if they gave up all their rights!

pss: good info for those who find thinking painful: http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/indian_act.htm

 

[maxxx24]

What this country really needs are some politicians with some balls! Hang these useless native pieces of shit from flag poles in the capital!!!!!! Native people are a complete drain on society and should have all their free hand-outs lifted and let them sink or swim like the rest of us!!!!!!!

***My post is a little more out of frustration, but the LonelyGhost post above is dead on***

Free handouts, yeah most Indians love living in fifty year old moldy houses. Its fun, its stregthens the immune system, righ? What huge drain on society? Most Canadians think/feel that billions a year go to reserves and some how each and every dollar is pissed away. A miniscule amount is given-the bare minimum in some cases and even less in others. Then try to access all the programs and dollars that the Feds say are out there, next to impossible after each hurdle is cleared that is put in place. Look and see how much funding on a case by case basis that reserves get, better yet compare that to the transfer agreements that are in place accross the county for municipalities and towns, reserves receive waaaayyyy less. Most people turn the other cheeck and hope it will just go away, or the will all die, or assimilate which were the goals in the first place.The Feds dont give a shit, especially the Conservatives. And yeah, tax the Natives too, the majority of which are unemployed so as to add a miniscule amount in tax dollars. Paid for tuition aint as simple as just showing up and saying "hey Im an Indian-when does my first class start?" Many things are in place through each reserve and Federaly.

The fact is that the majority of politicians have no balls to address the issue properly, step up and take responsibilty for the conditions that they overwhelmingly have helped in creating (historically and currently). And yeah, Natives too have to take responsibility as well in a lot of areas. Its the Federal system and the Natives have to play by their rules. If anyones got an issue, talk to the Feds, they caused it in the first place, they created whats in place and are perpetuating it. Get a break down on the wonderful programs put in place, such as the reserve system, taking script, residential schools, access to legal counsel, half assed hosing, half assed infrastructure etc.

Anyone here would go through the roof if where they lived refused the bare essential services such as clean water. But for the sake of argument lets use the water issue-very high levels of contaminents and pollutants in many of the well water systems-with most studies being done by Health Canada, be damned though if they will even split costs to replace or repair the systems in most cases, and only when certain reserves have enough cash to do so. And yes, it is their responsibility based on agreements that are in place (Treaties arent the only legal documents that have been entered into over the years with the Feds believe it or not).

The majority of bands have been pushed to and over the breaking point for so many years on broken promises and obligations. They have to watch their ppl suffer and or die everyday. They are still human beings, whether most ppl like to think that or not. How much do you think they are supposed to take? All 10 inches in the ass apparently, and they should just shut up and stop complaing, becasue they have it oh so good. Most ppl ahve no clue and dont care to. Doing the blockades are what some of them feel are they only way to be heard, especially when its has been talked about fot the last few months. IIRC, a buch of farmers blocked traffic in a Canadian city. Dont recall them being hung for it-it was "good for them, they need to stand up for what they think is fair as farmers." Yeah no double standard there.

 

[he_loves_fat]

1. FN have the lowest standard of living in Canada, and more 'other'
Canadians have computers in their homes than FN on reserves have
indoor plumbing!

2. FN have the highest rates of homicide, suicide, incarceration,
alcoholism, drug addiction, AID/STI's, diabetes, and tuberculosis.

3. While women fought for and got the right to vote in the 1920's,
Aboriginals who fought for Canada in all the wars did not get the
right to vote until the 1960!

4. Residential schools: read it and weep. Absolute brutality.

5. Finally, for all those 'free taxes' BS, it is horribly off-set by the
Indian Act that forbids FN to borrow money against the land or
house value of property on reserves ... they cannot get business
loans to operate on reserves ... it is legislated poverty.

Finally, if you really want to be a proud Canadian, be aware that
the Indian Act was the 'model' for Apartheid in South Africa -- it was
meant to keep FN 'held apart' from the rest of society so they could
not 'integrate' nor benefit if they did.

Its one thing to be stupid, its another to have no shame.

And this whole thread is the most offensive pile of racist
hatred that I have ever encountered.

Shame on all of you!

ps: edited for correct date that ANY FN could vote: 1960 ... FN could vote
since the 1920's but ONLY if they gave up all their rights!

pss: good info for those who find thinking painful: http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/indian_act.htm

None of that was anybody's fault except the FNs. If FNs had the drive, initiative, and indeed the intelligence, they would have come to Europe and colonized England and France. But they didn't, and so became a subject culture for a time. Bad shit happened in history – deal with it. It happened to everybody. No one group has a monopoly on suffering.

Going forward, FNs need to recognize they are entitled to the same rights as other Canadians - no more, no less. Until they do this, they will continue to wallow in the filth that is their stunted existence.

 

[bonanzabob]

"They (we) just want what white people have"

Phil Fountaine said this the other night on CBC radio.

I agree with that, assuming he means both the rights and responsibilities.

I believe the Indian Act is seriously flawed, and makes FN people essentially wards of the state, and needs to be overhauled to make the Bands into municipal style self-government.

 

[he_loves_fat]

Phil Fountaine said this the other night on CBC radio.

I agree with that, assuming he means both the rights and responsibilities.

I believe the Indian Act is seriously flawed, and makes FN people essentially wards of the state, and needs to be overhauled to make the Bands into municipal style self-government.

Or why not just abolish the bands and empower FN people to live as regular Canadians do?

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

LonelyGhost;612286
And this whole thread is the most offensive pile of racist
hatred that I have ever encountered.

Shame on all of you!

Sorry you see it that way too LG as my intent on posting this that
was aired on the news just shows the frustrations that the FN's people
are going through and it seems they are at their wits end to get things
resolved. What makes me mad is that they have to now threaten with
violence to get the gov't to listen. Their intent to threaten with violence
as said on the news is to get more land claim entitlements settled as these
claims are bogged down all the time.

The true shame in the whole thing is that they have to resort to violence
and threats because obviously our gov't has not a clue on how to change
this problem or as it would seem, they have no WANT to change the
problem.

***My post is a little more out of frustration, but the LonelyGhost post above is dead on***

The majority of bands have been pushed to and over the breaking point for so many years on broken promises and obligations. They have to watch their ppl suffer and or die everyday. They are still human beings, whether most ppl like to think that or not. How much do you think they are supposed to take? All 10 inches in the ass apparently, and they should just shut up and stop complaing, becasue they have it oh so good. Most ppl ahve no clue and dont care to. Doing the blockades are what some of them feel are they only way to be heard, especially when its has been talked about fot the last few months. IIRC, a buch of farmers blocked traffic in a Canadian city. Dont recall them being hung for it-it was "good for them, they need to stand up for what they think is fair as farmers." Yeah no double standard there.

Like posted earlier, the FN's issue has been the problem since it's
inception to have these people's moved to reservations. The problem
still remains as it is forced poverty with no end in sight.
Plus the internal problems of having the leaders being the rich and the
minions under them kept ignorant. Double standard?????

I see this as only an ongoing problem and getting worse now that the
FN's want to resort to violence if necessary to get their issues heard.

Also, there was no need for Racist comments in this thread folks, yah a lot
of people have different feelings on our FN's people's and it makes them
angry. It still doesn't justify stooping to racist comments about the issue.

It will be interesting to see how far the FN's are going to carry out there
threats and how it will be dealt with.


............QM'r

 

[maxxx24]

As I said in an earlier post, what controls the government's position on this issue is public opinion. The problem right now is that the public (who answer the polls the government does on the issue) generally has no clue about the complex problem involved.

When the government does a poll (yes I know, it's actually a polling company that does it for them, but you know what I mean) they ask about 1,000-2,000 people and that represents the entire country, so ONE person understanding a bit more can make a big difference, if the dice fall the right way.

So, my motivation is to try to get people to think a bit, on the off chance that one of the people I get to think will be randomly selected in the next government poll on the issue.

So far on this thread, we have seen some pretty simplistic views on the problem, on both sides. IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE.

The fundamental problem with the current status quo is that the 'leaders' of the native bands are super rich and the rest of the natives are super-poor. The leaders then use the fact that the others are super-poor to get them angry and demanding more and more from the government, which then goes to make the leaders richer and the super-poor stay the same and stay angry.

Why don't the super-poor rise up and try to change their internal structure? Because get what? Their leaders now control their education system and believe me, they are kept as ignorant as possible.

Any time the government tries to change anything they are told to butt out, and the failed attempts of past governments to do anything positive are trotted out.

The ONLY hope for change is to get more natives properly educated and hope that they will have an effect. Right now, any 'honest politicians' in the native bands are run off the reserve, killed, or intimidated into silence by those who are very happy with the status quo.

As far as giving them things when they rise up goes, that is POINTLESS because it is a truely bottomless pit. The leaders will continue to get richer and the rest will stay just as poor and unhappy so the leaders will continue to be able to get them to rise up against the government and demand more and more.

To top it all off, you have the drug and alcohol problems, now I'm not going to get into the biology of addiction because I'm not in the mood to debate it with those who have no understanding of human physiology and the genetic differences involved, but there are HUGE problems with drugs and alcohol and the numbers of native babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome is staggering. Many of those babies are now adults and there appears to be a teratogenic effect of the syndrome (ie: their kids aren't normal either) that passes through both males and females. This is a HUGE problem.

FAS causes mild to moderate mental retardation and a HUGE increase in agression and violent tendencies. It is caused by maternal exposure to alcohol and has certain genetic sensitivity (the natives seem to be VERY predisposed to being sensitive). Some research is now showing that the children of FAS adults (male and female) show signs of FAS even if their mother didn't drink during pregnancy, so it is presumed that there is some genetic alteration which takes place as well.

Throw an internal organized crime ring running casinos, loan sharking, drug trafficing, cigarette and alcohol smuggling, and pimping into the mix while supporting many of the current leaders in maintaining their profitable status quo and you get a heck of a mess.

So, if there's one thing that we should NOT complain about, it is encouraging natives to get a higher education. Each native that we put through university will easily save us 100 times the cost of their university over the course of their life if they live to retirement age, unless they become one of the 'leaders'.

Where the hell do you get this stuff? (Ill agree with you on the FAS issue though.) You're lumping everyone together and presenting a just as horrid one sided view. ALL band leaders are super rich? ALL band leaders are corrupt? ALL of them operate in illegal gaming, prostitution etc? ALL of them keep their emebership in the dark. Do some leaders become rich of there ppl-sure. No different than your local MP(no not that kind LOL) or MLA getting a kick back or taking something to lobby and push something through, or getting a friend a large govt. grant or contract.

All of the above you mentioned Im sure has and does happen, but no where near the levels you are so negligently putting out there. And again, in some cases, it is no different than any local politician or corporate player that gets involved in greed and corruption. It is a human condition, not a Native one. And control the education system? Here in AB, that is totally controlled by the province-all the curricular and content, and for the most part, classes dealing with Natives themes, such as language, are few and far between in being seen as acceptable curriculum. What a coincedence...

And just like any city council, there are those who work and give a shit and those who do not-do you encourage ppl in your community to "rise up" angainst your local municiple government?

Demanding more and more? Most times it is begging and pleading for the bare essentials that anyonther community, town, city receives.

Education is important, as it should be for everyone. Yet again though you criticize leadership? You sound like you work or worked for a band and got burned or are from a band and have had horrible leadership. Or an outsider with a horrible experience? Mabey from a band and just distrust/dislike them? Have a friend or family member involved? What ever the case, it is a compex issue with many sides to it, not just the leaders.