What benefits do Natives get?

[kweeezy]

Let's not forget that NA Native Indian tribes slaughtered one another
long before the white man came and brought destruction. Does that
make it right? No. But what are we supposed to do about it now?
Should we take the blame and go back to Europe for what others
of the same skin colour, our ansestors, did?

Wrong, wrong, wrong!!

Please read some history before making such statements.

Indians did have disagreements. They were usually of a personal nature and never over land and ownership, that was white man's way.

A war that started accumulating too many casualties would bring the leaders together to discuss the issues and the war would usually end.
Lacrosse was another method used to solve disputes, games sometimes lasting days.

A Chief or a leader of war parties had to be very careful about the welfare of his men (unlike military generals) and the decisions he made, because if a dispute could not reach a resolution, they themselves might be drawn into a one on one fight to the death to solve the dispute.

There was no wholesale slaughter of enemies or ruthless behaviour, that was a myth propagated by whites which led to the stereotyping of Indians as savages.

Ruthless, barbaric war behaviour was 'taught' to Indians by the Europeans. Scalping and bounties for certain tribes (men, women, and children) was first decreed by the British to wipe out New England and East Coast tribes. Many nasty predator types looking to make a quick buck would take the scalps of Indians who weren't even on the bounty list. Today, the myth is still circulating that "scalping" is a unique Indian invention.

Indians that were known 'enemies' of another tribe were hired as mercenaries by the British in particular but they were just as likely to be mistreated and discarded when their 'usefulness' ran out.

Quoted from Hubbahubba

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is one issue that will never be resolved! There will not be one arguement, statement, question or insinuation you have not heard before. The beat goes on and on... on and an...on and on.................

Perhaps so Hubbahubba, but only because myths and misunderstanding are continually perpetuated and not only on this board. Imagine what people might be able to do and think when armed with accurate information ?!?!

 

[belair]

and the price is high isn't it?

The West wasn't won, it was lost and we're all still paying the price today.

The "apples" are no different than the white man, the white man with a life pension worth thousands.

 

[jetsam]

I I'd heard that the coastal indians where the most advanced non-aggricultural society in the history of man-kind.

Slavery was practiced by tribes in the northwest of B.C. To this day there is animosity and certain tribes will not associate with each other.

europeans got a pretty good deal, we gave you tobacco

I'll be expecting an apology from Phil Fontaine along with some financial restitution.

 

[luvsdaty]

Okay I crunched the numbers,9 billion dollars devided by 3% of Canadas population=9000 dollars a piece.I live off reserve and until very recently I could'nt even vote on band politics??? Thanks to the indian act.The population of my band today is about 900,before first contact the population was about 3000. Yup we took slaves in war,I've got relatives over in the states who where taken as slaves.There decendants are still alive and well, a couple of them tracked down my dad and told him that they where related to him.Seem's to me you guys had slaves too. Who do you think built the railway across Canada? I'm pretty sure it was'nt white-guys I'd lay odds that they were'nt doing the dangerous work,they left that too the asians.As far as the corrupt chiefs,like I said the best teacher is example and we had some pretty good white teachers. Before first contact the hereditary chief owned every thing.He sent his hunters and fishermen out and before any body else got there share, the chief made sure that the elders and the widows got there share first.9000 bucks a year of which I don't see a cent.Meanwhile the federal government has an annual opperating budget of about 200 billion a year and your whining about 9 grand???

 

[Buntoss]

I think the lack of sympathy that alot of people have to natives, is they do seem to get a "free ride" albeit many do come from very difficult situations.

But, this country has literally hundreds of thousands of people who came here with not much more than the clothes on their backs, they had to leave their family behind, or in quite a few instances, there was nothing left as all their relatives were dead. They pulled themselves together, often not being able to speak English or French, discrimmated against, and still manage to be successful with little to no help from the government. That was the situation with my parents, and they manage to be successful.

If people want a free ride in life at the expense of others, dont expect much sympathy.

 

[gigolojake]

for my Fourth year, for my second degree, as well as for my Masters.

2 Bachelors Degrees and a Masters.....I have never been so turned on in my life. You are an Angel!!!!

 

[H.Miller]

"

Originally Posted by InTheBum
"If it wasn't for the rest of the world, the Indians would still be living off the land, shitting in holes in the ground, sleeping on dirt, using leaves to heal wounds, and have a life expectancy of 45. Let's face it, they have no motivation...whether we came and concured, or not...

Empathy for people who are indifferent and users...bah..."

This post is almost too absurd to reply to but I will overstate the obvious for the poor lad.

Living off the land, ummm, yes please. You don't seem to understand that we had the advanced culture not the europeans. Native social structure led to the the first democratic belief that all men are created equal. No European ever was so lucky as to have such a benevolent arrangement. Only the few, the rich and the priviledged (everyone else was fodder)---hmmmm sound familiar?
Leave us to clean up the mess so called 'civilization' created and we'll be ecstatic to live off the land again!

Now here finally is the truth--- not from the inthebumguy of course but from kweeezy, well said and well done.

The following is a quotation from a white fur traders journal who observed things accurately at the time ,and that has always resonated with me whenever this native discussion surfaces.

"with sole exception of the danger arising from their enemies there is not, & cannot be a more happy race of men in the world. Independance absolute, rendering unto each his due, they are sure of their own. The produce of the chase i.e. the flesh, is in common, & the old men told me that all was in common before we came in amongst them to put an imaginary value upon their furs. They have no knowledge of those fine nice & subtile distinctions of classes- they consider every man equal, since every man comes into, & goes out of , the world in the same way- there is no known but such as are acquired by a practice of the virtues..... Their laws are few indeed & simple. Do well to me & I will do well to you....."

George Nelson, My First Years in the Fur Trade
The Journals of 1802-1804

I guess one can only hope we all can make it back to that state again.

I say give them back their land, and put them in charge.

 

[Creole Lady Marmalade]

Not meant to offend!...
I think Im aloud to start this because I am part Native LOL
(and no I don't collect any benifits)

*What do you call a group of indians sitting in a circle???

A full set of teeth!

*What is the difference between an indian funeral and an indian wedding???

One less drunk!
Anyone want to share some more native jokes?

...just because my biological father is indian doesn't mean I am...

According to your first first quote, you are Indian because your biological father is.
You can’t choose and change sides at your convenience.
Ignorance based from a lack of effort is offensive to most people.

She's not banned or warned cause she's a paid advertiser. That's just the way things are in here.

Try to avoid any excuses as to why I’ve been suspended but every time but one of my detentions have been as a paid advertiser.

Only one mod has been actively working and they are overworked.

 

[jetsam]

http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/video/aboriginal_issues/chief_clarence_louie.html

 

[Essence]

I understand that this is a review board and that everyone has their rights to their own opinions, but i am very surprized by some of them....
first of all, my mother and grandmother is first nation, and both were forced to residential school, both to this day dont speek or understand their cultures or anything to do with it... nor do i, im a city girl now and im ok with that... what hurts me about this forum is to see how people have no understandance to what has happend in this country nor have they took the time...
ie: there are still reserves in canada, that still to this day that don't even have running water, so therefore no there is not alot of "free" money.
:Also, alot of little inocent girls have been raped by "priests" hidden away for their pregnancies and then when the baby comes, he/she (baby) was burried alive... what if that was one of your sibblings??? or what if that was one of your babies???
what amount of money or schooling could ever replace that???
i agree that a large percentage of natives give a bad name, everyone hears about that.... there are also alot of white, black and every other color that participate in the same acts... but usually are'nt mentioned as much... i am also half european... and i take no part in any racist act... people who do need to "get-over" them-selves and wether or not they choose to understand... well jus don't judge a book by its cover...
i am in college and currently have a student loan and intend on paying every cent back... i could get the free schooling, but refuse to accept that filthy cash... thanks for reading my 2cents

 

[Escapist]

I feel sorry for the chuglies

 

[Victoria Rose]

1. Aboriginals living on reserves cannot get business loans to start
any kind of business that would help them get ahead ... its actually
easier for a refugee to get money from a bank or government than
it is for an Aboriginal.

2. While we hear all about how badly women were treated and how
their contribution to the War effort was never recognized or how badly
the Japanese were treated in WWll, you don't hear about all the
Aboriginals who fought for Canada but who, if they lived on reserves
and kept their 'status' were NOT given the right to vote until 1960!!!

3. Aboriginal men who marry 'other' women retain their status the
women they marry can gain 'status' but an Aboriginal woman who
marries an non-Aboriginal loses her status ...

Which is very problematic in Aboriginal culture because lineage was
matrilineal ...

4. A lot of Aboriginals after being exploited by Europeans have now
been even more exploited by their own people ... there is no end to
the number of 'Band Chiefs' who have spent the money that was intended
to help Aboriginals.

5. Much of the money spent on 'Aboriginals' is spent on bureaucracy
and lawyers.

Think Aboriginals have it 'good'?

Highest rate of suicide, homicide, TB, diabetes, HIV/Aids, alcoholism,
drug addiction and incarceration.

More Canadians have a computer in their homes than Aboriginals have
toilets!!!!

Many Aboriginal homes do not even have heating and have been
built to sub-standard conditions.

Very good post, LG. A lot of people don't understand these things—they only see the surface and don't "get it."

I'm not Aboriginal, but one thing that shocked me when I moved to Saskatchewan as a teenager was the unbelieveable amount of racism towards them—even worse than I heard directed towards immigrants when I was growing up in Toronto, and I never understood it. I still don't.

When I was in my 20's I knew a young woman whose father was Aboriginal and mother was Caucasian. He worked long and hard to overcome his drinking problem and the hell he put his family through by disappearing for days on end. I was with her the night he stood up and apologized (at promotion for a book written by a young Aboriginal man) to his whole family, including the daughter I accompanied who was speaking at the event, for all the pain he had caused them and told his daughter that she was an inspiration to him and he was proud of her.

She cried beside me on the trip back to Regina, saying, "This is what I wanted to hear from my father all of my life."

They had a business on the reserve and provided for themselves. Her grandmother received a pension cheque for her off-reserve career and was ridiculed by her own people on the reserve for it—I think that was a case of jealousy.

The young woman had studied at the University of Regina for a time and had a good job then. The last I heard from distant relatives (I lost touch with her about 15-20 yrs ago), she had completed her education and had a good career.

I was never satisfied with the stereotypes people promoted about Aboriginal culture and people. The times I spent with this woman and her family at dry dances in Friendship Centres were some of the best times I ever had. So many of them know how to have a good time without alcohol and it's unfortunate they can't all learn that.

I also think it's too bad that some people are just surface people, judging a world they really know nothing about from the outside instead of befriending someone in it and seeing the joy and strength that comes from doing their best in spite of the obstacles.

Sadly, I never really knew why some fight to come out of it with the success my friend has had and some just give up and give in to the stereotype. My friend and I barely scratched the surface of that topic back then.

Thank you for explaining in more detail, LG.

 

[jjack]

the simplest way to put it

Everyone on here seems to think that Aboriginals have a free ride yet
the Benefits to being Aboriginal in Canada must not be that great because I don't know one white dude, no matter how sorry his F**king life is at the moment who would gladly trade places with an Aboriginal, regardless of the benefits.

Perhaps we should be asking what the benefits are to all the scumbag politicians (who were mostly at one time slimey lawyers), how much of their income and expenses are tax free ??? If we took all the money the feds and their civil servants make at Indian and Northern Affairs (or whatever they are calling it this week) and just gave it directly to the Aboriginals, there would be no problem.

 

[C-Rations]

Not a single empathetic soul replied thus far! what a tragedy, what a shame. It is easy for us to watch from a distance and be envyous of their privligaes, and than turn a blind eye to how our governments policies have destroyed their families for generations. After all would any one want to trade places? I wouldn't. Native populations all over the world face the same issues we see here today in Canada. I think we owe them more than a small check, a parcel of land, and a few extra fishing and hunting rights. After all they were here first, we just had greed, disease, and better technology and the selfishness to defraud them of their land.

CHECK THIS OUT PLEASE = http://www.jibjab.com/originals/this_land