I for one, welcome our new Conservative overlords and can assist them placating chiefs, lessen the rights focus and calming the warriors, ask me

Aboriginals would be best served by voting Liberal or NDP, but not Conservative. We prefer political parties that are clearly supportive of First Nations issues and have demonstrated in the past their commitment to First Nations issues,"

National Chief, Toronto Star, December 8, 2005

“I would like to congratulate the new Prime Minister-Elect, Stephen Harper, and his party's success in this election. We look forward to working with the new government to ensure a better quality of life for First Nations and a stronger country for all Canadians. The AFN remained non-partisan during the election and did not endorse any party, although we did seek clear commitments on our agenda and our priorities. "

National Chief, AFN Press Release, January 24, 2005

The joy of politics, the ability to "suck and blow" at the same time. The uncanny ability to speak out of both sides of one's mouth. Politicians are the exact characters, I suspect that originated the phrase "speaking with forked tongue."

In the AFN Press Release of January 24, 2006 that offered post-election salutations, a couple of things were striking:

• kudos on the suggestion that with a minority government and a strong opposition slate that parliament work together with First Nations to maintain the momentum of the last 18 months (with the Fiberals)
• the word "legacy" was used twice in the text, 1st in reference to the Kelowna agreement as a 10 year legacy project and 2nd, in reference to the Conservatives honouring their legacy with the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (kudos on legacy reference 2 and point 1 sounds like a question of whose legacy and less so on the "historic" agreement)

Legacy is one of the words oft associated with end of career or history. The NC has communicated to his staff way back last summer that he would be seeking re-election and they have since conducted themselves accordingly, "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil."

Had the Fiberals got in, this blogger would have predicted that the NC with the Kelowna Accord in hand, the Residential School agreement in hand, that the upcoming AFN election would have been a cakewalk. In fact, this blogger would have fearlessly predicted, that the NC would have left, towards the end of his post to accept a Senate appointment or something of similiar stature thus preserving his "legacy.".

Now the question remains, whether the NC in a five month time frame can run an election campaign on "kinda getting results", sweet talk the Conservatives (I didn't really mean it), fend off CAP, and re-negotiate a new funding agreement with INAC all before the house stops sitting for the summer holidays with a new government and with a whole new agenda of which Aboriginal People are maybe, but not neccessarily a part of?

Now with the usage of the word legacy, the immediate past resurrects visions of former Prime Minister Chretien and his desire to create a legacy for himself which also included doing right by Canada's Aboriginal people. Maybe, the NC is looking at a pasture greener and less fraught with the thanklessness of politics. .

To quote another great(?) politician:

"Things are more like they are now than they ever were before."

Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower

To Reiterate - Are ya Scared yet?

First, let me apologize for the misleading date on yesterday's post, this site did not predict on January 9th, that the Conservatives would win. It was posted yesterday and that was January 28, 2006.

Alas, today is another day.

As indicated in yesterday's post, with the Conservatives, there is no doubt that the colonial masters are back. There will be no fudging around with niceities like "it's shameful", then promise the moon and then do nothing. There will be no sweeping actions without a way to act. There will be no smiling faces that don't tell the truth.

One of the more absurdly funny asides, is not only has the election drawn out our true enemy once again, the Crown, with a Conservative face, it also draws out the rights deniers from Aboriginal leadership along with them. We all know with the Philbillies, treaty and aboriginal rights rhetoric remained high even though their actions were to the contrary, still, it was the kind of rhetoric that could placate Chiefs and not raise questions from the people. However, the election now shows the underlying intent of such organizations as the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, for example.

"The recognition by the Harper government of the real needs of real people is a giant step away from distinctions-based approaches taken in the past which resulted in what amounted to a class system for Aboriginal people." National Chief, Dwight Dorey, Congress of Aboriginal People, January 27, 2006.

As a National Chief with no power, no authority, no people and more importantly no land from which to identify with, from which our rights flow and allow us to draw strength from, the only way CAP can garner any sense of power is to continue in their role as dividers of our nations funded by the federal government. With the Conservatives, the sub-divison of our people will continue unabated and moreover, will be supported by the new Government and CAP has stepped up to assume this role.

Once again, I will reiterate, that I am glad the Conservatives got in. It cleared the table from 12 years of lying to us by the Liberals. It diminishes the role of the AFN as a house of Indian Indian Agents and the unofficial mouth piece of the Liberal party on Aboriginal issues. Perhaps, we will have unity as First Nations once again clearly see the common enemy (the Crown) and their faithful group of apples (CAP).

After 12 years of being duped by the Liberals, the chickens have come home to roost. Does the AFN have the nerve to stand up? With the current National Chief stating that he would never protest again, lead a march, or take part in civil disobediance, direct action or mobilizing the people, I guess we will wait and see and hope that he rethinks his ambivalence to leading our people in a strong and courageous manner. It is now two times we have tried being nice with the Fiberals under his leadership and what has it brought, a whole pile of nothing, frozen funding, and perpetuation of our conditions. Isn't it time to re-ignite the fire under our people? Isn't it time for real leadership to stand up and face the firefight? Isn't it time we stopped being nice? Isn't time to mobilize our youth, our spiritual people, the women and our chiefs to take direct action and exercise our rights without fear that government will cut funding to our national organization? I have grown weary of the Indian Indian agents of the AFN telling us to be patient and that the political process will work. Show me the money if that is the case and not just money to maintain the organizational status quo of the NC's Office, the AFN Executive, affiliated troughers and internal liberal loyalists.

Therefore, first off, I am advocating for a fistfight in a cage between the two National Chiefs and the winner take all. The prize being cake boy for all First Nations regardless of residence.

Secondly, I advocate for Assembly unity. We know the challenges that are before us. There are no longer pretty lies to keep us in check and unbalanced. The Indian Indian agents of the AFN can no longer talk out of both sides of their mouths and they need to face this challenge and strategize appropriately or get out. First Nations people have no need for apologists or crybabies lamenting the loss of their gravy train. The AFN is no longer about feeding and maintain the First Nations elite or massaging the backside of the Fiberals, it is about rights, action and unity against a common cause, the same as it has always been.

Third and finally, let us begin the process of seeking out new and dynamic leadership for the AFN. Guys like the current National Chief have been around forever, and continue fall into the same colonial approaches to negotiation around our rights. Coupled with no backbone to fight or willingness to mobilize our constituency with more direct approaches, it is time for someone young, someone of the culture, a woman and/or both to lead the AFN.

Five months is a short time away. Will First Nations leadership vote for actual "transformative change" or will their mantra be the same as the Liberals, change can only occur by maintaining the status quo. Look where it got the Liberals. Let us hope for real change and perhaps we will "get results."

OMG, It's the Conservatives! Are ya scared yet?

"Aboriginals would be best served by voting Liberal or NDP, but not Conservative." National Chief, AFN, December 2005

Heard ya missed me, well the girlz are back and we have a weiner.

OMG! Conservatives win a minority government! What ever does this all mean?

First and foremost, as reported prior to the holidays, the mechanics of government being what they are, it is our sad duty to say that all political deals with First Nations prior to and including the Residential School deal and the $5.2 Billion announced just before the election writ was dropped are off the table until further notice.

But let us dissect this just a bit further, even if the Fiberals succeeded in getting another minority, both the residential school deal and the $5.2 billion would have taken time to go through the processes of government adminstration, meaning, it would have required another Cabinet decision, because remember kids, the Residential School agreement, as good as it was, was only signed on November 21, 2005 and it became nul and void the day the election writ was dropped. Sooo, even if the Fiberals got in, adminstratively, they would have had to table a new cabinet decision, write a treasury board submission and introduce it in the Federal budget, whenever that may have been. Suffice to say with any change in government via the election process, this mechanical adminstrative work would have had to be redone and reintroduced, all of which takes time.

Chances are, adminstratively, it would have taken at least six months for the Fiberals to process these requirements of a Cabinet Decision, Treasury Board Submission and Budget Announcement, then tack on the Summer, it would have been this blogger's estimate that 9 months at the outside under the Fiberals for any of this Residential School money to see the light of day. The Conservatives have committed to honoring agreement, so the time frame for processing this agreement with any luck still remains the same, perhaps, residential school survivors will have a cheque in hand 6 - 9 months from now.

The $5.2 billion is a whole nuther matter. First off, as previously indicated, this chunk of change was a combination of new monies, old monies, imaginary monies and nary a clue as to who was responsible for supplying any or all of these monies, let alone how to spend it and who was responsible, over 10 years, with governments, both federal and provincial, that last no longer than five years and are partisan driven.

Quite the deal it could have been, rights not included. Thankfully, I say this tongue-in-cheek of course, it turned out to be another fine photo-op that happened to fall sadly, just before the Fiberals were knowingly getting the boot rendering all political deals nul and void and most certainly as with all political deals, "not legally binding."

Quite frankly, between the Fiberals and the Neo-cons, it becomes a matter of being forthright. With, the Neo-cons, it is clear which face the Crown will be assuming. Deal with the Indian problem. Be afraid, be very afraid as the saying goes. Well, I am glad to see the Crown become as clear as it's always been and be certain, he is now in standing in front of you, not stabbing you in back and smiling.

Since 1945, the Fiberals have been in power 45 of those 60 odd years, Who can forget, begining in 51, with the transfer of program and service responsibility to provinces, the Fiberals have continued with this offloading agenda, again with the '1969 White Paper', '1976' Health Offload, which begat the still on-going attack on NIHB, successive Program Reviews (Departmental caps and reductions the board with Martin as Finance Minister and PM), FNGA, and as always, under the Fiberals an agenda to limit self government and minimize our treaty and aboriginal rights in spite of their own court decisions. Jiminey crickets, even Tom Flanagan, has served the Crown under the Fiberals, as an expert witness in court against First Nations.

The most amazing thing is, as First Nations people, conscious, conscientious, considerate, caring and trusing were led to believe by our own Indian Indian Agents, that we must support this "historic, dropkick, optic" agreement from a party that has always been on our side?

It was funny to hear a former National Chief say, ""I don't have the same religious reverence for the Liberal party that some aboriginal leaders have because the Liberal party has not delivered on their promises to the Aboriginal community," Over the course of 60 years, this seems to be a fair statement summarizing the current and the past dealings with this party.

Of course, the Neo-cons could be a scary thing, bringing back that old time religion and what not. The likely thing to happen, given a minority government situation is that it isn't going to last long, so sit back enjoy your bannock and watch as the real game amongst First Nations begins.

Thats right, in only five short months, the upcoming election of the National Chief takes place in July 2006, Vancouver. It will be interesting, to watch, as the current National Chief spins the "Kinda Getting Results", "I Coulda been a Contenda" or "We almost made it so, lets wait until they get re-elected and everything will be good again." campaign.

Can the current NC position himself quickly to be the Conservative's go-to guy in advance of his election bid, maybe, maybe not? With no real opposition, moreover, with an electorate of overworked, easily swayed and often duped Chiefs, it appears to be a shoo-in for the Philbillies. I know I am sitting on my hands at the excitement of it all.

Whispers in the Wind

With the AFN holding another Special Chiefs meeting, it seems appropriate to hear some of the voices in the wind and from the floor.

"I can't believe I lost another cell phone, oh well, AFN will get me another one again."

"I can't believe these Chiefs call me at all hours, what am I, their geisha girl?"

"Aboriginals would be best served by voting Liberal or NDP, but not Conservative."

"Really? AFN moved into the same building as INAC's old claims offices I bet the Andy gave them a deal."

"You did not tell me actual Indian were showing up."

"I wonder when they will cut me a cheque."

"If I vote this way will they like me better."

"Sometimes, I wish Ontario would just shut up."

"Sometimes I wish BC would get up off their knees."

"Thats a good idea young lady, you should come to my room and talk to me about it."

"Its historic. Everything we do is historic."

Actually, it's just histrionics." (Exagerrated emotional behaviour calculated for effect)

"Is it always this disorganized?"

"I feel like I am being scolded."

"Don't ask me, I am just here for the party."

and my personal favourite

"Chief, what you are saying is important. Next!"

Nothing From Nothing Means Nothing

Promises that no longer exist, and even if they did, the fine print says and I quote in reference to the Blueprint for Aboriginal Health: "This document is a political commitment and as such is not legally binding."

Below we will provide an outline of this non-binding pot of money and more specifically how Chiefs and moreover First Nations people, along with our fellow Canadians continue to be duped in the interest of good intentions. For this exercise, we will use the health monies as the example.

First the total FMM Commitment
(Indians, Inuit & Métis) for the next five years are as follows:
Education:
K to 12 on-reserve $1050.0
K to 12 non-reserve $150.0
Post Secondary Education $500.0
Children $100.0

Housing and Infrastructure:
On-reserve $ 600.0
Non-reserve Housing $ 300.0
Northern Housing Partnerships $ 300.0
Water & Other Infrastructure $ 400.0

Health:
Stabilizing First Nation & Inuit Health Systems $ 870.0
Promoting Transformation/Building Capacity $ 445.0

Economic Opportunities:
First Nations Commercial Industrial Development Act $ 12.0
Economic Development Framework Initiatives $ 188.0

Relationships & Accountability:
Policy Capacity of Aboriginal Organizations $ 90.0
Indicators & Accountability $ 60.0
Engagement on Land Claim & Self-Government Rights $ 20.0

TOTAL FUNDING COMMITMENTS - $5085 Billion

Who can forget that and it only seems like yesterday that back in September 2004, the Fiberals announced that Aboriginal people would be receiving $700 million for improving health and health systems.

This money never saw the light of day. This money was never committed. It was reprofiled to be included in the November 24-25, 2005 "historic" First Ministers Meeting. It is now even more non-existent with the government falling. Once again, our health is sacrificed. Well, at least its a "step in the right direction." "Absolutely", said the NC.

Its been 14 months since this announcement and now we have certainty that the AFN as well as other Aboriginal groups are left holding a Blueprint that possibly, perhaps, maybe or might be salvaged should a Fiberal minority be elected or shelved should there be a Conservative minority. Either way, First Nations health remains unreasonably unhealthy with AFN left holding an empty bag and knowing full well that their godhead, the Fiberal leader when he became Prime Minister only 17 short months ago instituted Expenditure Review which will remove $269 million from Health Canada of which $88 million will be coming from Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB). Final result of "getting results:" is:

An empty promise of $1.2 Billion (of which $700 is recycled) vs. and actual program reductions for NIHB of $88 million for the same five year time period. Score 0 - ($88 million). More of an auspicious start than a good one, I am sorry...........................to say.

Further analysis demonstrates $5 billion in empty promises vs actual across the board program reductions, again over the same five year time period of $717 million specific to Aboriginal programming resulting from Expenditure Review. Because I like hockey, I will put it in those terms.

Final Score: Team Empty Promises - 0

Team Aborinal Program Reductions - ($717 mil.)

Result, First Nations will be left waiting a little bit longer, trust me.

Life in La La Land - Historic Resolution Afoot

It was nice to see to life at the office, here at the Department of Indian Affairs, I mean the AFN returning to normal. It is hard to describe the comfort we feel when we see the most Indian of Indian Agents, our beloved CEO walking around the office. Once can feel the love as he looks for evil doers and my favourite reaction is pretending to laugh at his jokes or fawn over his benevolence. Either way, it gives me the willies but I like everybody else shuts up, says nothing and kisses when necessary.

But back to the point, as mentioned in the last post, it was fearlessly predicted that another "historic" document was to be passed by our fearless leaders. It was predicted, as the AFN neo-colonialists really have no other choice, that they would pass a resolution supporting the Fiberals and moreover encouraging our people to vote in the same manner.

Chiefs, for your convenience and in the interests of time and Christmas party, I have drafted the "historic" AFN resolution.

Subject:
What Choice do We Have? - Vote Fiberal

WHEREAS the AFN, formerly a rights based organizations has undergone "transformative change" and is now a supplicant organization or more specifically, a wing of the Federal Government;

WHEREAS the AFN Chiefs-in Assembly with the exception of Quebec and a few Treaty Groups assumed the prone position and agreed to participate in the "historic" First Minister's Meeting held on November 24-25, 2005'

WHEREAS the AFN recognizes that as outlined in the Blueprint on Aboriginal Health every bit of business conducted at the FMM "is a political commitment, and as such is not legally binding;"

WHEREAS, the AFN rec0gnizes that our political masters, the Fiberal government fell on November 28, 2005 leaving all Cabinet decisions and any other commitments nul and void;

WHEREAS the AFN is politcially bound to spin non-binding committments as positive steps forward and make it appear to First Nations people, the press and Chiefs-in-Assembly that it was more than a photo opportunity;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, in light of this charade, the Chiefs-in-Assembly agree to encourage First Nations people to vote Fiberal; and.

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the AFN Chiefs-in-Assembly recognize when all your eggs are in one basket, there is no other choice but to dance with the one who brought you.

Fearless Predictions - AFN to support Fiberals

"When you beg a man to set you
free, you will never be free."

Malcolm X

The AFN will be holding another Special Chiefs Assembly on December 6-8, 2005 in Ottawa. The Assembly rarely holds meetings, with the exception of the Annual General Assembly in accordance with it's charter as it is easier to manipulate the outcome and minimize voice through such ignorance. Thus, rarely are there Confederacy meetings anymore. Of course most chiefs, with all due respect have not read the AFN charter, nor is it promoted and therefore they do not know the scope of their authorities within Assembly processes. Why follow the charter, when AFN decision making processes have been reduced to every man for themselves, then sub-divided somewhat along regional lines, divided by the neo-colonialists, divided by rights based people and finally divided by those who go which ever way the spirit moves them. I know I am secure in the fact that 88-7 or less than 1/6 of all the Chief in Canada supported FMM add in a full province (Quebec) and a number of treaty chief/organizations NOT participating I feel comforted, warm and fuzzy.

It reminds of the time and who can forget, when the current National Chief got his raise in salary at his first AFN Annual General Assembly in 1998 when there were only 25 Cheifs left in the room on the last day, passing some sixty odd resolutions, including the raise, in matter of moments. Another "historic" day for sure. Mind you, the NC, regardless of political stripe deserves this pay, undoubtably, you may disagree with their approaches but each NC has always worked tirelessly. It simply exemplifies the ongoing reality that is our decision making processes and further diminishes the validity of representation as claimed by the AFN. Score 88-7, ever sick eh?

Anyway, all this to say is that, it is fearlessly predicted that the AFN for the first time in history via the resolution process will publicly support a Canadian political party, in this case the Fiberals.

It is a classic case of putting all your eggs in one basket. When you look at it, what other choice does this AFN regime have. For your support today, I will promise you my support later post-election, maybe ..............because I will have to negotiate with the other parties and we will have to re-evaluate our budgets and fiscal projections, obtain the necessary authorities and we will have to run the processes through the systems of government but no doubt you will hear from us soon.

Again, as did the Metis of Ontario and the Union of Ontario Indians in the last election, we, the people will be encouraged by our leaders to vote a certain way with the thinly veiled threat that if you don't all will be lost.

Again, I remind you NOT one of these finacial announcements are guaranteed. Every committment that has been made is contingent upon re-electing the same government that has broken its promises to us the last 12 years and only at the 11th hour is able to commit upwards of 8 billion dollars.

This is the same government that on November 24, 2005 the opening day of the "historic" FMM, the press reported that the Prime Minister with his Expenditure Review has been pulling money ($12 billion) from every department across the board.

The Prime Minister launched the review shortly after taking office in December, 2003.Revenue Minister John McCallum was given the job and said hewas able to find more than $12-billion in savings over the next few years. The savings were factored into the February, 2005, federal budget. Globe and Mail, November, 24, 2005

Given that the new money to be announced this week is expected to be focused on housing, education and health, it would appear unlikely that much of it could be used to address the department's core funding problems outlined in the documents. Globe and Mail, November 24, 2005

"Overall, this means a significant reduction in the capacity of Treaties, Research, International and Gender Equality Branch. . . . If we are required to close down the Exploratory Treaty Tables this fiscal year, we will need to completely reconsider the structure of the Treaty Policy Directorate," he wrote. He also said the tables are required if the government is going to resolve treaty issues. Globe and Mail, November 24, 2005

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2005, AFN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ISSUED A JOINT COMMUNIQUE COMMITTING THE MINISTER AND THE NATIONAL CHIEF TO JOINT ACTION ON SELF-GOVERNMENT, TREATY AND LAND CLAIMS by ANNOUNCING A CONFERENCE ON HISTORIC TREATIES AND FIRST NATIONS CITIZENSHIP ISSUES. Its funny but not ha ha funny.

Quotable Quotes from the AFN Charter

The Assembly of First Nations shall remain at all times an instrument to advance the aspirations of First Nations and shall not become greater in strength, power, resources or jurisdiction than the First Nations for which it was established to serve.

To be a national delegated forum for the purpose of advancing the aspirations of First Nations and to remain subordinate in strength power and resources to the First Nations jurisdiction for which it is established to serve.

To protect our succeeding generations from colonialism. (I laughed aloud at this one in light of historical and curent current grovelling patterns of the NC and the band of opportunists.)

To instruct the Executive Committee to proceed with a ratification process of its decisions regarding any subject matter of a fundamental nature that may affect the jurisdiction, rights and survival of First Nations.

The National Chief shall have no inherent political authority. 2. Any authority the National Chief may have shall derive exclusively and entirely from authority granted from time to time by the First Nations-in-Assembly.

This Charter may be amended by consensus or general agreement of the Chiefs or their duly accredited representatives of the First Nations present at any Annual Meeting or Special Meeting of the First Nations-in-Assembly provided that at least 60 days written Notice is given to the First Nations in advance of the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting at which such amendment is to be tabled. (Please note: It seems that in the last year or so, the AFN has not given sixty days notice for any of its Special Meetings held and of course approach is related to controlling the agenda, minimizing opposition and fluffing up support. In some cases it has less than a month, leaving Chiefs guessing about location and agenda. Again, these are good lessons in neo-colonialism manufactured by our own "Indian" Indian agents.)