Speak out First Nations

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

2006-02-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

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?

2006-01-30T14:22:00.000-08:00

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?

2006-01-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

"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

2005-12-08T05:09:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-05T04:14:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-04T04:30:00.000-08:00

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

2005-11-30T04:37:00.000-08:00

"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.)

First Ministers Meeting - Illusions of Grandeur

2005-11-29T04:25:00.000-08:00

Thought I would slip away for a few days while my colonial masters were in Kelowna.

Wasn't it wonderful? Wasn't it grand? Personally, I love to watch people posture and preen when there is little underneath except empty promises.

In our current situation, the divide is depicted best when you have the rebels, the dissedents, wayward chiefs, youth, and elders standing outside in wet snow while leadership is inside at a posh hotel cutting deals.

To paraphrase the head of NWAC, she said, "I almost walked away from the table but then the Prime Minister promised me an Aboriginal Woman's Summit." Gutless and gullible if you ask me.

I think if we put 12 years of Fiberal promises to Aboriginal people aside, it was a great meeting.

I mean lets forget, Liberal Red Book 1 and 2, Gathering Strength (or dust or stench) or the kowtowing Aboriginal peoples caucus. Lets forget the cuts to Non-Insured Health Benefits. Lets forget the attempt to impose a tax on our University level students. Lets forget water issues. Lets forget 3rd world conditions. Lets forget ongoing Fiberal avoidance our treaty and aboriginal rights. Lets forget offloading of services to provinces without definition of the scope of those services. Lets forget that it was this Prime Minister and his Program Reviews that have continued to cut money in health, Indian Affairs and Human Resources Development Canada. Lets us forget this reality and focus on what might be if we had a government with a strong mandate and not a desperate government clinging to power.

I can see more pretty beads, mirrors and shiny objects to pacify our peoples desperation. We have been fooled before and now this time we are being fooled by our own people, the Indian Indian agents of the AFN.

Final Thought on Residential School Package

2005-11-25T04:16:00.000-08:00

As a residential school survivor said to me, "it means nothing until I see the money in my hand and then they can pay for my burial."

What the AFN did not tell you.

1. The Cabinet decision was made on November 21, 2005

2. When the Government falls on Monday November 28, 2005, the Cabinet that made this decision is dissolved

3. When the Cabinet is disolved so are their decisions.

4. The Agreement in Priniciple is valid as long as the Government of the day remains in power. It is predicted that our current government will remain in power until Monday, November 28, 2005.

5. For any Cabinet decision to be enacted, it also requires that the money, in this case, 1.98 billion be booked through Treasury Board as a Treasury Board Submission. It is almost certain that the machinery of government does not work this fast and that this money has not been booked and therefore nothing is in the queue except a big fat, empty promise.

So what does this mean? For residential school survivors, their families and loved ones, it means be patient, hold your breath, sit on your hands, twiddle your thumbs and restez calme and say nothing, do nothing, feel nothing while the "Indian" Indian agents humbly beg to submit on your behalf.

I am sorry...........................to say.

Residential School Package Good Deal - Vote Liberal

2005-11-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

I thought perhaps I was a bit over the top in my initial post from out here in the northern woods.

Since reading the news clippings post, it appears for all intents and purposes to be a pretty good compensation package.

However, the majority of the comments still stand as valid.

It reeks of politics and desparation. I am sorry...........to say.

First, the former Supreme Court Justice the Honourable Frank Iacobucci in May 2005 was appointed to develop a plan to compensate victims and avoid the costly lawsuits facing the courts and he was to table a report as soon as feasible but no later than the end of March 2006. Oddly enough that timetable would have coincided well with the begining of the run-up for the election of National Chief in Vancouver 2006. AFN staff was informed several months ago that the NC will be seeking re-election as, in the words of his former Fiberal master to preserve his legacy or something to that effect. Given the urgency required to prop up the fiberals immediately, this political card was played today.

But I digress, the Agreement in Principle (no guarentees) as indicated is quite a full package and needs to be considered.

However to suddenly rush this package, as an Agreement in Principle, on the eve of the fall of government with a Cabinet that will not exist once the writ is dropped seems rather desparate and without weight.

For the 86,000 residential school survivors, it does border on cruel to elevate expectations and hopes without reconciling with the truth that it is only an agreement and principle and that agreement will only live as long as this current minority government lasts.

Should another Liberal minority government get in the deals goes through but it will still have to be reintroduced back to a new Cabinet and as indicated will require the approval of by the courts because of the high number of outstanding lawsuits launched over residential school abuse. To which the Deputy Prime Minister hopes that the seven courts in different provinces that dealing with class-action suits will see that the deal "is fair and just and will bring an end to this complex set of litigation that we have seen for many years." This will not commence until May 2006.

So once again, for the sake of political expediance and optics, survivors will be left holding their collective breath in hopeful anticipation that, at a minimum, another fiberal minority government can be re-elected. Kind of a flimsy basis for a just and fair compensation package for both First Nations people as well as Canadians.

Contradictions, paradox and deja vu, the feeling you have been here before

2005-11-20T07:01:00.000-08:00

"I should have been more vigilant" Prime Minister, Macleans Magazine 2005

12 years later, my water stinks, our environment more polluted, housing is worse, economic opportunities distant, health mired in the 3rd world, rights dimininshed (Housing, Education, Health Benefits) education levels absymal and oh joy, oh bliss, the introduction of leadership sanctioned World Bank institutions of globalization in our territories, I can only reiterate that when it stinks at the top rest assured sister, brother, grandma, grandpa and mother, it stinks at the bottom where First Nations reside.

At the eleventh hour, on the eve of another election, all this will change to magically remain the status quo, ...............again. Hallelujah, I can feel it.

The utterly predictable thing about Canadians is that they will likely hold their collective noses ever so politely, cynically believing that Fiberalism and all their faux cookies will retain Canadian values, as well as some sense of justice and goodness, despite the arrogance, despite the legacy of our tax dollars at work and despite, gomery, hrdc, gun legislation, let alone doing anying about the Indian problem.

Out here on the ground watching a Fiberal friendly NC and his affiliated cronies belly up to the trough is like deja vu, the feeling that you have been her before. Well, Canadians and their bleeding heart comfortablity can kiss my big bannock shaped, well you know.

The Fiberals have been in power for all of this century and most of the last one. Given this history, god bless their colonial souls and after years of attrition, our own leadership recognizes this probability and is hedging their bets accordingly.

Do not be fooled. Successive governments, Fiberal or otherwiese, truly know the extent of our rights and have been excellent at waiting us out, ignoring us, finding sell-outs (as always) or sitting on their hands until the next explosion begins.

Oooooh, threats of Kahnesatake, defense of land, exercise of our aborigional and treaty rights, I am glad that the NC has publicly told First Nations and moreover his masters that you will never see him in a protest, march, or defend our land through occupation.

What does this type of statement imply? One, he is not our side, two, he is not on our side and three, he is not on our side. Rights and entitlement means very little when you don't wanna fight for it. "All my relations" are ashamed of such acquiesence.

Whats funny, and believe you me, not ha ha funny, is within the Canadian state and in the course of it's business is the simple fact that no government will sign any agreement that extends beyond a five year life span, which lo and behold, is the maximum time either a province or federal government can hold power.

Yet the optics tell us that on November 24-25,2005, the Prime Minister, Aboriginal and Provincial Leadership can outline a 10 year plan. Give us a break. Which one of these leaders can provide a mandate beyond the length of their term of office? None of them and especially not at the federal level given current minority government scenarios.

In a minority government situation, which party can provide a mandate beyond 18 months, the longest any Canadian minority government has stayed in power? With that knowledge do you think that four billion in new and recycled monies will make a diiference when spread out over five years when the mandate to carry it out is volatile and unpredictable?

The unprecendented media vigilance, along with the bluster of the NC, syncophant staff and assorted chiefs almost makes me believe the significance of the upcoming FMM (November 24-25, 2005). Fortunately, Canadian politicians, the harpers, the martins, the laytons, the duceppes, even the greens know that once the writ is dropped its a coin toss.

Once an election is called, the legislative and political slate is wiped clean and subject to negotiaton when another minority government seizes power for the next short period of time.

With the buckskin curtain pulled over our collective eyes, it is certain that the demands for change, leadership accountability and most importanly fair represenation on our "collective" aboriginal and treaty rights will be left those elite few holding straws and sucking at the corners of a diminishing trough.

For a Few Trinkets More - Beads, Shiny Objects, Mirrors and Reflection

2005-11-17T06:11:00.000-08:00

Coming to you live First Minister Meeting on November 24, 2005.

Mark it in your calenders and hold your breath or your nose in anticipation.

Let us reiterate some important words from Wednesday's blog, "Nothing that the present government says or does short of a statute can bind a future government."

So even if a we are burdened with another tired and corrupt liberal minority or the percieved ever fearful conservatives minority nothing will change the above fact. We are still subject to the rules of the house, it is not guarenteed that this deal will not be compromised or moreover unfulfilled given the predicted instability of the house under any minority government regime.

So, lets take some pictures, eat our bannock and watch the empty rhetoric and wonder in awe as another 3-4 billion in new or recycled money is tossed our way. Surely, this much ballyhooed meeting will culminate in such statements as this money will be spread out over five years, it is a historic and bold step, working together for a better future, Canadians care about THEIR Aboriginal people, the road to a improved conditions for Aborignal Canadians has just been paved and my favorite, securing Aboriginal peoples place in Canada and in the World. (reference AFN and INAC websites for specific wording).

From the book Lets Hear Only Good News: Yiddish Blessings and Curses, this one seemed most appropriate to the current situation.

"You should go shlepping [i.e. begging] from house to house with your descendents for generations!"

Or Chief General said it best when he expressed his disappointment to see the NC govelling to the Minister of Indian Affairs. We are all disappointed. Let the grovelling begin.

Historic Photo Op Number 2 - Get a Grip

2005-11-16T06:17:00.000-08:00

REALITY CHECK!

"If the meeting goes ahead and the election is then called before any of the federal commitments are written into law there is no more assurance that those commitments will survive an election held in March or April than if the election were held the
week before Xmas.

Nothing that the present government says or does short of a statute can bind a future government.

If we are not paying attention to basic constitutional principles then just what makes the heads of the AFN, the MNC and the ITC think that having the meeting before an election is an important thing to happen?

Perhaps what makes it appear important is that they will be seen on national television sitting and talking with all those first ministers. Just as their predecessors in 1983 and 1985 and 1987.

Not that the meeting is unimportant, without a doubt it is so very important that it might well be worth holding off on the meeting until there is a government with enough of a mandate that it is actually capable of keeping its commitments. Or not.

Just thought I'd mention the little thing about one government being constitutionally unable to bind a later government. Especially important on the off chance that the Conservatives get to form the next government.

It appears that our Aboriginal leaders are being "encouraged" to make this plea by someone who is momentarily able to hold out large bags of goodies? Perish the thought." Thanks Mickey for this brilliant short and sweet analysis.

Closing thoughts, to the Opposition, get on with it! Quit playing nice and cute with meaningless optics. Of course, I see your point, I mean, who wouldn't want to be photographed with an Indian, an Inuit and a Metis. Which reminds me of a joke I heard, there was this.....................

Historic Meeting My Foot

2005-11-15T04:47:00.000-08:00

The First Ministers Meeting could represent the dawn of a new era for all the peoples of this land,” said the National Chief.

AFN Press Release

One of the more depressing and perhaps most difficult piece to swallow is the ongoing inference by AFN spinmeisters that everything the current AFN regime touches and spins is "historic" in nature.

First, regarding the above quote, the operative word here is could, perhaps, might, may, possibly, maybe, perchance, conceievably and more realistically, I don't know.

The only thing that is historic about this meeting is given the fact that the average age of the AFN Executive (no women) is over fifty, most of these men have seen or at a very minimum are aware or should be aware of the previous "historic" meetings of the 70's, early 80's, mid 80's and early 90's ending with Charlottetown and Meech. Guys like the NC and his AFN Executive conveniently forget this history even though in some cases like the mid 80's and early 90's, some of these men were participants in these processes. Our ancestors, said to honor the past as we carry it forward to the future and the men complicit with this regime are failing miserably in carrying this legacy forward.

One of the teachings that my parents were able to convey to us as children and on into young adulthood was "you can't trust the government and this adage rings true today. Suddenly, after a 130 odd years, I am being told, this time by my own "Indian" Indian agents to once again trust government, that they are finally going to resolve our issues and will work together in fairness, equity and inclusively. Are we really to believe that suddenly the government will act in our best interests, will engage in no sharp dealing and will consult with us as required by their laws?

No, it is much more simple than that, we have a national organization that is imbedded and in bed with a Liberal regime whose sole purpose is to minimize rights, ignore history, ignore supreme court decisions, ignore our health and social realities and then spin those realities to flim flam us with the notion that something is finally being done. Rest assured something is being done but it is not rights based and not based on treaty or history or need. For all intents and purpose, it appears that AFN regime is complicit in helping the federal government off-load responsibility without definition of what the scope of those responsibilities are. Here at the ground, it is becoming very clear, that the minimization of our collective treaty and aboriginal rights are being forsaken for false history and the illusion that something is being done.

My grannies and grandpas told me, from my ancestors before and I strongly believe that:

Health is a treaty right

Housing is a treaty right

Education is a treaty right

and that our land is our mother, to be protected and defended.

Is AFN not a right based organization that was created to uphold and defend our rights. We have yet to hear AFN say this as simply as our ancestors did, let alone take real action or defend our rights and lands. Moreover, it appears to be a going out of business sale.

God is Red - Vine Deloria (1933 - 2005)

2005-11-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

"When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white man came, an Indian said simply, "Ours."" Vine Deloria

We Talk, You Listen.
The Red Man in the New World Drama
Custer Died for Your Sins
God is Red
Metaphysics of Modern Existane
For this Land: Writings on Religion

Must reads, no doubt!

The great indigenous visionary, philosopher, author and activist Vine Deloria, Jr. passed over to join his ancestors today, November 13, 2005.

"The problems of Indians have always been ideological rather than social, political or economic....[I]t is vitally important that the Indian people pick the intellectual arena as the one in which to wage war. Past events have shown that the Indian people have always been fooled by the intentions of the white man. Always we have discussed irrelevant issues while he has taken our land. Never have we taken the time to examine the premises upon which he operates so that we could manipulate him as he has us." Vine Deloria, Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto

"Western civilization, unfortunately, does not link knowledge and morality but rather, it connects knowledge and power and makes them equivalent" Vine Deloria

Mitakuye Oyasin!!!

Grassroots Peoples Coalition

2005-11-14T15:42:00.000-08:00

Thank the Creator for the Manuel family, a family with a history of being staunch undying supports of First Nations rights in Canada is urging people to come out and support the first meeting of the Grassroots People's Coalition on November 24, 2005 in Kelowna B.C.

Apparently, there is a growing network of individual First Nation members and Chiefs across Canada, who have been monitoring the Canada-Aboriginal process. These negotiations will have a devastating impact on First Nations’ rights. On November 24, 2005, they have organized and are preparing to hold an emergency Grassroots Peoples’ Meeting and Demonstration in Kelowna, BC to coincide with First Minister Meeting also being held there. Start spreading the news, we're leaving today so we strongly urge you to come to Kelowna and participate in and lend your voice to an emergency founding meeting of a Grassroots Peoples’ Coalition on this "historic day", November 24, 2005.
This meeting will lead to strengthening of a national network of community people and leaders. The purpose of the Grassroots Peoples Coalition:

- to raise awareness about our Aboriginal & Treaty rights
- develop strategies for implementing our rights on the ground; and
- keep our First Nations leadership accountable to the people.

Information kits will be available at the time of meeting.

ALSO, the Grassroots Peoples Coalition will be holding a demonstration at noon, November 25, 2005 outside of the Grand Okanagan Hotel to make the public and media know that AFN does not speak for us.

Come one and come all and join them!! Make your voices heard!!

For additional information on meeting and the demonstration local organizers can be contacted at the following numbers.
Arthur Manuel (250)319-0688 or amanuel@telus.net

Dixon Terbasket (250)809-0557

Spread the word!!
Spread the word!

Another Day - Let the Election Begin!

2005-11-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Canadians are truly one of the most misinformed, misguided and quite simply idiotic electorates. It truly makes this blogger want to cry out in anguish and frustration. Canadians do not want fact and figures they want to be appeased with niceties and watered down truths. In both Germany and Japan, two elections were fought over the need to create economic reform for both their respective countries and to secure their spot in world economies. Their electorates were informed and voted accordingly. Germany, although polarized, the two parties are working collectively to create economic reform post election and in Japan, well the electorate voted overwhelmingly for new approaches to reform. Here in Canada, however, big ticket economic items like tax cuts and bank mergers have remained empty unfulfilled promises that will have to wait until after another election because the governing party prefers to deem Canadians as well as duly elected officials not ready to discuss, debate or resolve such issues.

As short lived, Prime Minster, Kim Campbell once said, elections are not the time to debate serious issues, Canada’s current Prime Minister and the Liberal party in general have taken this approach to new mind numbing heights by continuing to exclude Canadians and the legislative process in an informed debate around any issue, economic or otherwise. This approach is also the preferred methodology of the Assembly of First Nations. My personal favorite is the issue of residential schools, as it is both the perfect vehicle for the NC's re-election campaign (imagine a recommendation for cash settlement just months before his re-election) and it exemplifies the attitude that we (AFN) knows what’s good for you. In recent presentations to survivors, both the NC and one of his doppleganger henchmen (K.Y.) have stated “if you don’t like it, you don’t have to take it.” For survivors who still suffer the traumas of their experience, it is like witnessing the return of the colonist only this time with a First Nations face or like the Indian agents of yesteryear who said my way or no way. Truly, the era of the Indian Indian agents has finally arrived.

Of course when you surround yourself with a legion of yes men and women critical debate rarely occurs and people, including their own Chiefs who raise issues are deemed agitators. Such is the folly of a process that is not inclusive, ill informed and unilateral in nature. As First Nations, sadly we deserve what we elect and at the moment we have a classical example of a neo-colonialist behavior in leadership positions particularly the NC and his AFN executive. It is one of the finest examples of a trough sucking elite bent on sustaining a system that lines their pockets and serves only those closest to the trough.

But back to the Canadian electorate it is amazing to witness the self flagellation that they enjoy and refuse to take action on. In thirteen years, Canadians seem to enjoy mismanagement and corruption by their leadership. We have witnessed

- 1 billion dollar Human Resources Canada boondoogle
- 2 billion dollar gun registry boondooogle
- ¼ billion Gomery which outlines embedded corruption
- Failure to axe the GST as the Liberals realized they had a cash cow and there was no reason to throw it away
- Virginia Fontaine Foundation scandal, as the Auditor General cited the NC was the only board member to receive ten thousand just for joining board. While the senior federal official is now doing time, the media has suppressed news on what is going on with the trial of Perry Fontaine, the man who ran the foundation.
- Crisis after crisis in Aboriginal communities and failure to act except when the situations see the light of day. This government has known for a number of years that the water quality in almost a third of First Nations communities is poor and unacceptable yet, they have only reacted when people are sick and reaching a crisis point.

Is there any country anywhere where over the course of 13 years in power the an electorate that remains blind to the fact that the current Prime Minster was the Finance Minster for the majority of that time span and was simply unaware of what was going on underneath him. I mean, Canada has posted a surplus for many years now, this is always touted as an ongoing success of Liberals, yet, we are expected to swallow that the PM knew nothing of the corruption and mismanagement, that he knew nothing of the collusion and that the PM continues to try and persuade the electorate otherwise.

When you have the Aboriginal leadership elite continually propping up the Liberals one has to believe that if it smells bad up top, then down at the bottom where First Nation remain mired socially and economically that it also smells bad, perhaps worse down there. Oh well, we get what we deserve and for the moment that is group of tired, aged and neo colonialist of predominately First Nations men and women who dance with the devil and not with the people. For First Nations youth, it is good lesson in neo colonialism where the oppressed become the oppressors and are now indistinguishable from their colonial masters.

NOTE TO STAFFERS

2005-11-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

D0n't post from your office computer, as big brother is watching your every move. Be afraid, very afraid.

Day One - the First Volley

2005-11-11T06:12:00.000-08:00

Now that the National Chief has stated his intention to us to run for re-elction, it is time to be diligent and take the appropriate actions or series of actions to expose lies, corruption, nepotism and more importantly the erosion of our rights as the NC, continues to take the high hard one from his boss, the PM. It is kinda of amusing to see him, crying around to Jack and the media, save us, this is the only opportunity, it is historic and will put me in a senate seat. Help me Jack! Meanwhile, Treaty groups and Quebec are taking the high road and realize that they have been duped by their office and its back door shenanigans.

Welcome All

2005-11-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

Aneen, boozhoo, kwe, sekon and welcome
This blog has been created to provide a forum for First Nations and their admirers to speak out against the path being taken by our National Organization. Take the time to share your views and if there are AFN staffers who need to vent with impunity, this is the spot where it can be done anonymously without fear for reprisal from your lords and masters.