PJB PJB:
saga...Do not insult me with the "They pay taxes too" bullshit. Show me any one living on reserve that pays municipal taxes. How can they? They don't own the property! Why is that? Because the chiefs would loose control over the people if they actually had control over their housing.
Give your friggin' head a shake. Who benefits when these claims are settled? Not the people of the reserve. It is the chief and council and their cronies.
If you want proof check out what is going on in many Alberta reserves.
Income taxes ... to the provincial government ... to the federal government ... off their paycheque ... just like you a$$hole!
Sales taxes ... to the provincial government ... to the federal government ... just like you a$$hole!!
Property taxes ... yes ... you pay municipal property taxes ... take a bow!
That's a pretty small chunk ... income taxes are the big hit.
But ... your point about this was that it is YOUR taxes that fund the reserves ... well ... it is their taxes too. hello?
..............
AHHHH ... now we come to the REAL issue!
The Band Councils ... the Canadian government band councils ... and BELIEVE ME ... I am with you there!!!
(Have you not attended this lecture before?)
They do not represent the people, they represent the government.
The Band Councils were imposed by Canada when it outlawed their democracy, spiritual traditions and laws.
Some of them still imitate the Indian Agents who stole their money (and land).
The Band Councils only want the money for the land, and they may bend over too ea$ily.
It is the traditional governments ... specifically the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy who want the land back, and compensation for the settled areas.
There are things in this thread that you may have missed, PJB.
One of them is this...
Under Canadian law, they can assert Aboriginal title.
It is the rule of law in Canada ... and we are working on it and it will be done.
1-2% too much for ya ??
Can't afford that ???
Like I said ... send your big brother over then!