[andyt]

PJB PJB:

Since when did FN's have valid dual citizenship? Can't say I have ever seen any First Nation citizenship card.

It's called a status card. Many have them.

[PJB]

andyt andyt:

PJB PJB:

Since when did FN's have valid dual citizenship? Can't say I have ever seen any First Nation citizenship card.

It's called a status card. Many have them.

Ahhh...Oh well most first nations radicals say they aren't Canadian anyway. Insofar as bands expelling the bad apples from the reserve I wish we could do the same. Ship the native gangs that are infesting many cities back to their reserves. Of course if we did that we would be instantly branded as racist.

[andyt]

PJB PJB:

andyt andyt:

PJB PJB:

Since when did FN's have valid dual citizenship? Can't say I have ever seen any First Nation citizenship card.

It's called a status card. Many have them.

Ahhh...Oh well most first nations radicals say they aren't Canadian anyway. Insofar as bands expelling the bad apples from the reserve I wish we could do the same. Ship the native gangs that are infesting many cities back to their reserves. Of course if we did that we would be instantly branded as racist.

Absolutely. Since it's all our fault that they are criminals and druggies anyway. It always has been our fault, it always will be our fault. (We always have let him push the button, we always will let him push the button.) The only thing that will help is mo money. Fo evah.

[PJB]

andyt. I tend to agree with you but, when do we wean these people off of the government teat? I believe that most natives are proud people that are being dragged down by the corruption and greed of their own leaders.

Time and time again there have been very intelligent people stating that allowing natives to have personal title to the lands and homes where they live would not only allow them to borrow against that property but instill a pride of self ownership. Why are the chiefs so against this idea. Perhaps it would reduce the stranglehold that these so-called elected officials have over the very band members they are supposed to represent.

[andyt]

PJB PJB:

andyt. I tend to agree with you but, when do we wean these people off of the government teat? I believe that most natives are proud people that are being dragged down by the corruption and greed of their own leaders.

Time and time again there have been very intelligent people stating that allowing natives to have personal title to the lands and homes where they live would not only allow them to borrow against that property but instill a pride of self ownership. Why are the chiefs so against this idea. Perhaps it would reduce the stranglehold that these so-called elected officials have over the very band members they are supposed to represent.

Chief Louie seems to be an example of where to go: http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2006/09/22/straight-talk-from-osoyoos-chief-clarence-louie/

I'm really all over the place with this question. I think we fucked the natives over, and if people now came to Canada and took our land and destroyed our society, we probably would respond about in the same way. OTOH, I believe in equality - that means no special status for natives, take out their special mention in the constitution, etc. I do think assimilation is the way to go, and many have actually done just that and lead productive lives. I don't know how to fairly compensate them for what they lost, but would like to see a onetime cash settlement, the way apparently Alaska did.

[PJB]

andyt...You cannot say that "we" fucked the natives over. I am only 46 years old and never been party to, or a signatory, on any antiquated treaty. I did not do anything to the natives other than pay a wack load of taxes that trickle down to corrupt chiefs.

Insofar as compensation. There will never be a dollar value that would be accepted by the natives. There will always be something else that comes up. It is a generational thing. The young ones that are being raised with a feeling of entitlement will ask for more and teach their kids to do the same.

I think we should either all be Canadian or just break apart and float around for the rest of whatever continually paying for a perceived guilt.

[andyt]

PJB PJB:

andyt...You cannot say that "we" fucked the natives over. I am only 46 years old and never been party to, or a signatory, on any antiquated treaty. I did not do anything to the natives other than pay a wack load of taxes that trickle down to corrupt chiefs.

Insofar as compensation. There will never be a dollar value that would be accepted by the natives. There will always be something else that comes up. It is a generational thing. The young ones that are being raised with a feeling of entitlement will ask for more and teach their kids to do the same.

I think we should either all be Canadian or just break apart and float around for the rest of whatever continually paying for a perceived guilt.

We as a Canadian society certainly did dispossess the natives and treated them badly for a few centuries. You and I are the beneficiaries of that, in that we wouldn't be here if it hadn't happened, or would be sharing much more wealth with the natives. As I said, if the US did what we did to the natives to us, we'd be howling bloody murder.

But that was then. There's only so much we can do to set it right, otherwise we just keep paying and paying with no end in sight. I would like Canada to declare eminent domain and set a $ figure for the lost lands, based on their original worth, not what they're worth now with European settler improvements. Too bad if the natives don't accept it.

But that will never happen.

[PJB]

andyt. If our forefathers and original settlers of this beautiful country that we call Canada were as brutal as our southern neighbours we to the aboriginals we would not be in the situation that we are now. Not that I am supporting what the US did to the natives there but we have a major problem that will never go away. It seems that the treaties signed between the First Nations and the British, Canadians, whoever, are the only treaties that have been actually followed. Look at many treaties signed between nations. How many of them have actually been followed? Not that many.

Political correctness thrown in the corner. We are being blackmailed and guilted into spending millions on a very small, albeit, growing percentage of this countries population while others suffer. Where is the universality? Where is the equality that so many scream for?

I do not get free dental care, I do not get the opportunity to have free post secondary education (providing I have an 'in' with the chief and council of my band). I di have the wonderful right, as do many off reserve and productive natives, the priveledge of paying hugh amounts of taxes to subsidize those who feel the entitlement.

Sorry for the rant but...

[andyt]

Actually, in BC there were no treaties signed that I am aware of. We just pushed the natives onto small reservations, took most of the land for the crown. As I say, if a vastly more powerful population did that to us, we'd be howling bloody murder.

I don't agree with all we're spending. As I say, come up with a lump sum figure, and that's it. The lands belong to the crown, and any claims are extinguished. No more Indian act, remove special mention of aboriginals from the constitutution, etc.

But it will never happen. Govts hope that by avoiding the problem, it will land on the plate of later govts. At some time we are going to have to address this, or we've basically got apartheid in this country.

[PJB]

I guess when the country is totally bankrupt the governments might realize that political correctness was a bad idea.

[Brenda]

I just talked to a friend of mine, who's daughter in law is native. They (the son and daughter in law) just came back from AB, and moved back here when they found out she was pregnant again. Now she is going to take on a study RN (good for her) that is fully paid for...