First nations will blockade roads as part of 'Idle No More' protest

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

There's no point, it is like trying to reason with the KKK or the skinheads.

Disgusting

[RubberDuck]

More vandalism:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/01/21...ald-vandalized

[Montag]

Saw this posted to Facebook.

As far as I can tell, Treaty 7 is the area that is doing the Calgary protest on Monday.

This is apparently what they want?

[FlamesAddiction]

On the weekend I was out with some people and one girl who was with us said she agreed with the movement based on environmental principles, because as she put it (I'm paraphrasing); "Letting your car idle is bad for the environment"...

I'm not kidding. She is correct that there is an element of environmentalism to the cause, but I couldn't believe how ignorant she was.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Montag

Saw this posted to Facebook.

As far as I can tell, Treaty 7 is the area that is doing the Calgary protest on Monday.

This is apparently what they want?

I'm not going to debate each point, but the opening line contains a glaring error.

"You have agreed to meet with hand selected First Nation Delegates"

I'm pretty sure he met with duly elected Chiefs.

[polak]

Stop the financial transparety act?

Are you kidding...

I don't know a single person that has any patience for this anymore. Just waiting for the violence to kick off...

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Note to self: Find different way home next Monday




Link to event

It would be amusing to see how fast a CP NHL lockout march would have been cleared out by the police if it were staged on a busy city street.

Time to crack some skulls CPS!

[Bonded]

I have a bad feeling this will turn ugly.

[Bootsy]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

There's no point, it is like trying to reason with the KKK or the skinheads.

The anti-Semitic dribble coming from the protesters in that No More Idle- Ezra clip was a lot closer to the KKK or skinheads than anything posted in this thread.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by polak

Stop the financial transparety act?

Are you kidding...

I don't know a single person that has any patience for this anymore. Just waiting for the violence to kick off...

There are some legitimate criticisms of the Financial Transparency Act. Some of the required reporting is pretty onerous and much more strict than that which is required for other levels of government. It's also not clear that it will provide any tangible benefit and might just generate a bunch more red tape.

That's not to say that there shouldn't be accountability and transparency, but as usual the Conservative government missed the mark.

[polak]

Well considering that it's "free" money thats being "given" to them by the tax payer, I'd expect it to be stricter.

I want to know EXACTLY what it's being spent on.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by opendoor

There are some legitimate criticisms of the Financial Transparency Act. Some of the required reporting is pretty onerous and much more strict than that which is required for other levels of government. It's also not clear that it will provide any tangible benefit and might just generate a bunch more red tape.

That's not to say that there shouldn't be accountability and transparency, but as usual the Conservative government missed the mark.

Perhaps it wouldn't be so onerous or even necessary if the system hadn't been abused so much in the past by so many.

[Traditional_Ale]

Native man pledges to revoke status card in light of Idle No More movement

http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/nativ...725/story.html

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by polak

Well considering that it's "free" money thats being "given" to them by the tax payer, I'd expect it to be stricter.

I want to know EXACTLY what it's being spent on.

You can say that about money for any level of government, yet the requirements are much more strict in this instance. You can't even release a non-elected civil servant's salary in Quebec because it's deemed private information, but every single cent spent by First Nations governments as well as all of the financials relating to their businesses now have to be published for the general public.

Further, bands have a level of nominal independence, so you don't necessarily have the right to know "exactly" what it's being spent on nor the right to influence how it's spent any more than you do over a province or municipality you're not part of.

Originally Posted by Rerun

Perhaps it wouldn't be so onerous or even necessary if the system hadn't been abused so much in the past by so many.

But is it really going to fix anything? People see provincial and municipal governments waste money all the time but nothing is done about it. What is this going to achieve other than wasting a bunch of time and money?

If this would realistically create a positive change I'd be all for it, but it seems poorly conceived and rooted more in ideology than practicality to me. Oversight and transparency is needed, but I don't see how drafting a law like this without any consultation of First Nations is a step in the right direction; all it seems to have done is create friction. Aboriginal rights and privileges are a very thorny and sticky issue and unilateral decisions by the federal government are rarely productive even they make sense to outside observers.

[polak]

Yes, because this money isn't earned like a civil servants salary is and on top of it, the things that this money is being spent on are usually not accessible by the tax payer.

They are taking a cut of my tax dollars, for nothing. They are suppose to use it to help their people and have historically abused it in the past, hence they deserve more scrutiny.

You still want free money that is suppose to go to benefit your people? Deal with it. Similar to the new found transparency that people are demanding from charities.

[RedMileDJ]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Native man pledges to revoke status card in light of Idle No More movement

http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/nativ...725/story.html

I'm going to quote the FB post that this stories speaks about. I think it should be posted within the thread.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Mods: I hope this is ok.

"You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake, you are the same decaying matter as everyone else, and we are all part of the same compost pile" - Fight Club

I've been #IdleTooLong about this whole topic, and I feel like I need to express my point of view without disrupting innocent travelers on highways, and cargo carrying freight trains.
First, allow me to clarify that I am a Cree man with full status. I have family in positions of political power in this very province, and should declare that my opinions are my own. While everyone needles over the finite details of the current situation, I'd like to paint my thoughts for you with much broader strokes.

I'm so very proud of my culture. The way the plains Indians lived on this land was a fantastic example of community, art, respect for our environment, ingenuity, and spirituality. I'm proud of the native inspired tattoos that I sport permanently on my body. As a father, I'm teaching my son that same respect and understanding of where his blood derives from, in the hopes that his pride will outshine the prejudice he will inevitably experience growing up, or at some point in his life.

I'm also very proud to be Canadian. Our vast mosaic of cultures, languages, and beliefs make up this welcoming land of opportunity for all. Whether you like it or not, we all have the same citizenship, but some have a different view on the value of it.

I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of the government bills, documentation, or policy that is driving the current protests, but I've intently watched news stories, read columns, and have regularly monitored the comments being made on facebook. Based on all of this, I feel the need to break my silence on this issue.

1 - It's embarrassing how the #IdleNoMore protest is being handled.
Blocking major traffic thoroughfares does nothing good to bring support and awareness to your cause, it creates immediate animosity towards you. Protesting freely in parks or in front of government buildings seems like a much more productive way to attract the attention of those you seek. The politicians. Not the regular welder-Joe who's just trying to get to work. Hold him up and cost him money? See how much support you'll get out of that guy...

Clarify what you are protesting for, or against. I've never seen such a passionate group of people go forward in protest in such disarray, and without clearly stating what it's all about. If it's generally about your need to be consulted, respected, justified for being mistreated, or the preservation of your culture, then let's be out with it and start a constructive discussion.

Understand that you do not need to be consulted for anything any more than the Canadian citizen next to you does. Your opinion on things doesn't count "more" than anyone else's.
Respect is earned, not given.

There's no question that the native people of yesterday were brutalized, hunted, tortured, and humiliated for decades. It's awful, and no one should ever have to suffer like that. The elders of the time signed those treaties to bring peace, and offer what they hoped would be a leg-up in a new world that they realized couldn't be held at bay. But those days are long over. It defies logic to have the current population pay for the tragedies committed by people that came so long before them.

The preservation of your culture is YOUR job, not anyone else's. For example, Polish, Irish, and Ukrainian societies thrive all over the country with very little or no support from government coffers. They celebrate traditional dance, language, and food all by simply passing it down from generation to generation. Native communities can do the very same thing (and generally do), but without financial support.

2 - "This movement is about the whole environment, its not just about the treaties....The bill that passed now un protects the rivers, lakes, forests, land, etc, etc, so we need this bill to further protect ur childrens futures.....thanks to Harper Govt....rigs n developemtn will pollute the air, waters, etc, etc.."

It's no secret that our Canadian economy is driven by the oil and gas industry. Yes, there have been some awful environmental blunders due to a plethora of different reasons. I heartily agree that we need to protect our natural areas that support wildlife, but I also know that there is aggressive legislation, and powerful government offices in place that already have that very same sentiment at heart. Millions of Canadians support green technology and research, as well as lobby for stronger federal policy. So if that's what this is all about, there's no need to blockade anything, as a majority of people would already agree with you.

3 - "It is about the 480 page Bill that the government has passed without you knowing about it. It went through the house of commons and the senate in 2 wks. 480 pgs long...do you think that many people had time to read it? It says that under age criminals can be punished as adults. It makes more budget cuts. The librarians at schools are being budget cut. It is about ALOT more than Aboriginals, it's about everyone in Canada. The Aboriginals are the ones who started to realize the Bill was gonna to do irreversable damage!"

Back in the days of copying notes off a blackboard or projector in school, I'm certain I've WRITTEN 480 pages in two weeks, let alone read that many. In a political world where literacy at a high level is demanded, I'm willing to bet that most could plow through that many pages in a very short period of time. I suppose the content would be laden with bureaucratic jargon and would need time to fully interpret...but that's why you have a legal team.
Quite frankly, I agree with underage criminals being tried as adults, and I'm willing to bet that a landslide majority of Canadians will agree with me.

Budget cuts are a reality of our democratic world. I'm not sure if this means that librarians from schools are being removed, or the library itself, but the fact of the matter is, our schools rely on a healthy economy for funding. When money gets tight, things get sacrificed. I truly hope that the readily available knowledge in a library would be the last to go.

4 - "It's not about the Aboriginals! That is what they are doing to distract you from what it really is about! It only affects the aboriginals- just like it will effect ALL of us!"
This is very confusing, but seems to sum up the general knowledge about what is going on. Who is "they"? Are we going into conspiracy theory depths here? Do people not realize that we have an official opposition in place as a natural government watchdog to debate everything that in-power government is trying to enact? If there were truly earth shattering implications in the bill in question, the opposition would be whistle blowing and bleating into any available microphone available so fast it would make your head spin.

First and foremost, I'm a human being just like you. I believe in equality. Across the board equality. Our country is so multicultural, that to give any specific group levity over everyone else is completely ridiculous. I'm not familiar with the particulars of old treaties signed, but I get the gist because I have used some of the special privileges provided to me. I do not pay for health care. I did for awhile in my young working life, but then the government discovered my native status and sent me a HUGE apology letter, and a cheque for every dime I had put into the system. Odd. I lived just up the street from my fellow truck driving friends, did the same job, paid the same taxes...yet there I was with this benefit because of my racial background and some papers that were signed all those years ago. I've used it for eye wear. This was particularly handy when I was “up against it” financially, but had broken my glasses welding. Here's the thing though, why should I have an advantage on a co-worker who might be in the same situation? It's not fair, and it needs to stop.

I move that Canadians start their own march towards coast to coast equality, or at least the serious discussion of it. Our country should offer no free rides to anyone. No help for those who refuse to help themselves. No quarter for those who would inhibit the lives and success of others. No limit to what anyone can accomplish with a steely resolve, and a great idea. It doesn't matter who built the first camp fires and communities on this land, it's those that work hard to continue to stoke the flames of collective well being that matter.

As a man that stands by his word, I pledge to never again use my native status to further myself in a way that isn't available to every other Canadian. I will leave my son unregistered, and will teach him the importance of keeping it that way. I am a proud native man, and a hard working, forward thinking Canadian that believes the opportunities and advantages this country has to offer should be available to everyone equally.

- Anthony Sowan
@sowanonair

please share

UPDATE: After watching a day of comments...

For those of you that feel that I need to meticulously read treaty documentation, and Native history, I offer you this: There is no argument you can offer that justifies inequality of any kind in this country.

I said I didn't know every detail, but I also didn't say I'm completely uneducated on the subject. I also encourage people to think for themselves based on their own research.

No matter how you cut it, the monetary compensation and general advantages need to stop. Horrific things happened to people/races throughout history, and although I'm not condoning or supporting it, I do not feel that they should be given anything more than anyone else. The atrocities committed, in this instance, happened a long time ago to/by people that no longer exist. I agree that it should never be forgotten, but it makes no sense to have the innocent Canadian citizens of the present pay for crimes committed by someone else in a different time.

Really, the people that are abusing you the worst, are the people you have placed in leadership positions. Not ALL of them are corrupt, but there are some very serious issues with monetary responsibility. I honestly don't know how some band leaders haven't been arrested for fraud, embezzlement, and more.

The first step of "healing" is to put the past in it's place. Only then can you work on your own personal lives, which will then naturally stem into becoming whole as a community. The healing you want and need can come from no government program, and no external source. #CanadianEquality

[Minnie]

So racist.

</sarcasm>

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Minnie

So racist.

</sarcasm>

No that isn't racist but promoting violence and possible killing of FN people as this picture suggests, is.

[mrvee]

What if they start to dig up the roads?
Oh wait that requires work...
And for the enviroment go look at the reserve disgusting.
All those rescue dogs!!! they don't deserve anything.
History will repeat itself.

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

No that isn't racist but promoting violence and possible killing of FN people as this picture suggests, is.

Actually, the cowcatcher doesn't discriminate. If anything it's promoting violence and the possible killing of people who stand in front of trains, regardless of ethnicity. Particularly in light of the fact that it's clear that a lot of people participating in these protests are not First Nations.

In other words, the objection is to people blockading roads and trains. The objection is not to First Nations specifically doing those things. Hence the picture is in poor taste, not racist.