Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
I would argue that the problem is more along the lines of a native leadership problem then a federal government problem.
The money is there, its being put towards the natives in massive quantities. The problem is because its such a sensitive topic that because there is no oversight that a lot of the chiefs and tribal bands are keeping the money or worse, the government is trapped in the unenviable trap that if they come down hard or attempt to hammer out accountability that they are instantly infringing on the native right of self government at a band level.
The getting enough to eat and the water issue is in direct correlation to the remote locations of these bands. The educational failures are a problem directly linked not to money, but a lack of a plan where the government has to step in and enforce which leads to cries of residential school recreation. The lack of economic opportunity goes to both band leadership and lack of vision and inspiration and the remoteness of the tribe.
The government can't come down like the unholy hammer of Thor on frauds like Theresa Spence and other really bad leaders without raising the white man devil defense. They can't withhold the enormous funds that are going to these bands and being pissed away, they can't force these kids to go to school, or to leave the reserves to get better jobs.
I think the blame does have to shift to the reserve system, and a native mindset that should have really died 50 or 60 years ago.
You can't just basically say that its the governments fault or citizen's of Canada's fault anymore unless you solve the issue of government control and infringement without coming across as the evil white grandfather coming to eradicate their way of life.
While the reserve system will never ever go, or maybe not go until the last of the truly powerful band councils are swept away or removed from the cookie jar. I honestly think that its important to
1) Bring in home and individual land ownership
2) Incentive teachers and doctors to move to reservations (Maybe forgive a large part of their student loans in exchange for two years of service.
3) Force proper auditing and accounting procedures on the band councils
4) Find a way to improve facilities and housing through direct tax credits to native run companies that are willing to build them at cost
5) Reform the reserve election rules especially after that fraud election of Theresa Spense.
I don't know I'm just spit balling here
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Yeah sure there are problems on reserves with corrupt leaders, but this is changing as the people get better educated. As has been said there are reserves that are doing well and now some of these reserves are looking to expand their economies. If they follow the same guidelines as in Saskatchewan, what skin is it off your teeth.
I find it somewhat off putting that us white men want to decide what the natives should be doing to solve their so called problems. Such as yeah lets get rid of the reserves because they cause us problems (ring road) and think of the financial profits we can make with the reserve land.