Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty
Here
I know what you're saying. I suppose it would come down to who you asked on the reserve - maybe some would say it is part of their culture and some say it isn't. But I would suspect the majority would say their culture and lives are tied to the reserves.
This is a big part of the problem for them. Being given reparations means there isn't an obligation to work, learn, or many other 'civilized' practices. Having a "free place to live" (ie the reserve) where you're isolated from some of these 'civilized' practices and a large part of what you see is negative (poor treatment of animals, infrastructure, other humans, drug and alcohol abuse) - how are you supposed to get out of that? One attempt may be to take children out of it - like they did in the 50s and 60s.
Obviously not a solution but it was an attempt.
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I think many would say the reserve life is part of their culture now, but make no mistake, this was a culture forced on them. Most First Nations people were nomadic.
I don't believe for a second that being given reparations means they don't have to work...anymore than you winning the lottery for that amount means you do not have to work.
And having a free place to live, the reserve? The reserve is anything but free and in most cases the reserve is not a place to find meaningful employment either. They were not starving until they were forced to live on reserves that no longer provided the necessities for their former way of life.
I really think they were put on reserves to isolate them, to make it harder for them to voice discontent, or even to communicate with other First Nations people.