I didn't say aboriginals are "treated as the common man."
I said they confine themselves to ghetto's and simulaneously fail to step out and avail themselves of the opportunities available to the common man in one of the wealthiest, most ethnically and racially diverse nations in the world.
The notion that they are denied opportunity because of their skin colour is wearing thin . . . . and the example of successes from other people "who don't look right" is putting that excuse to lie.
And by the way, there are increasing examples of both bands and individuals attaining success . . . . but not enough.
Look how Tootoo was treated by fellow Canadians while playing junior hockey. I agree they can help themselves a bit more but i think the ghettos and the mindset that you are talking about is trickling down from generation to generation, bands that thrive continue to thrive and bands that don't continue not to.
But that's what we're talking about . . . . bands of people as opposed to individuals stepping out and doing something about their lives if they want to.
Congrats to Tootoo for setting an example for his peers.
(Also, sidebar, congrats to Tootoo for his hot, very white, southern belle girlfriend, former American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler.)
From my opinion, natives are looked down upon most in Canada in comparison to any other visible minority, that's brutal considering that they had this land prior to any whites.
Why is it brutal?
Are you saying there aren't white people you might look down upon or have a negative opinion of?
White people, black people, Russian immigrants, ancestors of Chinese rail workers, great, great, great grandchildren of black slaves, etc, etc, . . . . . probably don't look down on aboriginals because of the colour of their skin.
There's another reason. What is it?
As to the land thing, they're hardly the only people ever run over by invading hordes and integrated into the society of the winners. Canada is certainly a place where one can retain one's cultural identity as well. Look at me as an example, I'm still a WASP!!!
As harsh as it is to say, most people have natives classified as scum, when people portray them as such i can imagine it's brutal to be walking in their shoes
They certainly won't beat that stereotype living off the dole in ghettos . . . . nor will they beat it by blocking trains.
Like a lot of Canadians, I'm losing patience with the bills and the same old arguments. . . . .
Meanwhile, hate to dodge and run, but I've got a run on the prairie to get to . . . . back tomorrow.
Cowperson