Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakeeye
One thing I would like to see native leaders do is tie the cheques their people get into education and the like. Instead of free money to do whatever, direct some, or all, of that money towards scholarships, college educations. Give a kid the opportunity to make something of himself, and he will be more likely to do something productive with his life.
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My uncle follows all this stuff where he lives in Saskatchewan and he was telling me about these two tribes that both received a rather large payment from the feds. For the life of me I can't remember what specifically the money was for, but it doesn't really matter. The tribes were in very close proximity to each other, actually separated by a highway at one point. The leaders of one tribe took all the money and distributed it evenly to everyone in the tribe (around hundred thousand each). The leaders of the other tribe kept all the money and spent it basically on infrastructure for the reserve (education etc.). Now before this the tribes were both at around the same level. Well the tribe gave everyone a fair share basically nosed dived and the other tribe was doing great. Most people in the first tribe just wasted their money. While the other tribe kept and is still building up it's educational services. The difference is night and day. He said when you drove on the highway you could tell which tribe was which by the all abandoned cars on the one side.
Unfortunately not all leaders are as just with the money as this one. But it does go to show that with the right attitude it can be turned around.