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Originally Posted by daveyboy
Lifer, There is some reluctance to vote in a system that has oppressed us for so long. There has also been many issues related to actual casting of ballots (long geographical distances, changing boundraies, trouble with registration lists).
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There's an old saying that if you give up your right to vote in a democratic society you give up your right to effect change. I have problems with people who withdraw from the democratic process and then complain about the decisions that are made afterwards.
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Originally Posted by daveyboy
The national day of action in Regina was a great sucesss! Many people attended our cultural activities and family picinic and there was a lot of fun and learning that went on. The only blockade that I know of in Saskatchewan was a targeted direct action against an access road to a mine that is on disputed land.
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There were road blockades and rail blockades in Ontario, I'm pretty sure that this didn't help the cause. I'm glad that it was a success, and for the most part the protests were peaceful.
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Originally Posted by daveyboy
As for a way to solve all the problems (yes there are problems). Why should we have to or be forced to integrate into your society? Some Natives do and they of course can continue too. I think an ideal solution would be for aboriginal government to be recognized as a third branch of government along side Federal and Provincial. This approach is rapidly gaining support in the academy as well as the SCC. It gives us back our independence and control and allows us to develop solutions to the problems we our dealing with such as poverty, suicide, addiction, loss of culture etc... It is naive to think that a 'white man' solution will fix our problems. We need a Native solution that can help reshape our great society. I'm not advocating for sucession of all the Native reserves at all, just allowing them to exist and operate as a third branch within the current federal structure.
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I uderstand what your saying, but I think it would be grossly unfair to other minorities in this nation unless your willing to open up arms of government for other minority groups. Unless I misunderstand your point, your making a native government arm that would have equivalent rights and processes to the provincial governments, which would be fine if the natives were then willing to pay into equilization, and pay for thier own healthcare, infrastructure and education, and give up current payments from the government. Native revenues would then be based on resources, taxation and money raised on reserve lands. Combine that with the ensuing supreme courst battle that would be based around Native land claims, all treaties would also have to be submitted to the supreme courts in a direct fight with both the governments on a provincial and federal level.
I think that another thing that would have to happen before the Natives were given an arm of a government was that there would have to be a strong audit concerning how all of the money paid out was spent, the Native councils would have to move to oversight and transparancy.
Just spitballing before I go to the game.