Manitoba First Nations Want Cellphone Revenue

[fredr123]

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/200...cellphone.html

Manitoba First Nations are seeking compensation from Manitoba Telecom Services for every cellphone signal that passes through First Nations land, saying the airspace should be considered a resource like land and water.

"[The request is] based on the understanding that we do have some fundamental rights as indigenous people to land, water and airspace," said Chief Ovide Mercredi of the Grand Rapids First Nation.


"When it comes to using airspace, it's like using our water and simply because there's no precedent doesn't mean that it's not the right thing to do," he said.

Details in the article are sparse, for sure.

I don't know much about Aboriginal rights with respect to airspace but the analogy with water rights strikes me as inappropriate. The air is not being congested, polluted or used up the same way water would if it was used for transportation or industry. Cellphone signals don't really pollute the air in the same way that dumping sewage into the Bow River might.

[habernac]

next, they'll want to charge people for breathing the air. Gimme a break.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Good God, that is rediculous. What is more rediculous is that it seems like it is getting some consideration.

Stuff like this makes my head shake in disbelief.

[Crazy Flamer]

Oh give me a break! What a load of crap!

[Bobblehead]

Did they have cellphones when the agreements/treaties were written? If so, then they have an argument.

They can block those signals if they have a problem with that.

[jolinar of malkshor]

This kind of stuff will go on for ever unless we change the current system. Like I have said in previous threads, we need to get rid of the reservations one was or another (with native consultation of course). Lets give each status india a million bucks and be done with it.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Did they have cellphones when the agreements/treaties were written? If so, then they have an argument.

They can block those signals if they have a problem with that.

What gives them the right to block the signals?

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

This kind of stuff will go on for ever unless we change the current system. Like I have said in previous threads, we need to get rid of the reservations one was or another (with native consultation of course). Lets give each status india a million bucks and be done with it.

My friend is about... 1/16 Metis... and he has First Nations status (doesn't even live on a reserve) If they give him a milion bucks, I think many of the non-first nations will create chaos.

[Regulator75]

What's next? Demanding cash from West Jet and Air Canada for flying 30,000 feet above the reserve?

[Flashpoint]

nt

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Did they have cellphones when the agreements/treaties were written? If so, then they have an argument.

That kind of argument was tried when native hunting and fishing rights were challenged. Natives aren't restricted to using bows and pushing buffaloes off cliffs in order to exercise their hunting and fishing rights.

[Lurch]

If there are actual cell towers on the reserve land, fair enough, they should be compensated just like anyone else allowing a cell tower on their land. Otherwise, it goes beyond ridiculous.

[ken0042]

I tend to agree with the idea though that at some point we should be done with paying the natives for what we took from them. That should be something that should be negotiated and settled upon. Maybe it won't be as simple as "a million bucks each", but surely we should have to come up with something.

I'm just trying to think throughout history of any other conquerors that have had to pay the people they conquered for so long.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'm just trying to think throughout history of any other conquerors that have had to pay the people they conquered for so long.

Nope, probably not, leave it to Canada to be the first though.

And agreed, enough already. How freakin long do we have to pay for "taking their land"?

[Resolute 14]

God... Just close every road into their band, and tell them to go live like their ancestors.

The unmitigated greed of band leaders is just amazing.

[Flash Walken]

What is sad are the responses in this thread where people assume that we all shouldn't be receiving revenue from the CRTC and phone companies for using our PUBLIC airwaves.

Hopefully this ruling is a precedent for future cases being brought against the CRTC.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

What is sad are the responses in this thread where people assume that we all shouldn't be receiving revenue from the CRTC and phone companies for using our PUBLIC airwaves.

Hopefully this ruling is a precedent for future cases being brought against the CRTC.

Dear God, I hope I just didn't notice the sarcasm in this post.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

What is sad are the responses in this thread where people assume that we all shouldn't be receiving revenue from the CRTC and phone companies for using our PUBLIC airwaves.

Hopefully this ruling is a precedent for future cases being brought against the CRTC.

I'm confused by this and maybe you should clarify this, as such currently nations own airspace, and more in the terms of territorial as opposed to a revenue generating device.

You can't physically sell the use of your own private airspace, or its usage.

Beyond that, by forcing companies to pay for airspace over geographic areas for the use of communications, would only drive the costs of this type of media (radio, microwave, cellphone communications) to a point where it would become an un-affordable technology.

This isn't the same thing as stringing phoneline, or errecting towers.

[Burninator]

I thought Flash Walken's post was dripping with sarcasm...

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I thought Flash Walken's post was dripping with sarcasm...

I sure hope so.