Is the Reserve System for Native Peoples Broken?

[Knalus]

I think a potential positive way forward would be in establishing new "towns" outside of the reserves. It was said that perhaps they should have rights over their own land. Well, they do - over any land they choose to purchase. (And considering they feel it was all theirs at one point, I do not see a problem with them culturally living off their reserves. In fact it could be looked at as a way to reclaim some of their lost places.) If enough of them move to land just off the reserve, they can keep their community together, without being forced to stay on the reserve. I'm sure that with the transfers that the government gives to the reserves, combined with further incentives and band members that are forward thinking, could make that sort of system work.

It has worked before. In Manitoba in particular, many towns have significant cultural feels. One town is dominated by French, another by Ukrainian, yet another by Mennonite. These towns keep their culture going, and can be quite prosperous. If Indians were given much of their status rights to keep regardless of their living on the reservation land itself, yet choose not to, the reservation could be used or stewarded to maintain a historic link to the past, a particular natural environment, ect. in the common good of the band members, while not necessarily keeping them chained to a negative lifestyle.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

We should be segregating the pot smoking, patchouli stinking no-goodnick hippies.

Apparently, they are setting up their own reserve on Wall Street.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by opendoor

The politics of assimilation with regards to the First Nations peoples of Canada has been a complete an abject failure. Various levels of government spent 100+ years in an attempt to force assimilation through residential schools and whatnot and they all failed. Given that, expecting an entire group of marginalized people to assimilate based on the will of the majority or the government is a pipe dream. First Nations people and culture exist and they'll continue to exist. Any solution that doesn't accept that reality is doomed to fail.

Black, Chinese, Indian, etc. culture continues to exist as well. "Assimilation" is the wrong word, imo. Integration would be better. The institutional racism against blacks, for instance, has decreased significantly over the past several decades as they integrated into what used to be "white" society. There is still far too much racism and bigotry, and the native population would be starting well behind the eight ball, but in the long run, two peoples can only come to understand each other by learning to be together.

Given that, the solution to this issue isn't really clear, but the only real way to move forward is on the premise of First Nations people having some form of autonomy over areas of land that are large enough for them to live off of. How much land that is, and where it is will be a subject of long debate and negotiation, but to me that's the only realistic way forward. Obviously measures will have to be taken to ensure that the current corruption that exists in the band system will not simply be transposed onto the new one, and that too will be extremely difficult but there are ways to try and avoid that, and some of those options have been brought up here.

I get your comments about respecting native rights, etc., but the problem I have with maintaining the reserve system is that simply having the land is worthless. It would be worthless to any one else too, unless an economy that can support the community can be formed. In most cases, this is not likely, and the result is a perpetuation of the current situation.

But even if it is decided to keep the reserve system, there is still the problem of forcing change against those who monopolize the wealth and power. And frankly, that force needs to be internal to those communities.

Overall, I agree with Jammies that dismantling the reserve system is the way forward. But there is no easy way to get from the starting point to that point. And the will has to exist within the native community to even make the effort before it is even worth discussing.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If aboriginals vote to abolish them so be it - its wholly up to them.

Anything inside the reserve for the most part is self governed, they dont want our interference in what we think is better for them nor should we interfere.

What happens in the reserve is their own doing. If they want to put an eyesore of a casino on the road to Banff, so be it.

Considering the vast majority of them are incapable of realizing that they need to get away from the reserve in order to lead productive and healthy lives, I would say it shouldn't be up to them. The government created the stupid system, and they should shut it down.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Azure

Considering the vast majority of them are incapable of realizing that they need to get away from the reserve in order to lead productive and healthy lives, I would say it shouldn't be up to them. The government created the stupid system, and they should shut it down.

Something tells me "we know better than they do what's good for them" is not a winning strategy.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Yeah, ......the reserve system is a total social disaster, and needs to come to an end.

The reserves do nothing but breed hatred, substance abuse and broken families.

Nothing changes....

[SebC]

I'm against affirmative action and discriminatory privileges. That just about covers my position.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Something tells me "we know better than they do what's good for them" is not a winning strategy.

That isn't my point. In order to initiate change, the government will have to take it upon themselves to push through those changes. Because as it stands, the 'leaders' of the Native community are often those who have become wealthy by taking advantage of the system, and therefore they will do their best to make sure nothing changes.

And the overwhelming majority of those not as wealthy are at the point where they cannot help themselves, not to mention that they are often muzzled by those above them. I have seen this happen in person.

I'm not saying that we know better than they do, I'm saying that they don't know any better because we force them to live like that. And yes I realize they can leave the reserve at any time, but because we have nothing in place to HELP them, we are effectively forcing them to stay because they have nowhere else to turn. Until we disband those ridiculous laws that prevent them from bettering their lives, nothing will happen.

Hell, we don't even offer up resources that can help initiate change. It costs a lot of money to pull people out of poverty. A lot of money and resources. And there is no easy way of doing it.

[SeeBass]

First step is audit where the money goes

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

First step is audit where the money goes

This. One of the fundamental problem with the reserves and many native communities is the corruption of the chiefs and families and councils that have grabbed and hold onto power there. Much of the money and funding flows to them and not the rest of the community.

[Derek Sutton]

something has to bee done to reform the current situation. Times were different when these agreements and treaties were established, the Indian leaders and government officials had no way on knowing or forecasting where the reserve culture would lead. Obviously drinking beer, watching TV and teen pregnancy were not issues 150 years ago. Aside from huge oil money many reserves are receiving, there is no end to government funded education and employment programs.
I started college in Lethbridge, the first month I couldn't believe all the Indians in school, well by Thanksgiving, once they received the majority of their funding, the Native enrollment was cut in (at least) half. I also started to work retail at this time and the boss' thought it would look good so they started to hire some Natives at the store......Well yes everyone wants a job but the concept of punctuality, 8 hrs of work and regular attendance was lost on many of these people. I've got many a stories but I hate typing.

[burn_this_city]

It's going to take a few generations, but the only way out is through education and economic opportunities. Funding from the government needs substantially better oversight, with an emphasis on education and mental health.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

something has to bee done to reform the current situation. Times were different when these agreements and treaties were established, the Indian leaders and government officials had no way on knowing or forecasting where the reserve culture would lead. Obviously drinking beer, watching TV and teen pregnancy were not issues 150 years ago. Aside from huge oil money many reserves are receiving, there is no end to government funded education and employment programs.
I started college in Lethbridge, the first month I couldn't believe all the Indians in school, well by Thanksgiving, once they received the majority of their funding, the Native enrollment was cut in (at least) half. I also started to work retail at this time and the boss' thought it would look good so they started to hire some Natives at the store......Well yes everyone wants a job but the concept of punctuality, 8 hrs of work and regular attendance was lost on many of these people. I've got many a stories but I hate typing.

I honestly don't think your post could have more racist stereotypes if it tried. Honestly, they're all there, save for inhalant abuse.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I honestly don't think your post could have more racist stereotypes if it tried. Honestly, they're all there, save for inhalant abuse.

Sad part is his post is more or less accurate. I grew up right beside a Native reserve, and what he said is correct.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I honestly don't think your post could have more racist stereotypes if it tried. Honestly, they're all there, save for inhalant abuse.

Facts are just facts. Facts can't be racist. Unless he is making this up.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Facts are just facts. Facts can't be racist. Unless he is making this up.

I said racist stereotypes, which, generally have some factual basis. (aka I agree what he said is generally true). I was more or less pointing out that he made direct mention of pretty much all the classic stereotypes in one post.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I said racist stereotypes, which, generally have some factual basis. (aka I agree what he said is generally true). I was more or less pointing out that he made direct mention of pretty much all the classic stereotypes in one post.

Ah, you were observing as opposed to condemning.

[Devils'Advocate]

Personally, I think the best way to remove the reserve system is to move off the land and give the whole country back to them.

It's funny... we watch movies like "Dances with Wolves" and think how absolutely horrible the slaughter of the native peoples were. But we think absolutely nothing about destroying what little of their culture is left and forcing them to assimilate to our way of life. Sucks to be them. I really think that if it were you or I several hundred years ago we would make the exact same choices to kill, conquer and conform the aboriginals.

-=-=-=-=-=-
I'll certainly agree with the above post stating that there should be some accounting of the money the government gives to the reserves. If something is worth doing (ensuring that the aboriginal people have the means to live dignified lives within their unique culture and lifestyle) then it is worth doing right (ensuring that the resources given don't end up being siphoned off to the leadership while the general populace suffers).

[vanisleflamesfan]

Let’s face it; the “reserve-land” system that our governments have given as a gift to these corporate “people” is broken. We, as the noble, upstanding, tax-paying citizens of this nation have come to realize that it is time for us to step in with our benevolence and superior education and fundamentally change this corporate reserve-land system.

I mean, these contracts that we signed with these people go back so far in history as to render them irrelevant to the way the world works today. We need to move forward, quit living in the past, and force the suits to embrace our way of living.

Sure, we gave them all of these gifts, free land, tax-breaks, free healthcare, mineral rights, etc. But what are they doing with it?

I mean, have you ever set foot on a corporate reserve? These are places where greed and a complete disregard for our proper way of life have run rampant and allowed these people to live in environmental squalor. The trees are gone, the waters are polluted, and the air is thick with smog and chemicals. They don’t even care about the lands that WE have given them.

Ultimately, we know better than these people what is good for them. We need to step in and force these corpys to re-write the treaties, oops, I mean the contracts, that we made them sign and we need to do this now whether they want to or not.

Those contracts really don’t have any meaning now anyway. It has been years since they were signed, and we know better now anyway.
Just take all that land back and assimilate these corpys into our way of life. It is really the only way that our society can move forward.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Well, this thread is pretty reflective of how I looked at this issue as a younger man.. but the truth is I had no exposure to the truth. I had only experienced the drunk/wasted homeless native stereotype on the train, read about bands resisting development in order to "get more", heard rumours about kids getting $20,000 cheques when they turned 18 just so they could go out and buy a truck and then crash it within 6 months.

I had also heard whispers about a people who lived a kind of life that had it connected deeply with Nature, but that way of life was dying...

Those things aren't truths - they are symptoms.. outcomes.

There are two things I think about when reading this thread.

First, regarding the comments on apartheid, there is a connection in that the South African apartheid system was modelled on the Canadian Reserve system. Interesting paper on it from the U of A can be found here:
http://ualberta.academia.edu/mariaca...tion_In_a_Word

So in some sense, it may be an intuitive leap that people are making... as one lead into the other, and if the essence of both systems are common, how different can they really be? I think we can all look at this and question the intent of the reserve system in our country and wonder how things aren't worse than they are.

The second is that as I get older, meet more people, see more things, get more experience with business (particularly development of major capital projects), get more exposure to law (specifically the protection of the right to own property - a fundamental component to our society), and develop emotionally/spiritually/metaphysically, the more my perspective on this issue changes.

I know many Natives that are enterprising, intelligent, fun, successful, great parents, and wonderful people. They are among my favourite people to work with, and spend time with and contemplate what life is about.

One young guy I am starting to get to know a bit better shed some interesting light on things for me. He was explaining his company and how he wants to build a small plant on his reserve to produce what he sells instead of buying it from the States. His family has been at it for YEARS because the reserve is still crown land and there is no clear/clean legal process to secure the development permits to do the construction they want to do. He went on to say maybe it is because it is an industrial process, but even a friend of his who wants to build a simple mixed use strip mall/condo development can't proceed for the same reasons. This was surprising to me... I had no idea.

The reserve system does give Natives some recongition on what was "theirs", and gives some small rights/ability to recover compensation for development, but its ineffective and seems like just enough to keep the rest of the world from saying its abuse. It reminds me of when an employer keeps shuffling a person around, marginalizing them until the employee gets so fed up they quit. Its like our government wants the Native population to "quit" - and it sure seems like it could be working.

I think there could be changes to the current systems in place that allowed Natives to become a bigger part of our culture and the conversation of day to day life. Quite honestly, there is a lot of philosophy and insight into who we are and what our place is in the Universe that Western Civilization could benefit from having integrated into our way of life but that's just my opinion.