First nations will blockade roads as part of 'Idle No More' protest

[First Lady]

Sir John A. statue in Kingston defaced

Norman Jack
Friday, January 11, 2013

A statue of Canada's first prime minister has been defaced in Kingston.

The statue of Sir John A Macdonald, located in Kingston city park in the area he represented in Parliament, was daubed with red paint and white-painted slogans, including "This is Stolen Land" and "murderer."

The defacement comes on the 198th anniversary of his birth.

So far, police have no suspects.

Lovely.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

to me Atleo was the great hope for Native causes, he's a guy that's stressing education and accountability.

For him to get swept up in the way that he is dissapoints me a bit.

If there's going to be dialogue its going to have to be between moderates on both sides, not ranting and raving and demanding more money.

They can negotiate on the resources, the respect does to an extent at this point have to be earned on both sides.

But to throw your lot in with people like spence and to start parroting them is an approach that's going to turn off the average tax payers to their cries for help.

He's a politician, and he's in a very bad spot right now.

He has to do two things - plot a course for his administration, and as an extension, his constituency, and he needs to represent his constituents. Too many of his constituents believe in the Idle No More, and the hunger striking chief. I'm not sure that he could do anything more really, and retain credibility within his own constituency.

The key I think is to see how carefully he "rants", and what specifically he rants about.

[First Lady]

Just listening to impromptu presser Spence held.

At beginning she is being heckled by other First Nation people yelling "Where did the money go?!!"

[DuffMan]

native spring?

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

native spring?

Indian summer?

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Knalus

He's a politician, and he's in a very bad spot right now.

He has to do two things - plot a course for his administration, and as an extension, his constituency, and he needs to represent his constituents. Too many of his constituents believe in the Idle No More, and the hunger striking chief. I'm not sure that he could do anything more really, and retain credibility within his own constituency.

The key I think is to see how carefully he "rants", and what specifically he rants about.

The more I read about this, the more I realize that Idle No More and the Chief are completely separate. Idle No More is a movement about removing people like Spence who screw their bands over by abusing their power.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

The more I read about this, the more I realize that Idle No More and the Chief are completely separate. Idle No More is a movement about removing people like Spence who screw their bands over by abusing their power.

I hope you are right, and that it doesn't turn into another "Tea Party" episode, where the powers-that-be co-opt an anti-government movement to bolster their own power.

[CaptainCrunch]

So much is wrong with what these Chiefs are doing that its de-legitimizing these protests.

First and foremost the fact that these Chiefs are throwing in behind Theresa Spence is not giving them any legitimacy. Continually changing what they want is not giving them and legitimacy. I don't like Levant all that much but I think he was correct in his assertion last night that the Chiefs are not only split but they are panicking because Harper is not playing the role of the villian like they expected. He's actually shown a willingness to meet, I'm sure he had a lot to do with the GG showing up at the meeting. He's probably been one of the more pro-active prime ministers in terms of the Native file with the Assembly of first Nations meeting last year, the apology for the resident schools an increase of funding to the Natives.

My gut is that a lot of these chiefs haven't read the Omnibus bill and they're just raving at closet ghosts.


This whole thing is starting to smell like a coup in the FN with a nut job like Pam Palmter who is a radical who likes to throw around accusations that Harper has a planned Genocide in mind for the natives has been eying Alteo's seat since she got hammered in the last election for the Chief role.

Lets be honest, these Chiefs are the equivalent of small town mayors, Chief Alteo would probably be their Prime Minister equivalent, for these Chiefs to suddenly demand a change of venue is ridiculous.

Like I said, my sense is that there is panic, the Natives are litterally throwing away the moral high ground because Harper refused to play along with their script and is acting reasonable and like someone that wants to listen.

At this point, Harper will meet with whichever Chiefs show up he'll listen to them, but at this point there will be no negotiation, there can't be any change as long as this group is fractured.

Look, I agree with the need for clean water, and for schools and health care and all of that stuff for the first nations, but in order for that to be achieved then the current system has to be changed and the government has to be given oversight over those areas and not the Band Councils and Chiefs who can't seem to get their poop in a group. The problem is not the amount of money, the problem is with what happens to the money once it leaves the Bank of Canada.

The Omnibus points to the environment is a streamlining of the process removing the Department of Transportation from the decision making process, its not some boogy man change that allows oil companies to start tearing up land without permissions and assessments.

The problems with protests like this and occupy protests is a large portion that just wants to protest because they're mad at a world that's unfair to them, but they don't know and don't care about studying the issue and they get swept up in it, and like the occupy movement they end up looking stupid for it.

There's no way that the Prime Minister should go to their venue.

Saying that

The smart move would be to go, just to keep playing the reasonable party.

[schteve_d]

Wow. They really need to get their poop together if they want anyone to start taking them seriously let alone the Prime Minister.

This is not a smart way to get people to support them!

I have heard rumblings that there will be roadblocks here in Fort McMurray today by native groups, presumably north of town towards the oilsands.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I think they tried that in the US at one time. Some band members sold there land to non aboriginal farmers and the reserve started to erode away. So the government had to put a stop to it.

I do agree however. Let the band members use their land as collateral or sell it out right. The reserves will slowly disappear and they will be integrated into Canadian society.

At least then they'll be able to make that choice on their own, and to an extent it would get them out from under the thumb of the band.

[First Lady]

Credit to Stephen Taylor.

Also....

Are those video screens in the headrests of Theresa Spence’s SUV? Is that her SUV?

The photo caption of Fred Chartrand’s photo on the National Post reads: “Attawapiskat First Nations Chief Theresa Spence leaves Victoria Island as she continues her hunger strike in Ottawa, Wednesday January 9, 2013.”

Not only this, but we’ve learned that Spence has been staying in hotels during her stay in Ottawa.

And that “hunger strike”? We all now know that it consists of fish broth, herbal tea, and whatever else Spence consumes in her teepee on Victoria Island, in the comfort of an SUV, or in her hotel room.

Other observers have fairly pointed out that she has not lost much weight for being on a hunger strike for about 30 days. I’m not for fat-shaming any person, but the hunger strike is the central news claim and it appears that this claim, and the threat to herself, are false

Continue reading Theresa Spence, Living it Up

[Ducay]

Ha, thats a post and article I would've expect from Myk.... I mean, I have as many questions as anyone about the spending and Spence, but come on, this is grabbing for straws:

Are those video screens in the headrests of Theresa Spence’s SUV? Is that her SUV?

No way, not video screens, how dare she!

Not only this, but we’ve learned that Spence has been staying in hotels during her stay in Ottawa.

A HOTEL!?!? Again, the nerve of her, what does she think she is, a Rockafeller?

We already know she's being paid quite well, why are we still going off on little things like this?

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Ha, thats a post and article I would've expect from Myk.... I mean, I have as many questions as anyone about the spending and Spence, but come on, this is grabbing for straws:

No way, not video screens, how dare she!

A HOTEL!?!? Again, the nerve of her, what does she think she is, a Rockafeller?

We already know she's being paid quite well, why are we still going off on little things like this?

This would be why:

[CaptainCrunch]

Is she expensing the costs of this hunger strike and the hotel stays and getting re-embursed by the reservation for all of this. I doubt that she's spending her money to make a "point"

Clayton Kennedy well worth $850 a day tax free for his expertise

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01...uments-reveal/

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Is she expensing the costs of this hunger strike and the hotel stays and getting re-embursed by the reservation for all of this. I doubt that she's spending her money to make a "point"

I had posted this info a few days ago.

They have been using donations for this.

Collected ~ 30 K and spent ~ 21 K at that point.

[undercoverbrother]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/01/11...n-kingston-ont



This should help them.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

How about we just look at it as payment for goods received.

How about okay, as long as people like Spence don't try to shame Canada into giving them more money while pleading for the plight of the poor and simultaneously having the money disappear?

Have no issue with a discussion about what natives deserve monetarily from the Canadian government. Have a huge issue with them demanding money to fix issues that money has already been provided for, without bothering to tell us where the first bit went.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Ped

natives deserve monetarily from the Canadian government. .

I have an issue with this. Why do they deserve anything from the Canadian Government?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I have an issue with this. Why do they deserve anything from the Canadian Government?

Because we have a contractual obligation, also we have a moral obligation as we did take their land

[Azure]

They deserve our help.

Help doesn't necessarily equal a blank cheque though.

At the end of the day the goal should be to bring them into the 21st century, where they have jobs and can support their families. As has been pointed out, the current method of 'help' is extremely outdated, and allows for abuse and corruption by taking advantage of those 'natives' that are helpless. This is why Spence is such a hypocrite.