"I told you, we're an anarcho-syndicalist commune."

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by KSGregman

We murdered their ancestors and stole their land and property fair and square!!! How DARE they be angry at us about it...how DARE they have the audacity to ask to be compensated for what was stolen from them...or to have their stolen land returned. It's sooooo inconvenient when they get angry about how badly they are treated....why can't they just go back to their nice little reservations and leave us innocent white folks alone?

Actually in most cases, in Canada, the word "stolen" can be swapped out for either "leased", or "purchased." Just because you think you got a raw deal, 200 years ago, doesn't give you the right to bust shit up now.

Hmmmmm...... Where have I heard that before?

[KSGregman]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Just because you think you got a raw deal, 200 years ago, doesn't give you the right to bust shit up now.

Native Americans KNOW they got a raw deal 200 years ago...they KNOW they've got a raw deal every day since then....shipped off to rot on reservations on the shittiest land that white people didn't want...marginalized...ignored.

I don't support their violent attempts to gain attention and recompense for their injuries...but I certainly understand why they would feel compelled to take that step when all other avenues are ignored or blocked.

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

“This hasn’t stopped the government from assuming full ownership of the land and its resources for the benefit of its corporate masters and to the detriment of aboriginal peoples, workers and the poor of the province,” it said.

Why do I get the feeling the people who did this are not aboriginal peoples, workers, or the poor of the province.

Originally Posted by The Chi

Canada has aborigines?

If you watched any of the Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies they had a lot of "First Nation" people involved doing first nationey type stuff. They were dressed in native garb very similar to that of Native Americans.

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

If their initial demands were more reasonable, then they'd have gotten more of the "right" kind of attention. The folks in the Caledonia, Ontario area want the entire Grand River basin. Take a look at the map here:

http://www.sixnations.ca/LandsResources/HaldProc.htm

You all should let them build casinos. It has really worked wonders here.

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by KSGregman

Native Americans KNOW they got a raw deal 200 years ago...they KNOW they've got a raw deal every day since then....shipped off to rot on reservations on the shittiest land that white people didn't want...marginalized...ignored.

I don't support their violent attempts to gain attention and recompense for their injuries...but I certainly understand why they would feel compelled to take that step when all other avenues are ignored or blocked.

... given money for simply being alive, tonnes of opportunities for full-pop paid higher education, exemption from sales taxes.....

Originally Posted by goof2

You all should let them build casinos. It has really worked wonders here.

They've got casinos and BINGO halls. The casinos tend to be run by sketchy people from Vegas.

[sherri_chickie]

The reserves here in Alberta tend to be RICH, but there is huge poverty none-the-less. The Hobbema reserve is in the middle of some of the most oil rich land in the province, and they, unlike the average land owner, own the oil rights. At the age of 18 each band member gets a HUGE payout ( over 100K). Despite all this oil money the reserve looks like a 3rd world city. burned out houses, graffiti everywhere, and huge problems with alcohol, drugs and gangs. I worked at a school there ( making much less than a regular provincial teacher) for one year and that was all I could take. If someone makes something of themselves, they are ostracized by their community as a sell out. Education is not valued. I don't have a clue why either. When someone goes out, gets an education, and then comes back to teach their own people, they are treated like dirt!

But that is just my experience in one place. In no way do I mean all First Nations people are like that. My cousins are Meti and they are great people with a work ethic and intelligence anyone could envy.

[Papa_Complex]

There seems to be a fair bit of corruption in the various band councils. The band council members tend to be quite well-off, while the run-of-the-mill band member scrapes to get by.

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Actually in most cases, in Canada, the word "stolen" can be swapped out for either "leased", or "purchased."

Under threat of force?

[Tmall]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

The track where I do most of my racing photography is smack-dab in the middle of Mohawk land. Every now and then they have, what they call, "days of action." This usually involves blocking highways, tearing up rail lines, and generally making life hell.

http://www.caledoniawakeupcall.com/j...deseronto.html

Don't forget beating up old men and leaving them to lay there brain damaged. That might just be in Caledonia however..

[Tmall]

Originally Posted by sherri_chickie

The reserves here in Alberta tend to be RICH, but there is huge poverty none-the-less. The Hobbema reserve is in the middle of some of the most oil rich land in the province, and they, unlike the average land owner, own the oil rights. At the age of 18 each band member gets a HUGE payout ( over 100K). Despite all this oil money the reserve looks like a 3rd world city. burned out houses, graffiti everywhere, and huge problems with alcohol, drugs and gangs. I worked at a school there ( making much less than a regular provincial teacher) for one year and that was all I could take. If someone makes something of themselves, they are ostracized by their community as a sell out. Education is not valued. I don't have a clue why either. When someone goes out, gets an education, and then comes back to teach their own people, they are treated like dirt!

But that is just my experience in one place. In no way do I mean all First Nations people are like that. My cousins are Meti and they are great people with a work ethic and intelligence anyone could envy.

My old roomate was a police woman in a northern ontario native community, she spent more of her money feeding their neglected pets than she did on herself.

The goverment would build them a home, and they would tear down another to use as fire wood.

It's almost unbelievable... Almost.

[karl_1052]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

There seems to be a fair bit of corruption in the various band councils. The band council members tend to be quite well-off, while the run-of-the-mill band member scrapes to get by.

The council has all the money and power. They discourage any book learnin for that reason.