A Different Take
There’s a fair bit of outrage or back slapping and “damn near time!!” (depending on which quadrant of the political compass you inhabit) happening over aboriginal people and groups being listed in the Canadian army’s counterinsurgency manual.
For generation upon generation (upon generation) a long line of Canadian governments have talked much and done as little as possible within their relationship they say they want to have with the aboriginal community. It was, in my opinion, inevitable that that community would eventually become more and more radical and more and more militant – indeed it’s not all that difficult to put forward the case that generation upon generation (upon generation) of Canadian governments have actively pushed aboriginal people in that direction.
What we are seeing now is the government finally lowering the blinds and admitting that they see the aboriginal people they have marginalized, ignored, and oppressed the rights of, as the enemy.
– their honesty should be appreciated, everybody knows, in clear terms, where they stand without any of the political b/s.
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From the article, the “enemy” would be the subset consisting of those who take up arms. About that, Stewart Phillip is wrong – counterinsurgency doctrine is not an attack on anyone’s political rights, because we have no political right to indulge in armed resistance to our own government. The right of people to take up arms against their oppressors is a human right.
What would be wrong would be for the government to pretend that situations which have arisen before can not arise again and to fail to prepare. The only point worth contending over is that names have been named. Anyone who wishes to be the Warrior Society Anti-Defamation Society is free to do so.
Oh, and since the article mentions it is from the Saturday edition, are we confident it is not a prank of today?
A long line of aboriginal groups have engaged in the same actions time and time again, all the while hoping for a different outcome – a long line of governments have disappointed them and then pretends to be surprised when some break the cycle and take direct action.
It is a mistake not to learn from the mistakes of the past, the so called “radical” or “militant” folks have learned, and the government has now made their position clear, they consider those people insurgents.
It’s unfortunate that our leadership has put people into the position of believing that it has come to that isn’t it?
Interesting that the draft manual was “produced” in September 2005…which means it’s been in development considerably longer.
Oh, well…producing a manual on how to contain a demonstration or bulldoze a barricade is certainly cheaper than actually negotiating a Land Claims Agreement, isn’t it?
You’ve confused the army role with the police role. The insurgents are the guys with guns and bombs: the FLQ, the Warrior Society.
You might not recall that the army was brought in to “assist” the SQ?
– and you’re missing the point
Interesting take on the Globe’s management of this story from the Shmohawk, here.
Someone shot a SQ officer and aid to the civil power was requested.
I’m not missing the point, unless the manual states somewhere that all aboriginals are threats to the state.
‘Someone shot a SQ officer and aid to the civil power was requested.”
Yes. That’s what I said. Bourassa asked Mulroney to send in the troops: the Van Doos moved in, displace occupiers from the first rounds of barricades, and dismantled the barriers. All subsequent negotiations were between the military and the Mohawks.
Excellent. I wasn’t sure you understood there was more to the doctrine than dismantling barricades and containing demonstrations, and at one point a transfer of authority between agencies might be required. Infantilizing everything is so tiresome.
Indeed. I still remember trying to explain Land Claims 101.