Getting It Wrong & Backwards
I was watching a news segment about yesterdays day of action this morning and heard the following statement out of a guy being interviewed that shows just exactly how much work the Aboriginal community has in front of them.
“Why should we follow their treaties if they don’t follow our laws”
The dude has it not only backwards, but he’s got it completely wrong as well.
Their treaties? The treaties are contractual agreements between a people and a government, some of these contractual agreements predate the vast majority of “Canadian law”.
The real question is, why should the Aboriginal people bother honouring Canadian government laws if the Canadian government is not going to honour the agreements it has with the Aboriginal people.
I was heartened to hear comments from other travelers who had their schedule interrupted saying that the Aboriginal people had “good reasons” for doing what they did.
Some people obviously get it, others, like our friend discussed above, either don’t seem to have much of a clue, or aren’t interested in looking for one.
The choices for Canada and Canadians seem pretty clear to me. Either get used to this sort of thing as more and more Aboriginal people and groups get just plain tired of the Canadian government not living up to its’ end of a multitude of treaty and land claims obligations – or Canadians can start pressuring their government to get off its’ ass and start living up to its’ legal contractual obligations.
Regardless of what the feds would like it ain’t gonna go away, as a matter of fact I would be very (very) surprised if it didn’t get a whole hell of a lot worse; then again, the feds could surprise me and actually do something…………. I’m not gonna be holding my breath though.
As I said over my way, it was nice to see the day went by relatively peacefully, and thankfully we didn’t have the police taking the advice of some of the wingnuts we have blogging on the conservative side of the spectrum.. or else we’d have had several Oka’s going on right now.
Treaties are contracts between Nations. Sorry.. just had to get that in there. And I think that if there was a native guy saying it – he would be right… if he said `Why should we follow `their`(mesaning Canada`s`) laws, if Canada doesn`t abide by it`s Treaty commitments…
Fer petes sake, Canada has troops in afghanistan being killed because of it`s NATO signing and commitment. When will they finally get off their asses and meet their obligations under treaty to Aboriginal Nations
I know I’m a little off topic here and I did blabb my fingers off at Smohawk’s Smorg (and I would add a link if I knew how but I’m still a learn’n bout this here high-tech stuff.) but I must add my two cents about the “Day of Action.†I decided to participate in the walk in Ottawa. I was hesitant and had some cynicism about what might be achieved but as Smohawk questioned in story published in Now – “What if the day wasn’t about the fears of the average Canadian?..†I lie to think I’m an optimist and had to go find out for myself – what if the day was about hope?
I must say that it felt good to be part of the march. Maybe I’m corny and mushy but to stand shoulder to shoulder with so many people – from all walks and runs of our society – was a powerful experience. I saw two young street kids, I don’t know from which Nation they were from but they were standing on the sidelines as the parade marched by.
They were pocked marked with open soars from their addictions and wobbled where they stood. But they stood until the younger of the two – maybe sixteen-years old plunked down on a planter box and stared open mouthed as the crowds of people walking by. His friend leaned in and whispered something in his ear as he pointed to the procession. I don’t know what he said but it was the expression on their faces and the look in their eyes. It was like they knew we were marching for them. I saw them ten minutes later, both had joined the walk and made it to Victoria Island with us.
I don’t know if they achieved anything from the walk – maybe some clean water and as much bannock and jam as their bellies could take – but I was reminded why I do what I do. And I don’t know if things will change in my time but I know I have hope and must believe that life will improve. My spirit was lifted and my hope reaffirmed.
Wow. Thanks, Wideye. I’m just thinking that this is the sort of thing one might put on, oh, let’s say, a Facebook Note so a few more people could read it. Assuming one had a Facebook account, of course.
Some of me has a Facebook account, although only a smallish group of friends there (compared to those crazy interconnected kids.) Still, I would be happy to stick this up as a note, should that be a wish.
Of wideye’s.
shhhhhhh…. don’t tell anyone, but some of me has a Facebook account as well.
Some of YOU! Scandal!
I imagine you’re not using your secret identity, but in fact, have the beard and glasses off version of yourself? *g*
Oh, God, here we go. Our happy little family is gonna dissipate into a digital fog of graffiti notes and Book Lists and Notes and Writings on our respective Walls and Fave Movies and…no, nay, never. I shall NEVER get a facebook account.
Of course, the real me has one.
Facebook is like a public advertisement which says “Bother me, I’m not busy or anything like that….”
For the record, my Facebook photo is with beard, goggles, and a shorty helmet – on my bike, in the parking lot, near one of the secret entrances to the stageleft basement bunker.
There are 6 such entrances spread through out the city, and at least 2 dozen escape pods – the hand holding forces of nannyism are ever present in this city, and we never know when, or where, we’ll need refuge from them.
SL, I just either poked you or some random guy on a bike. If it wasn’t you, wish me well. That guy looks shifty. What with his shorty helmet, goggles, beard, and sly “I’m near a secret entrance to a bunker” sort of look.
Poking. So much fun.
I must confess, I understand not this poking thing. You did indeed poke me, it was there on my page when I checked just now, what do I do with it?
Ah. Poking just means you can see my profile for a month, and I’m not assuming you’ll want to be my friend on Facebook. This way, you can make sure I’m someone you care to associate with. If that *wasn’t* you, the person who does not know me could check me out and then ignore me.
That’s not nearly as interesting as Wideye’s interpretation. But I digress.