Harry Daniels and Dwight Dorey really tried to build bridges with other native organizations, work for non-status, off-reserve, and Métis peoples, and did a fair to good job of it. But the Métis got named as an official “Aboriginal peoples” in the Canadian Constitution in 1982, and they split from the NCC. Chiefs on reserve began to realize they had legal obligations to not only take money for but spend money on off-reserve members. And CAP was left looking like a beggar without a hat to piss in.

Its Brazeau-era strategy to tear down status Indians does seem to many like the old puckeroo on Harper’s unappreciative backside. It’s a wonder that the member organizations have not re-examined CAP’s direction, developed a more constructive set of aims and objectives, and have kept him around this long. I suggest putting him out with the rest of the refuse on garbage day – but they don’t listen to me.

Brazeau has always had a measure of appeal to me. He was always willing to criticize the established powers at the AFN for what he described as corruption and nepotism. Admittedly I don’t know as much as some of y’all when it comes to the Ottawa underground, and I know next to nothing about AFN’s operations and turf wars with CAP. I shook my head when Brazeau went balls to the wall for the Cons like he did.

All that aside, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

I don’t like Brazeaus politics and yes he has taken a very shallow and fast track to raise his profile for sure. It’s so easy to sit back and trash talk what you know little about and easier if you are aware that the general public is also not aware. He takes his lead from his communications person (non-native ex-INAC communications person) who chooses, knowingly, to take advantage of the public’s ignorance. (kinda like the Conservative strategy)But he has not managed to increase funds to his organization – and he went through cut-backs. In fact the under-ground in Ottawa is quietly snickering at his obvious sell-out and bum-kissing antics. For all his flirtatious antics to be noticed by Harper, Brazeau still receives no extra funds or ‘capital’ just the occasional stage and micro-phone.

They will milk him for everything he so freely offers …why pay for it? Is he a powerful voice in the community? I dunno – I imagine Brazeau’s profile in the general public is way lower than Phil’s and the huge majority don’t know who he is or the AFN – so….meh.

Refreshingly brief as I was expecting a far more comprehensive document, but then it is a lot easier to sound high-minded with smart phrases while leaving the devilish details to the imagination.

Check page 24. Cannot confirm that they approved it though, or amended it in anyway.

National Aboriginal Leaders Want Stephen Harper to Explain Writings Of Tom Flanagan

http://www.itk.ca/media-centre/media-releases/national-aboriginal-leaders-want-stephen-harper-explain-writings-tom-fla

Here is another fellow that has Harper’s ear on Aboriginal matters:

“…A fox entering a hen house ruffles fewer feathers than Patrick Brazeau. Not long after he was sworn in as national chief of CAP [Congress of Aboriginal People], letters began to arrive in the office of Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jim Prentice.

“I challenge you to demand that the Congress of Aboriginal People issue proof of their membership and aboriginal ancestry,” wrote Jean-Guy Whiteduck, the longtime chief of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg reserve. “Mr. Brazeau and his father were reinstated into the Kitigan Zibi Amishinabeg First Nation,” continued Mr. Whiteduck, “after the 1985 C-31 amendments to the Indian Act. Mr. Brazeau never resided on the reserve and was raised in the town of Maniwaki and had little or no contact with reserve life in all his years of existence.”

Chief Lawrence Joseph of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations wrote the minister to say he had “grave concerns regarding the structure of CAP, its funding, its electoral process and its influence on national and federal issues.”

Angus Toulouse, regional chief of Ontario, wrote to Mr. Brazeau personally, demanding he “cease and desist your irresponsible and unsubstantiated attacks on the legitimately elected First Nation’s leadership.” Not stopping there — just warming up in fact — Mr. Toulouse went on to tell Mr. Brazeau: “Real nation building must be driven by the actual citizens and leadership of those nations, and not ill-defined, non-representative entities trying to curry favour with the government of the day.”…”

Maybe I’m ruffling some feathers

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=3f7827a1-d524-4c56-a6f4-d86bb1aada68&p=3

More on how Harper is leveraging his close alliance with CAP to dismantle FN collective rights:

“…This summer, Harper declined an invitation to attend an Assembly of First Nations meeting in Halifax.

Rick Simon, Atlantic regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said “the chiefs of Canada felt snubbed at that point, and here’s a group (the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples) that has no structure and accountability, and the prime minister finds the time to come in and address.”

He said the assembly is disappointed.

“It’s a coalition of the willing,” Simon said. “Quite clearly the Conservatives have their own agenda and will ally with those who will go down the path of assimilation in First Nations issues.”

Patrick Brazeau, the national chief of the Congress, had introduced Harper to the conference as “a man and a leader who has taken bold steps to ensure Canada’s off-reserve aboriginal community are no longer considered a forgotten people.”

However, Russell Diabo, a consultant to a variety of aboriginal groups who is based in Orillia, Ont., said he believes “(Harper) is just using them.”

“Patrick Brazeau’s gone out of his way to keep cozying up to (the federal Tories), all the while bashing the Assembly of First Nations. Basically, he’s being partisan,” he said in an interview.

Diabo said it is the same strategy that AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine used with the Liberals.

“Not much different than Phil. Different party, but same idea,” said Diabo, who is not affiliated with either group.

“I think the perception of the Conservatives is that Phil is a Liberal and is too closely tied with the Liberals. They feel that he’s being partisan, so they probably feel it’s OK for them to be partisan on aboriginal issues.”

He said the choice for the prime minister’s first major speech to a native annual meeting sends a clear message on his agenda to “promote individual rights over collective rights.”

Harper responded that he has worked with the Assembly of First Nations on land claims settlements and a settlement for Aboriginal Peoples abused in residential schools.

“I don’t get into the rivalries between the various groups. We work with willing partners when we share common cause,” he said.

Alexa McDonough, an New Democrat MP who was also attending the meeting, said, “I think it’s unmistakable that part of his (Harper’s) being here was to create a wedge. This is a party that specializes in wedge politics.” …”

Natives criticize PM for meeting with rival group

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071102/pm_natives_071102?s_name=&no_ads=

Another example of the quality of respect for Aboriginal rights in Harper’s cabinet:

“A Conservative MP who on Wednesday told an Ottawa radio station that former residential school students need a stronger work ethic, not more compensation dollars, has apologized for his comments…”

Conservative MP apologizes for ‘hurtful’ comments on aboriginal people

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2008/06/12/poilievre-aboriginals.html

C’mon, feed your readers!

Wideye, send me your website addy privately? I wanna put up a plug for you know what.