Every Now And Again –

– you just want to grab people and shake them until they quit being so f*cking stupid.

It sounds like something from a distant, darker time. Acting on anonymous calls to a snitch line, authorities single out people on the basis of their race and order them to leave town. “We trust that you understand the seriousness of this letter and will govern yourself accordingly,” the eviction letters conclude.

 

But it was just this week that the letters were delivered by Mohawk chiefs to non-natives residing in Kahnawake, a reserve southwest of Montreal. The recipients’ offence was moving in with a Mohawk lover, and they were given 10 days to pack up.

When the law is wrong people have an obligation to not only ignore it, but to actively work at overthrowing it, along with those who instigated it.

Let Them Eat Eskimo Pie!

In which Charles Anthony of the Politic dons his Marie Antoinette ruffles and prescribes a cure for Inuit infant mortality.

Shorter Stephen Harper

I’m gonna do something about infant mortality rates in developing countries and get into the newspapers – don’t look too closely at my back yard, there’s really nothing to see there.

The Rank Smell Of European Hypocrisy (Again)

I don’t think it’s any great secret that I spent most of my life living, working, and hunting in the Canadian Arctic, nor is it any great secret that I have less than fond thoughts towards the Euroweinies and animal rights activists peddling their idiotic anti-sealing message to the masses – todays installment of European Union hypocricy in banning the import of seal products because the seals are supposedly killed in inhumane ways comes to us courtesy of Paul Schneidereit at the Chronicle Herald.

Shorter RCMP

If at first it doesn’t go away… stall, stall, again.

Still Forgotten

Inuit were moved 2,000 km in Cold War manoeuvring

 

Uprooted from their homes to the south, the so-called high-Arctic exiles were promised they could return if they didn’t like their new lives. They were lied to.

The government of Canada has known (but doesn’t actually admit) for a very long time that the best way to stake a claim to the Arctic, and to defend and make that claim stick, is to have Canadians on the ground in the Arctic. Not on the ground in the sense of an annual flag waving military exercise, or in the sense of (if they ever actually appear) a couple of ice capable military vessels of some sort patrolling the Northwest passage during the warm summer months, and not in the sense of a deep sea port staffed by rotations of southerners — no, they know that Canadians have to be living there….. hence the relocation of those we call the High Arctic Exiles.

Off To The CAMA’s

Bright and early tomorrow morning I’m on a plane headed for Toronto and then on to Hamilton for the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. In addition to being asked to perform Tumivut is nominated for awards in the “Best Female Traditional Cultural”, “Best Group or Duo”, and “Best Rap or Hip Hop Music Video” categories.

If As A Nation We Had Any Shame Our Faces Would Be Red

– we obviously don’t.

Living conditions in Kitcisakik, an Algonquin community of 400 in Quebec’s Abitibi region, are so unhealthy that a new organization created to shelter people in Third World disaster situations has chosen Kitcisakik as its first project.

I Am Left Wondering, What Else Needs Further Research?

The answer Helena Guergis provided to a question in the House yesterday regarding a national investigation into missing and murdered Aboriginal women leaves me wondering just exactly what the federal government thinks needs more research.

A Post I Really Shouldn’t Have To Make

One would think that Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq would be the last person on the government side of the House that I’d have to explain this to…. but apparently not.

Dear Ms. Aglukkaq, Inuvik is not a First nations community – according to your Wikipedia bio you were born there so we really shouldn’t have to bring this to your attention. Your official government bio says you were raised in Thom Bay, Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven….. none of them are First Nations communities either.

So what gives?

Fed’s Follow Through On Promise To Help Aboriginals Prepare For Swine Flu

– the body bags have already started arriving on northern First Nations reserves.

AFN Electoral Reform? What About Canada?

Once again there is a round of discussion about how the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) should reform the way they elect their National Chief – it’s a good discussion to have inside the realm of First Nations, but why are outsiders so concerned?

Chief Terry Nelson Needs A Geography Lesson

A Manitoba native leader vying to replace Phil Fontaine as head of the Assembly of First Nations has suggested Canada’s three northern territories consider separating.

 

In yet another chapter of controversy for Terry Nelson, he says if elected he is ready to “open dialogue” with the U.S. on whether Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories “could possibly separate from Canada and become part of the United States.”

Tumivut: Up For Some Awards

The four member group Tumivit is up for 6 awards at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards this year – they’re a group that is close to the bunker heart as one of them is our daughter.

Poor Health Among Indigenous Peoples a Question of Cultural Loss as well as Poverty

Canadian and Australian researchers discuss underlying causes of health disparities

The health problems of Indigenous peoples around the world are intimately tied to a number of unique factors, such as colonization, globalization, migration, and loss of land, language and culture. These factors remain even after the “typical” social problems facing the poor, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, and low education levels are addressed, according to Dr. Malcolm King, lead author of a paper to be published tomorrow in the Lancet, a prestigious UK medical journal.