When we look at the current political situation and the coming election, it is important to look at what brought us up to this point. Prior to contact First Nations, on this continent were many nations, governing themselves with trade networks, culture, language, a way of doing things, and respect for others. There were no form of taxes or caste systems which made people feel inferior to others, people had a different concept of land tenure. In 200 years, the first people of this continent went from taking pity on explorers and welcoming immigrants, to establishing the first currency and economy, making treaty and alliances to open this land up to resource sharing and settlement, to the poorest people in North America living in communities with multi-entrenched problems that are the direct result of government policies in this democratic continent. In the 2011 elections, First Nations are making headlines, but for all the wrong reasons.
This country’s political history comes from an imported European system called feudalism which can be defined as a, "graduated system based on land tenure in which every lord judged, taxed, and commanded the class next below him. Feudalism represents the progressive development of European organization during seven centuries. Its roots go back into the social conditions of primitive peoples, and its branches stretch out through military, political, and judicial evolution to our own day”[1]. Canada uses British Common Law, a House of Commons, and House of Senate in its government, “but their government system was also adopted from other European models”[2], “influenced by the Roman Empire. The Church also had its place in the feudal system, it was granted territorial fiefs, became a vassal, and possessed immunities from taxes because of its role to convert people to Christians”. [3] In Canada, the church was instrumental in the government’s policy during the colonization period that followed treaties.
The history of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada is the shame of the nation. Children were forcibly removed from their homes for generations to get civilized in the eyes of the government of that time. There are stories from survivors of nuns terrorizing children and priests fathering children in residential school. In many communities today, the church and First Nation traditional beliefs clash, dividing communities. These are not the teaching of the bible; the seven teachings of First Nations are all in the bible. This is not ancient history either; many First Nations people today are residential school survivors. The Conservative government, under Prime Minister Stephan Harper, paid out survivors and issued an apology to those affected. Many believe this was just for show and to save money down the road, because soon after, “funding got cut for programs to help survivors. At a Truth and Reconciliation Commission gathering here at the Winnipeg at the Forks this past summer, Health Canada employees stayed at the Inn at the Forks, had all their expenses covered, while the survivors had to pay their own way in for counseling”[4]. There are a lot of people happy to make their living off the suffering of First Nations; it is commonly referred to as the Indian industry.
In northern First Nations, the conditions are at their worst. Mary Jane McCallum who is a First Nation’s dentist, called this suffering “a crisis and supervised neglect”[5]. Many people working in these positions up north come across as racist and are only up there for the money. I spoke with an Aboriginal nurse who said, “Nurses act like they are doing First Nations people a favor when they are attending to them, treating First Nation nurses like a tax payers burdens, asking why they have to pay taxes and they don’t on plane rides to these remote communities”[6]. RCMP and city police officers relations with First Nations people are fractured, most First Nations people fear and don’t trust police and RCMP because of constant headlines of First Nations people not getting fair treatment, to getting killed.
The mainstream population perception of First Nation’s people is that we are a tax payer’s burden; non-aboriginals will write articles stating Canadian taxpayers are spending 9 billion in taxpayers’ money on First Nations. They are asking where this money is going. Beneficiaries of these billions of dollars go toward provincial education, health, justice systems, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and only a percentage makes it way to First Nation communities. These writers forget to mention that the majority of First Nation’s people now live off reserve, and do pay taxes. “It is estimated that urban Indians pay roughly 13 billion in tax dollars, whose tax payer’s dollars are we spending? If these articles were true, and First Nations were receiving all this money, that means that Keeseekoowenin with its population of just over 1000 would be getting 16 million annually. During my father’s time as chief, the band received 5 million”[7]. Furthermore, the public also has this belief that First Nation’s politicians have a higher salary than the Prime Minister, stating that, “reserves are poor because the chiefs take all the money”[8]. I had this argument with someone who owns a business on Main Street. It is not their fault though; mainstream media is constantly attacking First Nations across the country in all media outlets. “The tax watchdog group has released a second round of documents outlining the levels of pay chiefs and band councilors receive across the country. The documents show that 82 band chiefs and councilors made more money than the prime minister’s $317,574 salary in 2008-2009”.[9] Even our own Aboriginal instructors and journalists seem to read these articles and fail to take the full story into context. They come to their own conclusion, writing and teaching about this misinformation putting down their own people. “These reports are distorted to fuel the mainstream opinion of First Nations. The Assembly of First Nations analysis also concluded that the average salary for reserve politicians fell at about $36,845, below the $46, 345 national averages in Canada. ‘Alarmist’ tax watchdog ‘intentionally’ distorted First Nation’s politico salaries”[10]. They forget to mention points that, “chiefs have more on their plate than non-aboriginal politicians, juggling provincial, federal, and reserve issues”[11]. There is also no pension like other provincial and federal politicians for chief and council, and most importantly, leaving out non-aboriginals politicians’ travel and other expenses. If the expenses were calculated, the numbers would be a more fair comparison. “A Saskatchewan Conservative MP recently tabled a private members’ bill to make all chief and band councilor salaries public”[12]. If Kelly Blocks’ bill should pass; it will reflect how underfunded First Nations really are. “Keeseekoowenin gets 5-6 million annually in contribution agreements; the only flexible money is band support funding. The question of federal funding to First Nations is what the general public does not understand. The public thinks that when federal funding is transferred to First Nations, they can spend it anyway they please, this simply is not true. Programs like welfare, have strict guidelines, who gets welfare and how much. Every cent in the welfare budget has to be spent according to the treasury board guidelines; this also includes all capital projects like housing, road maintenance, education, and health programs. Every dollar has to be spent accordingly. That is the reason why First Nations need to do their audits. As mentioned, the chiefs have total authority over band support funding. Keeseekoowenin has 400,000 dollars to use at their discretion. This band support funding is for salaries, travel, and support staff salaries. This money also covers administrative costs, like telephone, hydro... Writers misinform the public when they say that chiefs can spend any way they want. All money that comes to First Nations has to be accounted for through audits to ensure money has been spent in accordance to treasury board guidelines. Some people though, you just can’t convince, no matter what kind of facts you have, they are just biased, critics should put it in writing and sign it. Their solutions to fix reserves can be presented to the chief, but they better have a lawyer. Non-aboriginal writers avoid lawsuits by using generalized wording”[13].
In Canada, “the Gross Domestic Product of goods, services, resources and minerals is in excess of 1.4 trillion dollars annually. First Nations in Canada make up 3% of the Canadian population and receive 9 billion annually. Now all one has to do is knock off a few zeros and do the math to see that First Nations get less than 1% of Canada’s riches. Canada also spends in excess of 19 billion on immigrants and programs to help their adjustment to Canadian society annually[14]”. First Nations should be getting a share of resources; this was the spirit and intent of treaties. “Canada spends an average of 25 dollars of taxpayers’ money on non First Nation Canadians and 15 dollars for a First Nation’s citizen”[15]. As we move towards a May 2nd election, First Nations are making headlines, but for all the wrong reasons, “Andre Forbes was booted out of the Liberal campaign for calling aboriginal people ‘featherheads’. Bloc candidate Yvon Levesque said Quebecer's wouldn't vote for NDP candidate Romeo Saganash, in his words, "some constituents will no longer vote for the New Democrats since they have decided to run an aboriginal candidate"[16]. Basically saying, doesn't matter the James Bay Cree is a well known lawyer, he's still just an Indian.
While mainstream Canada complains about how corrupt First Nations politics are, we are on the verge of electing in a Conservative Prime Minister who is the only Prime Minister is history to found in contempt. Once for failing to reveal the cost of a number of initiatives and secondly, when an aide to Prime Minister Stephan Harper was caught using his contacts to lobby for contracts. Voters should remember, in 2004, the breakthrough Kelowna Accord was introduced by the Liberals; that included 5 billion dollars to bring Canada’s First Nations programs and services up to par with the rest of Canada, was crushed under Harper and the Conservatives as soon as they got in. The Liberals are promising the same this election, whereas Harper only mention of the north is to complete the Dempster Highway. APTN journalism is credited for bringing about this most recent election by exposing the Bruce Carson story. Carson was one of PM Stephan Harper’s closest advisors and was working on securing contracts between Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and a water company his 22 year old fiancé had shares in. This deal would have made her millions.
Despite everything, “Conservative Leader Stephan Harper currently enjoys a lead among decided voters, ahead of the Liberals, and NDP”[17]. Assembly of First Nations National Chief of Canada, Shawn Atleo has voiced his concerns, “Education is a second critical component of our agenda. Every year, funding for our students is subject to cutbacks and realignment. On average, a child going to school on a reserve is funded at $2,000 less per year than students in public schools. In some regions this inequity climbs to over $7,000 less per child. This is fundamentally unfair and unacceptable. If we abandon another generation to poverty and despair we will only serve to increase social costs and lost potential”[18]. Feedback in the comments section has people saying Atleo should start his own political party, is this reasonable? In Manitoba, First Nations do not go out and vote for our own candidate’s here in Winnipeg; when we had Kevin Chief and Shaneen Robinson running for city positions, the Aboriginal turnout was minimal. Better relations and change of attitude from both First Nations and non First Nations is required.
“Northern First Nations leaders are demanding an inquiry into health services because they claim no mention was made about Aboriginal health issues in Tuesday's Manitoba budget. ‘The budget is a total disregard for northern Manitoba,’ Manitoba Keewatinowi Okamakanak Grand Chief David Harper said today. ‘The province is responsible for primary health care for all of Manitoba including First Nations. The province receives federal transfer payments for all Manitobans. We are not happy with the current state. ‘Harper said Aboriginal people are dying or being misdiagnosed by overworked and under supported nurses in northern aboriginal communities. The New Democratic Party government's budget calls for a 5.1 per cent increase — $262 million — in annual health spending for a total of $5 billion”[19].
A failure in the economic sector of Manitoba comes from provincial MP, Winnipeg South Conservative Rod Bruinooge, “who had nothing to say when Harper’s Conservatives failed to match Manitoba’s 3.5 million dollar commitment to host the inaugural 2012 World Indigenous Games here in Winnipeg, thus cancelling the event which would have generated an estimated 50 million dollars to the local economy. A consensus feeling is that Bruinooge may have been intimidated by Harper to speak up for the city and Aboriginal youth here in Manitoba, whose agenda seems to be on jets and jails. The games would have been a much needed positive example for youth, and highlighted aboriginal sport and culture in a city plagued by social problems”[20]. Overall, the Progressive Conservatives contradict themselves when they did not support Manitoba’s commitment to host the World Indigenous Games when they say they support business development, free enterprise and economic development. Those 3.5 million dollars would have been a good investment generating 50 million dollars in the local economy. It will be interesting to see if a reason for this decision will follow through in better water and plumbing in northern communities. First Nations need to take it upon themselves to get more training in running the administration of these services when they do come to certainty. “If First Nations had a share in natural resources like logging, mining, fishing, gas, oil, all these natural resources, the current affairs of First Nations would be equal among other Canadians. This is why the Natural Resources Transfer Act (NRTA) is critical to be renegotiated. The federal government breached treaty by transferring the land to provinces before they settled all treaty issues that include Treaty Land Entitlement. In today’s terms the words, consultation and accommodation would challenge the spirit and intent of the NRTA. First Nations were not consulted and their land entitlement was not honored therefore the land transfers between the federal government and provincial government is almost certainly illegal, that is the reason First Nations and the three prairie provinces are currently undergoing comprehensive research in their preparation to challenge the legal status of the NRTA. That concept of addressing NRTA to include First Nations would address nationhood of First Nations. Some leaders still believe that treaties are about natural resources and that they could benefit from all natural resources to seek their livelihood and their form of self government. The current funding arrangements for programs and services to First Nations is not a treaty right as all Canadians are entitled to health education and welfare, not only treaty First Nations. To understand the concept of nationhood, it is required to understand the federal state of Canada which has an obligation to share resources with the provinces but because of the treaties it is also required to share with First Nations”[21].
Not all Canadians are influenced by negative headlines, in the APTN comments one reader wrote, “History is full of mistakes and consequences. It is also full of great stories. Let's help the First Nation's people find a way to turn this into a great story. They can teach us important lessons if we are willing to learn. For example, the “white man’s” culture has been damaging and destructing the earth at an alarming pace since the Industrial Revolution. If we could change our perspective maybe we could learn some important lessons from the First Nation's culture on how to have a better relationship with our shared planet. New Canadians should be required to take a part in the understanding and evolution of this story. It is time for us to stop focusing on the unfortunate negative stereotypes and damage done to this culture”[22]. Only Jack Layton briefly addressed First Nations concerns in an electoral debate leading up to the current elections. Harper spoke of completing the Dempster highway in his plans for northern Canada.
It is up to our own Aboriginal scholars, journalists, and politicians to educate and communicate to the mainstream public in a fair and equitable manner. History has not been good to First Nations. The public opinion of First Nations is still negative and views them as a nation of grievance. “It is up to Chiefs to stabilize First Nation’s governance with common day elections like other provincial and federal elections. Only First Nations have scattered elections”[23]. “The basic problem for good governance at the reserve level is the nature of elections; chief and council are always in election mode. They cannot make major decisions because the terms are too short”[24]. First Nations youth need to take in upon themselves to obtain and complete training to be capable to contribute. Addressing these issues will help First Nations pull themselves out of this lateral violence which is creating disarray, to be taken more seriously by the Canadian government and public, and move forward to our own vision of nationhood. In conclusion, for First Nations to achieve good self government, we need a share in land and natural resources, to utilize human, economical, and technological resources. Have capable leadership and administration capacity, be legally recognized and get adequate financial funding from the federal government. [1] Canadian Encyclopedia, website.
[2] D. Meeches, Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 10 April 2011.
[3] Canadian Encyclopedia, website.
[4] Truth and Reconciliation Commission, discussions, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2010.
[5] M. J. McCallum, Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
[6] First Nations Nurse, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
[7] H. Bone, former Chief of Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
[8] Business Owner, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
[10] APTN News, (April, 2011).
[13] H. Bone, former Chief of Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
[14] D. Beaudin, Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
[15] Professor, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
[16] APTN News, 2011.
[17] Winnipeg Sun, April, 2011.
[18] APTN News,2011.
[19] Winnipeg Sun, April, 2011.
[20] Facebook Post, J. Sinclair, April, 2011.
[21] H. Bone, former Chief of Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
[22] Comments section, APTN News, April, 2011.
[23] D. Meeches, Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 10 April 2011.
[24] H. Bone, former Chief of Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2011.
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