Conservatives

shit harper did shitharperdid.ca.nyud.net

Rod Bruinooge is nothing if not tight-lipped when it comes to the abject failure of Harper's Conservative Party to stand up for aboriginal people.

According to the Winnipeg Sun, the Harper Government's refusal "to match a $3.5 million commitment" by Manitoba to support Winnipeg's hosting of the inaugural 2012 World Indigenous Games has led to the event's cancellation. As an event organizer said, "the wheels fell off" when Harper's Conservatives failed to support the initiative and now this "lack of federal support means Canada might not be the place to host the first games." Typical! Bloody typical!

Rod Bruinooge's Con Party can find $30+ BILLION for jets we don't need - but they refused to cough up a measly 1% of that amount to ensure Winnipeg could host a "United Nations and the International Olympic Committee" sanctioned event that would have brought "more than 3,000 participants from across the globe to Manitoba and generated an estimated $50 million in economic activity." Moreover, aside from highlighting aboriginal culture & sport, the event would also have provided a much needed positive example to our aboriginal youth here in Manitoba. But no, Rod Bruinooge's CON Party didn't see it that way - they are too focused on jets and jails to give a rat's ass about our aboriginal youth, their potential, or our city!

And here in South Winnipeg, Odd-Rod stays silent still... what else is new?
source;http://arsenisms.blogspot.com/2011/03/bruinooge-watch-pt2-silent-odd-rod-and.html

Dabishko Mishimin

Joseph Quesnel’s Article

“AFN-gate shows we need independent aboriginal media.” – First Perspective, March 22, 2011

This article implies that truth is compromised by protecting political loyalties to first nations organizations, therefore being biased to independent and objective to newspaper reporting. The issue in this article is more than the perceived relationship between the AFN National Chief and the former advisor to the prime minister. The issue should be how business and industries capitalize on first nations funding resources to access government funding to first nations is big business not only to first nations but to people who have influence and connections to the decision making process of government funding. The public is only aware that first nations receive billions of government funding. The public and reporters should be more aware how much funding really reaches the first nations people. The concern should be are those that benefit like  political advisors, business and industry that provides second hand hand produscts and material. The classic example is is the  housing industry where low grade material is shipped to first nations that are purchased with the intent of first grade material.  This article only touches the negative appearance of the AFN national chiefs with former political advisor to the government. The report should also consider that there are hundreds of middlemen that benefit from first nations funding. there is no arguementof quesnel’s suggestion that reporting should be independent and objective, but it should also be suggested that newspaper of negative reporting sells. Also reporters have to make a living by selling their articles for business. First Perspective is to be commended by it’s attempt to report on first nations issues whether they are good or bad in a balanced way. To bring truth to any first nations issues more underlying background to the issues should be adequately researched to bring the real truth. There is always the spirit and intent of any issue.

This article is in response to Joseph Quesnel’s article January 22^nd, 2009, “Free Aboriginal Education is Not a Treaty Entitlement”.

The title of this article is misleading because the Federal Government provides transfer payments to First Nations and the provinces. The word ‘free’ is misleading in two ways. Not only First Nations get this “free” money and there were no reserves at the time of treaty making.

At the time of treaty, the federal government did not have a policy on education. How can elementary and post secondary apply at Treaty discussions? Treaty was about land transfer that created obligation and responsibility to First Nations and government.

The responsibility of government, depending on the treaty, included the provision of implements. Seed, farm animals, annuities, as well as the education of aboriginal children based on the system of that day. Conversely, Aboriginal peoples responsibility were to move to reserve lands as agreed upon to farm not to take up arms against the crown.

Treaties are a two way process. Education funding has a legal status in contribution agreements. The word free money applies to all in Canada by virtue of transfer agreements.

Culture of entitlement applies to the provinces and municipalities as well. Treaty has a legal and constitutional protection, therefore to change post secondary education funding to the province will provide constitutional change.

 Joseph Quesnel is obviously not informed of the legal rights to first nations especially in reference to education. He confuses policy rights over constitutional rights. This article only benefits to a conservative view and the mainstream public.

Joseph Quesnel says treaties “should not be liberally interpreted with historic revisionism to include entitlements never envisioned.” Quesnel should not write articles making his own personal interpretations of treaties envisioning it, ‘likely was intended to mean lower education’ on reserves. Treaties were meant to pursue whatever dream one might have. Look what non-aboriginal benefitted off treaties, billions of dollars off land and resources.

(Did we envision that non aboriginals would benefit from the treaties in this way, the evolution of it? It can be paralleled education. )

It could be argued that everyone in this weathly country should be entitled to “free” education. Countries such as Denmark, and the United Arab Empirates provide similar “free” education.

Emphasize that education is a treaty right and what this means for First Nations

Talk about the fact that education is the key overcoming the challenges that First Nations face and that investing in education is the most critical investment that governments can make in children and youth, provide training and education that leads to successful outcomes, economic and social development that will benefit all people.

Education should not been seen as an “entitlement” as Quesnal argues rather a right that is embedded in the provisions of Treaty.

Make appoint of the misunderstanding that bands receive large sums of dollars to fund post secondary when they are only able to fund a handful of students every year

Many communities can only fund a small portion of students that have met the criteria to be funded. The criteria usually funds A students so what happens with the B and C students?

Schools on reserve only receive one third the funding that provincial schools receive. Make a point of what this means for the lack of quality education per student

Also make a point of infrastructure for schools on reserve. In Manitoba there are 3 schools that have closed recently due to poor infrastructure and mold issues that are making students ill.

In Manitoba there are over 1000 students on a waiting list for post-secondary funding.  

Illegal native casino eyed-Two First Nations planning project

Two Dakota First Nations are prepared to flout provincial gaming laws by building a native casino at a golf resort west of Brandon.
Owners of the Four Seasons Island Resort at Oak Lake signed a letter of intent last month to make land available to the newly formed Buffalo Nation Dakota Group for a casino development.
"We've asked the Dakota Nation to consider within their rights... to develop this gaming facility, this casino on our resort, and they've accepted," resort co-owner Lawrence Wilkinson said this week.
The Oak Lake resort sits on 260 hectres and has an 18-hole championship golf course. It is located about 40 kilometres west of Brandon, on Highway 254.
The two groups have been discussing the proposal for months and the formal invitation, in the letter of intent, was signed March 23.
The Buffalo Nation Dakota Business Group, led by Dakota chiefs Orville Smoke from Dakota Plains and Frank Brown from Canupawakpa, plans to make a formal announcement to celebrate the development later this week.
But the Manitoba government and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs officials indicated this week the Dakota casino proposal is a complete surprise. While the AMC declined comment Tuesday, the province warned it's illegal to open a casino without a Manitoba gaming licence.
The proposed Dakota casino would compete with a $40-million First Nations casino being built east of Brandon near Carberry. That casino is the only one in western Manitoba with provincial and AMC approval.
A provincial spokeswoman said there's room for only one casino in western Manitoba.
Brown said the Dakota group has a couple of advantages over the project in Carberry. As a location, the resort is closer to Brandon and Dakota has a legal edge over other First Nations within the AMC gaming umbrella in Manitoba.
"As non-treaty people, we don't fall under the gaming process the province has with the treaty nations. We have our own rights," Brown contends.
Dakota sovereignty rights are the subject of a lawsuit before the Federal Court of Canada in Saskatoon, where the Dakota are suing for recognition for treaty rights.
"We have absolutely no alternative but to fend for ourselves," Smoke said. "I don't think anybody in their right mind will stand in the way of any First Nation that is trying to fend for themselves."
Plans for the Oak Lake resort also include a proposal for a museum and a prefab housing plant.
By summer, the development plans call for a temporary casino building to be up and running, with some slot machines and card tables.
A permanent casino would follow, once architectural plans are settled and investors lined up, the Dakota business group said.
 

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 7, 2011 A3

"Are the Dakota people exempt from CDN federal Legislation on Aboriginal people?" I say no they are not. They are bringing bad publicity to FN,

Wake Up and Smell the Mayflower

There is a CDN election coming up, and this is a post to cover issues that arise in the coming election.
The Kelowna Accord was introduced by the Liberals, it included billions of dollars to bring Canadas FN up to par with the rest of Canada. The conservatives cut that as soon as they got in. The Liberals are promising the same this election. Not all candidates reflect the attitude of Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff , Quebec candidate Andre Forbes was booted out of the campaign for for calling Aboriginal people “featherheads." He also founded a white supremacy group. Ignatieff issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying Andre Forbes would no longer be the candidate in Manicougan.
In Quebec,  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". Basically saying, doesn't matter the James Bay Cree is a well known lawyer, he's still just an Indian. FN are making headlines in this coming election, but for all the wrong reasons.
Harper is supporting euntreprenuers who start thier own business, and reseves that want to develop thier land. re-instating MP Kelli Blockspill who insists on salaries being made public., plans for north>  northern strategy. plan to complete dempster highway. if he gets majority, he will pass these in the first 100 days. no mention of bringing  in running water, just the highway.
  There are alot of people happy to make money off the suffering of first nations. in some situations like up north, it is "supervised neglect" (3). brainwashed to be dependant on someone else. its up to us to do things for ourselves.

Sources
APTN.ca
cbc.ca
Mary Jane McAllum

The Act of Success

I read a post by a former trainer of mine who lived a life of martial arts and sports, very different, but yet similar to mine. The thing he had mentioned that stuck out most to me was the "act of success". He had a goal earlier in life to be a doctor, but got involved in fighting. His career acomplishments, and achievemtns were what he referred to as the act of success. After I had finished my career. I looked back and saw that it was very unique, a story all my own. It was however, the 'act of success'. All the atheletic goals, fighting on pay per view, over seas, 7 years pro, ect. Was all the act of success. It is only now in my 30s I am, after much resistance, seeing that achieving the academic goals, and family goals that I have in mind, is real succuss. I feel very lucky to have won a life lottery, with all my blessings in life.

Ojibway Immersion In FN Schools

The problem lies in the teachers, in the northern schools they are fluent. In the south however, Long Plains is probably the strongest program. Headstart is suppose to be like that. Rolling River Headstart is doing a good job. In Keesee, our Headstart leadership needs the elders to come in, our former teachers. Keesee School for example, needs the parent support, the problem there is the parents dont take interest or speak it at home for the kids to hear.

Aboriginal News Online Links

http://www.cbc.ca/aboriginal


Aboriginal News/good link for podcast interviews