Hockey Fighting Article

Check out this Globe and Mail article "Hockey’s bare-knuckle anguish" at

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/hockeys-bare-knuckle-anguish/article2030700/?service=email&utm_source=Shared+Article+Sent+to+User&utm_medium=E-mail%3A+Newsletters+%2F+E-Blasts+%2F+etc.&utm_content=2030700&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links.

I'm First Nation, and I don't vote!

Why Play the White Man's Game?

Led by the Assembly of First Nations and Aboriginal media types, there are many people calling for First Nations men and women to vote in the upcoming federal election. All sorts of reasons and arguments are being put forward to justify the position that First Nations should, must!, become players in the Canadian electoral system. I think people who advocate this position are wrong, and that anyone who believes that it is in the interest of our people and our nations to vote in Canadian elections is deluded by the effects of their own assimilation into the mainstream. They have forgotten who they are. But rather than adding more words to the debate, I will put this piece forward, an opinion column I originally wrote for the Windspeaker newspaper and which was published in October 1999. I believe the arguments I made then are still true, and trust that it will give heart to those people in all of our nations who are "keeping it real" and refusing to become white-washed imitations of Onkwehonwe, the original peoples of this land.  

Where I come from, voting in the white man's elections is taboo; only four people from Kahnawake voted in the last federal election (and word is that they were non-Indians living on the reserve). The reason for this taboo is clear: as Iroquois people, we do not participate in the white man's government system because we are Rotinohshonni, not Canadian. But I have noticed a different opinion among our brothers and sisters in some other parts of Turtle Island where voting, supporting political campaigns and even running for federal or provincial offices is accepted as a good thing. I often ask myself why is it that some Indian people participate in federal and provincial elections?

It seems so clear that participating in the white man's political system goes against the basic idea that we are nations. An Indian giving a vote to a political candidate in a Canadian election is the same thing as giving an "OK" and smiling high five to the whole system that's been created to control us and take away our rights. If one chooses to validate their rule over us in this way, it becomes hypocritical to claim distinct nationhood as "First Nations," treaty Indians or Indigenous peoples. One of the strongest arguments we have against the legality of the white man's Indian Act is that we have never agreed to be subjects of that authority. Our ancestors never signed treaties of surrender, yet by participating in the white man's politics, we are caving in and surrendering and in effect giving the Canadian government the consent it so desperately needs to justify the situation it has created. By casting a vote or taking part in Canadian elections, what Indians are really saying to Canada is "I hereby agree to be part of your system, and accept the authority of your Constitution and your laws over me."

Aside from the contradictions on principle, as a practical matter, Indian participation in the Canadian political system makes no sense at all. Our populations are too small to matter in all but a very few federal and provincial ridings. Even with the rare election of Indian candidates, the Canadian parliamentary system's "party discipline" rule (all members must support the party line) renders this small-scale representation meaningless anyway. Our ability to influence the political decision-making process in the normal Canadian way (by pumping money into a political party, financially supporting a candidate or flexing economic muscle in a riding) is sadly non-existent. Most often times Indians who do participate in the white man's political system just end up getting used as tokens, political footballs, or worse, as tools in the divide-and-conquer tactics that Canadian governments still use against us. Whether it's the Liberal Party's co-optation of Indians through patronage appointments and pay-offs, the NDP Party's false promises, or the Reform Party's crass manipulation of dissenters, Indians who play political games always end up serving the white politicians rather than their own people.

So why do people do it then? I have to believe that most of the Indian people who vote in Canadian elections are not consciously betraying principles, but vote simply because they have not considered all of the implications of the act. But I suspect it is a different story for Indian leaders who get deeply involved with Canadian political parties. I may be accused of being cynical here, but let's remember that politics is a very cynical business these days. Most Indian politicians who give their support and allegiance to Canadian political parties do so out of selfishness and greed - they possess a special hunger for money and power that drives them to knowingly betray the principles of nationhood in exchange for favours and status within the white man's system.

If we hope to rise above dysfunctional politics imported from the white man's system, rid our communities and organizations of corrupt government and begin to make real progress toward re-building our nations, we need to return to our traditional ways and identities. Basically, "traditional" means taking ourselves seriously, being consistent and acting with pride like true nations. As Indian people we must stop saying "OK" to the white man's claimed authority over us and then complaining about it in loud and empty rhetoric. We need to start putting our faith in true leaders who believe in our nations and who know our traditions, and we need to stop voting for slick politicians who play the games white men play.

Dr. T. Alfred's Blog

http://taiaiake.posterous.com/

Native issues off the radar- Candidates questioned on how they would help / WPG Free Press April 21

St. Theresa Point resident Kevin Taylor isn't getting much help from federal politicians on his top-two problems -- the lack of running water in his house and the shortage of health and social services for people like him with chronic ailments.

What he might get, though, is a new slop bucket.

Last week, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada delivered 200 buckets, topped by toilet seats, to Taylor's neighbours in nearby Garden Hill First Nation. Aboriginal leaders say hundreds more slop buckets have been delivered to other remote reserves.

That gift highlights slow progress on permanent water and sewer solutions and the lack of attention aboriginal issues receive on the national campaign trail.

"The two biggest issues of water and health are not even on the radar," said Northern Grand Chief David Harper of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak.

Harper said Taylor's case is a tragic example. Taylor, who has cerebral palsy and can't walk, must often be carried to the outhouse by his father and has no access to services like vocational training, home care or physiotherapy on his reserve. He'd be more likely to get those services if he lived off reserve and was the responsibility of the provincial government.

Taylor's family has filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, alleging the disparity in services on and off reserve amounts to discrimination.

While they wait on their formal complaint, Taylor's mother, Alice, hopes party leaders and federal candidates in their riding of Churchill offer some creative ways to bridge the gap in services.

NDP candidate Niki Ashton says social and health services on many remote reserves are getting worse, not better.

She said her party would lift the cap that limits annual funding increases to First Nations to two per cent. And she said she will continue to lobby for clean drinking water and indoor plumbing for thousands of northern residents who don't have either.

Ashton was in Garden Hill last week when the slop pails were delivered.

"This is the response INAC deems appropriate," said Ashton. "What's going on here isn't just inadequate, it's disgusting."

Liberal candidate and former MKO grand chief Sydney Garrioch said his party has been clear that sewer and water infrastructure will be built on reserves that need it.

"It is very devastating to see in homes I visit, the people who are elderly, the handicapped, the children, all who have no proper water and sewage systems," said Garrioch. "To live in these conditions is unacceptable."

Green party candidate Alberteen Spence said her party would cancel corporate tax cuts and use that money to reinvest in housing, clean water and education.

Despite several attempts in recent days, Tory candidate Wally Daudrich did not respond to requests for comment.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca

Comments (wisdom from Manitoba's ignorant racists on how to fix reserves)

there is nothing preventing any aboriginal person from breaking free from the treaties and living with the rest of us in 2011. Want to open a hunting & fishing business - the supports are there. You don't need the Indian Act to tell you want you can and can't do, unless you want the perceived benefits from this Act.

To me, I find the benefits provided from the Act aren't benefits at all, in fact they encourage people not to work and instill a sense of entitlement. Aboriginal people will get nowhere unless they find something that will fulfill a personal sense of accomplishment and pride of ownership. You can't have a sense of accomplishment when you receive handouts and you don't have pride in ownership when you are given a house to live in.

So once again, the fate of aboriginal people are in their hands. Go to any of the universities and colleges in this provinces and you'll see a wealth of scholarships and bursaries exclusively for aboriginals. Go to the crown corps and all levels of government and you'll find internships and preferential hiring plans for aboriginals. Go to a business development centre and you'll find education and funding for aboriginals.

The resources are there, but your chiefs and councils are reaping the rewards while keeping you in the dark on where the real money is going. Terry Nelson just proves my point.

couple websites to check out

http://www.mediaindigena.com/rickharp/issues-and-politics/canadian-election-2011-party-platforms-aboriginal-peoples



http://www.ourvoices.ca/index/about

Federal, Provincial and First Nation Issue

EDMONTON — An Alberta aboriginal chief is among four people facing charges after the seizure of what authorities are calling the province’s largest haul yet of contraband tobacco.

But the seizure is proving controversial and is setting up a legal battle between the aboriginal interests from Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, on one side, and the Alberta’s liquor and gaming authority, on the other.

Chief Carolyn Buffalo’s Montana First Nation — in Hobbema, Alta., south of Edmonton — and an aboriginal tobacco company based out of Kahnawake, a Mohawk community outside Montreal, are fighting the charges, which have been laid under the Tobacco Tax Act.

They say the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission has no jurisdiction over the matter, and they’ve filed a lawsuit, demanding the return of the nearly 16 million seized cigarettes.

Buffalo and the three other accused will appear in provincial court in Wetaskiwin, Alta., on June 23.

The charges date back to January, when Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission investigators say they found cartons containing nearly 16 million cigarettes in a storage shed on the Montana First Nation, worth roughly $3 million in lost taxes to the province.

Lawyer Chady Moustarah, who represents both Buffalo and Dickson, said his clients are frustrated at being charged under the provincial Tobacco Tax Act.

“They’re shocked that the (Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission) actually proceeded to charge them,” Moustarah said.

Buffalo was suspended by her band in January, following the cigarette seizure, but fought the suspension in court and was reinstated on April 5.

_Robbie Dickson, one of the others facing charges, is a partner with Rainbow Tobacco, a company based out of Kahnawake, a Mohawk community southwest of Montreal. According to the company’s website, they are licensed by the Canada Revenue Agency to sell tobacco products on native reserves and territories.

The company currently sells its cigarettes on reserves in Ontario and Quebec and last year began to expand the business to Western Canada.

The lawyer said Jason Lucas, another accused, is an Edmonton business owner, while Dwayne Ouimet, the final person facing charges, is also involved with Rainbow Tobacco.

In February, the Montana First Nation, Buffalo and Rainbow Tobacco, filed a lawsuit against the gaming and liquor commission. The suit alleges the commission defamed them and demands the cigarettes be returned.

Moustarah said their defence against the charges will be the same as the one used for the lawsuit.

“Essentially they don’t have jurisdiction to enforce the provincial tax act on the aboriginal people and aboriginal lands,” he said.

The lawyer also said the recent charges won’t affect Buffalo’s ability to oversee the Montana First Nation.

“It can’t be any worse than what the affect was when they seized the tobacco. Originally they were making claims of sinister and criminal activity. Those issues have been cleared,” he said.

Jason Lucas and Dwayne Ouimet face charges under the Tobacco Tax Act for illegally importing cigarettes for resale.

The chief, Dickson and Ouimet are also charged with two counts each of illegally storing cigarettes not marked for sale.

The maximum penalty for convictions under the charges is a fine of $25,000, six months in prison or both. Those convicted could also face additional fines as high as three times the tax.

Alberta Finance Minister Lloyd Snelgrove would not comment on the charges because they are now before the courts.

Edmonton Journal

kgoruk@edmontonjournal.com

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

my thoughts>that’s the way the province is, saying you can sell it on the reserve, but you can’t transport it on provincial land.  Legally this case, Its not so clear, sometimes FN have to play by the rules too. it’s a losing battle, federalism, have to work with province. Chiefs are Trying to exercise treaty rights in wrong way. We contradict ourselves by saying tabacco is a medicine, then selling cartons of cigerretes.. Provinces are overcharging for taxes anyway. Its big industry.
 

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Chief+fights+Alberta+over+seizure+cigarettes/4628385/story.html#ixzz1JjnCcke9

UFO mass sighting

http://youtu.be/87PRVP4EQAo

There is another video and theory out there, that speculates that all the mass sighting are part of a NASA operation called "project blue beam". Meaning that these sighting are basically just a light show to create chaos, and ultimately, one world government.you tube, "project blue beam"