[Spocket]

There are no simple solutions for the problems on the reserves since they are mostly the result of generations of government ineptitude , ignorance, and outright racism. Unfortunately , this history has created a very dynamic , unique situation that is more like a ball of knots that might prove impossible to untangle without starting over from scratch.

The first thing we have to do is to actually allow people who live on First Nations the opportunity to practise their democratic rights as voters when determining who leads the band. As it stands it's essentially nepotism of the highest order where dissenters are ostracized , their money witheld, and their livelihood placed in jeopardy any time they speak out against the current leadership. It may well be against the law for any of this to be practised but it's still the way things are.

Naturally not every band is run this way. How many are poorly run is anybody's guess but the number must be fairly substantial based on the frequency of articles reporting the situation this way. One is too many really so a solution must be found.

Fact is that nobody in this country has any right to complain about Canada...except the aboriginals. While much has been done to right the wrongs of the past there is still a seemingly endless amount of work to be done. It's probably time for plebiscites for Natives only where it concerns Native issues. The government needs to ask the average aboriginal man and woman living on reserve what THEY want to see changed. That's a start anyway. As far as I'm concerned the cost is irrelevent based on the fact that these people had almost everything taken away from them (whether by design or by accident which some people are loathe to admit might be the case)