First Nations Issues

[DirtWednesday]

I post an interesting historical article on the beginnings of Winnipeg's racial divide and ya'll are talking free speech again. Lame.

I'm for free speech. You want to advertise your ignorance, go right ahead. Makes it easier on me. At least you're honest... sorta. Honest about your brainwashing anyway. But seriously, check the article. It says what it was like for Metis in the early to mid 20th century, after the rebellion, before Grant Park. Not much has changed if you look at the North End today and the attitudes of those on white and non-white sides... All for nothing in my opinion.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by DirtWednesday

I post an interesting historical article on the beginnings of Winnipeg's racial divide and ya'll are talking free speech again. Lame.

I'm for free speech. You want to advertise your ignorance, go right ahead. Makes it easier on me. At least you're honest... sorta. Honest about your brainwashing anyway. But seriously, check the article. It says what it was like for Metis in the early to mid 20th century, after the rebellion, before Grant Park. Not much has changed if you look at the North End today and the attitudes of those on white and non-white sides... All for nothing in my opinion.

It's getting better. It was really bad in the 80s. Xenophobia, was rampant, since most people in the suburns thought of Natives as savages, who would drink and use drugs, and commit crime. I found that it started to change in the aftermath of the Jeff Giles case in 97. The Hells Angels moved in, and random unorganized gang who would try an jump people and intimidate were becoming a thing of the past, and the gangs were mainly discouraging that sort of behaviors, and more involved in internal affairs. If you look at the employment rate for First Nations people, it continues to get better every year, as the younger generation is more assimilated, despite the problems of addictions, crime, and poverty associated with many Natives living in the poorer areas.

Despite this, it's obvious Winnipeg has a problem with racism, especially in regard to our First Nations people. I don't really see it being that different than other Prairie cities like Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Edmonton, Brandon, and Red Deer. There are just far more Natives in Winnipeg, so it's going to be more noticeable.

[DirtWednesday]

I'm not so sure "assimilated" is the right word for what our young people are experiencing on their way to better lives. It's a reintroduction to traditional cultures, that were previously illegal, that is improving morale. Young folks are taking language classes, participating in pow wows, sweat lodges and other ceremonies, going to wilderness camp. None of this stuff was even legally possible up until... what was it, the 50's? And only recently accepted in schools now (some people may consider it forced, but I didn't want french class either.) It feels good to be allowed to be yourself with your family and friends (or as we say "all our relations.")

Canada is a melting pot. Our combined cultures melt together to create something new and more welcoming than before. Ideally anyway.

[windypeg]

Originally Posted by DirtWednesday

I'm not so sure "assimilated" is the right word for what our young people are experiencing on their way to better lives. It's a reintroduction to traditional cultures, that were previously illegal, that is improving morale. Young folks are taking language classes, participating in pow wows, sweat lodges and other ceremonies, going to wilderness camp. None of this stuff was even legally possible up until... what was it, the 50's? And only recently accepted in schools now (some people may consider it forced, but I didn't want french class either.) It feels good to be allowed to be yourself with your family and friends (or as we say "all our relations.")

Canada is a melting pot. Our combined cultures melt together to create something new and more welcoming than before. Ideally anyway.

I think it's a bit of a double-edged thing where on the one hand young indigenous people are becoming reconnected to their roots and culture and are gaining a sense of identity through that. But at the same time the younger generation of Aboriginals is growing up in more urban environments with more access and better understanding of education and careers - they have more skills to navigate that world than their parents did.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by DirtWednesday

I'm not so sure "assimilated" is the right word for what our young people are experiencing on their way to better lives. It's a reintroduction to traditional cultures, that were previously illegal, that is improving morale. Young folks are taking language classes, participating in pow wows, sweat lodges and other ceremonies, going to wilderness camp. None of this stuff was even legally possible up until... what was it, the 50's? And only recently accepted in schools now (some people may consider it forced, but I didn't want french class either.) It feels good to be allowed to be yourself with your family and friends (or as we say "all our relations.")

Canada is a melting pot. Our combined cultures melt together to create something new and more welcoming than before. Ideally anyway.

It has less to do with reintroduction of traditional cultures, and far more to do with assimilation, as there are 800,000 people in the Winnipeg, and only 10% are Aboriginal. If what you are saying is true, First Nations people from reservations that have decided to leave and come to Winnipeg in the last decade, would be in the best predicament to succeed, which obviously is not true.

[DirtWednesday]

It's not the act of, and skills obtained through the participating of traditional indigenous ceremonies and culture that opens doors to success in the modern world it's... are you guys white? Hate to bring up that lovely phrase "white privilege" but here goes... When you're part of the dominant culture and skin jersey colour, you can just "be". No problem mon. But if you're rockin a Hijab or a eagle feather braid, forget it. You're stared down, scrutinized, critiqued, "Why can't you be like everyone else?" Shit, at times in Canada's history laws were made against being different. Children were kidnapped and re-educated. This is the sort of stuff that puts extra pressure on you just living. So when I say re-learning the old ways is helping indigenous youth I don't mean knowing what plants to forage for medicine is going to help them get a job as an AutoCAD instructor. I just mean they're looking over their shoulder less and are able to focus on the job at hand because they are comfortable in their own skin (and culture).

[DirtWednesday]

Capitalist western society is just a society. I don't think you can put a colour on it. It is what we're in and we have to make do with the history we're dealt.

[Roger Strong]

Originally Posted by DirtWednesday

So when I say re-learning the old ways is helping indigenous youth I don't mean knowing what plants to forage for medicine is going to help them get a job as an AutoCAD instructor.

They ARE getting the tech training.

My dad remarried, giving me several step-brothers with treaty status. A couple of them are as hard-working as anyone I know. Great people. The one who isn't though, because of his treaty status gets endless opportunities that I could only dream of.

At a time when I was trying to raise the money to take the Certified Novell Engineer tests, the government paid for his training and tests, and gave him a dream job. He soon lost interest and stopped showing up.

At a time when I was trying to raise the money to get MCSE certification, my dad asked if I wanted his MCSE books. The government paid for his MCSE training and got him a job at the North-West company. But he soon lost interest and stopped showing up.

Repeat, over and over.

[Urban recluse]

This is sadly the case, and not simply anecdotal. Travel throughout western Canada (I have worked in many cities), and this is what you encounter. I hired a number of First nations employees who just stopped showing up.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by DirtWednesday

It's not the act of, and skills obtained through the participating of traditional indigenous ceremonies and culture that opens doors to success in the modern world it's... are you guys white? Hate to bring up that lovely phrase "white privilege" but here goes... When you're part of the dominant culture and skin jersey colour, you can just "be". No problem mon. But if you're rockin a Hijab or a eagle feather braid, forget it. You're stared down, scrutinized, critiqued, "Why can't you be like everyone else?" Shit, at times in Canada's history laws were made against being different. Children were kidnapped and re-educated. This is the sort of stuff that puts extra pressure on you just living. So when I say re-learning the old ways is helping indigenous youth I don't mean knowing what plants to forage for medicine is going to help them get a job as an AutoCAD instructor. I just mean they're looking over their shoulder less and are able to focus on the job at hand because they are comfortable in their own skin (and culture).

Most Aboriginal people I know are just like everyone else, but I've definitely noticed that a small but vocal percentage of Natives are getting vocal about playing the "victim" card. It's 2017. Stop whining about the past and blaming the White man on all your problems. The Canadian Government feel that two wrongs make a right, but telling people of First Nations heritage that they are victims, and it's manipulating your thought process.

I'm sorry for what happened in the past, but shit happens in life. Deal with it. We came over from Europe, and settled the land (human beings have migrated since the beginning of time). If Europeans had not done so, it would eventually have been Asians.

[Urban recluse]

True. Also, the effectiveness of First nations protests over everything under the sun is weakening; I would argue other Canadians are growing very tired of them, and thus the picture First Nations are painting is not a positive one.

What particularly annoys me is smoking being allowed in so many FN casinos. Encourage an unhealthy lifestyle, then become a drain the public health care system without paying into it.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

True. Also, the effectiveness of First nations protests over everything under the sun is weakening; I would argue other Canadians are growing very tired of them, and thus the picture First Nations are painting is not a positive one.

• Video Link

case in point....

[Urban recluse]

It is very easy to blame everyone else.

[DirtWednesday]

holy moly far from my points....

Have a wonderful time at your wagon circling party.

[Bluenote]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

True. Also, the effectiveness of First nations protests over everything under the sun is weakening; I would argue other Canadians are growing very tired of them, and thus the picture First Nations are painting is not a positive one.

What particularly annoys me is smoking being allowed in so many FN casinos. Encourage an unhealthy lifestyle, then become a drain the public health care system without paying into it.

Exactly , I tried explaining this to some of my native friends when they blocked Hwy 1 a few weeks ago. I told them you accomplished nothing except piss people off more. Now those people dislike you even more since you made their weekend a bullshit shit show stuck on a highway.
It's also amazing that if any white person shut down a federal highway like that. They'd be in jail right now. But since a person is native they can do whatever they want. Causing chaos for travelers and creating a dangerous traffic jamb.

Either way I am myself Metis and I'd never pull crap like that off.

And to further some moaning. If anyone here has been to swan lake reserve. They would know how amazing it is now since it's a dry reserve. And you have to keep your place and yard clean. They also are almost self suffient as they are now farming the land. Yet most reservations dislike them as they actually made something of themselves. I praise Swan Lakw and others reserves like it

The rest need to get off the gravy train and do the same.

[Roger Strong]

Originally Posted by Bluenote

They also are almost self suffient as they are now farming the land.

Keep in mind that the government put more than a few reserves are where they are precisely because the land wasn't considered farmable.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by Bluenote

Exactly , I tried explaining this to some of my native friends when they blocked Hwy 1 a few weeks ago. I told them you accomplished nothing except piss people off more. Now those people dislike you even more since you made their weekend a bullshit shit show stuck on a highway.
It's also amazing that if any white person shut down a federal highway like that. They'd be in jail right now. But since a person is native they can do whatever they want. Causing chaos for travelers and creating a dangerous traffic jamb.

Either way I am myself Metis and I'd never pull crap like that off.

And to further some moaning. If anyone here has been to swan lake reserve. They would know how amazing it is now since it's a dry reserve. And you have to keep your place and yard clean. They also are almost self suffient as they are now farming the land. Yet most reservations dislike them as they actually made something of themselves. I praise Swan Lakw and others reserves like it

The rest need to get off the gravy train and do the same.

Back in the late 60's and 70's my dad regularly sold breeding bulls to the Swan Lake Reserve. Then when that leadership died off or retired the ones that replaced them let everything fall by the wayside (it appeared to us anyway). Sounds like a new generation has taken over. Bravo!

[Pegoise]

Originally Posted by DirtWednesday

holy moly far from my points....

Have a wonderful time at your wagon circling party.

Dirt, Your points are not lost on everyone. I know I am feeding the trolls here but this country still needs to work through a lot of anger. Sometimes when the majority sees the minority stick up for their rights, they think they are going to lose something (usu their position of privilege) and they react.
You just keep doing you (trite cliché of the day) Thank you for your perspective

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Pegoise

Dirt, Your points are not lost on everyone. I know I am feeding the trolls here but this country still needs to work through a lot of anger. Sometimes when the majority sees the minority stick up for their rights, they think they are going to lose something (usu their position of privilege) and they react.
You just keep doing you (trite cliché of the day) Thank you for your perspective

Some of us pointing out that it's better to move on and forgive, rather than place blame on others for past historical events makes us trolls? In life you may find that people who forgive instead of holding on to resentments, and blaming others for past history have a higher quality of life. The First Nations people/communities who have actually forgiven the people that harmed them in the past do far better in life than the people who blame everything on Canadians of European ancestry. Sticking up for your rights is one thing, but protesting Canada's 150th birthday, claiming it's a "celebration of colonialism and genocide" is ridiculous. We're all Canadians, and divisive politics never work. We should be working together to achieve goals and understanding.

Too much political correctiveness can be a very dangerous thing. It's was one of the reasons Donald Trump won the US election. Repeatedly blaming 75% of Canadians for "524 years of Colonialism" won't change anything, and will just test people's patience. People are in Canada to stay. If pointing that out makes myself or others trolls, then so be it.

[Tacheguy]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Some of us pointing out that it's better to move on and forgive, rather than place blame on others for past historical events makes us trolls? In life you may find that people who forgive instead of holding on to resentments, and blaming others for past history have a higher quality of life. The First Nations people/communities who have actually forgiven the people that harmed them in the past do far better in life than the people who blame everything on Canadians of European ancestry. Sticking up for your rights is one thing, but protesting Canada's 150th birthday, claiming it's a "celebration of colonialism and genocide" is ridiculous. We're all Canadians, and divisive politics never work. We should be working together to achieve goals and understanding.

Too much political correctiveness can be a very dangerous thing. It's was one of the reasons Donald Trump won the US election. Repeatedly blaming 75% of Canadians for "524 years of Colonialism" won't change anything, and will just test people's patience. People are in Canada to stay. If pointing that out makes myself or others trolls, then so be it.

If I was a First Nations person born on a northern reserve I would not be celebrating Canada 150. I don't think that trying to understand context is being "politically correct".