Who are the First Nations People? These people are a proud and intelligent race who first populated this country, but it is disturbing and shocking to see what has happened to these original inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere.
With the discovery of Canada or more generally, the Americas by the Europeans, the First Nations were conquered and had to allow white people to settle and develop this great country. Have the First Nations people been properly treated? It would appear in many instances they have been poorly treated. I think it was wrong to ask them to live on reservations and make these noble people accept treaty money or monthly payments since the time of the treaty signings in 1877. This treaty was signed by representatives of Queen Victoria and Blackfoot Confederacy in what is now southern Alberta.
The federal government of that day felt this treaty was necessary because it was imperative to move the railroad through this area to get to British Columbia.
Many of our First Nations folks have become dependent upon monthly payments, which in many cases removed their desire to advance or be industrious. There are many instances where the total monthly allotment for the band has been sent directly to the band office and has not been allocated to the individual members thereby totally removing any sense of responsibility from the individual members for their money, and how they use (or disuse) it.
Who is at fault for this happening? The band councils are definitely in error when the funds are distributed as such. The federal government is also delinquent when they are aware of this happening and not taking steps to deal with it. The federal government should immediately take precautions not to give band councils allotments when they learn funds are misused. We have heard of band chiefs and councils allocating great sums of money amongst themselves and denying funding to the rest of their community. Should this sort of action among some band councils continue, I can forecast the younger generations pushing back and demanding a stop to the monthly payments or treaty monies for First Nations people, because after all these payments come from our taxes. In fact, younger generations may not accept this within the next 25 years or so. Especially as the pressures on our national health care and social security are projected to substantially increase from the aging of the population and the retirement of the baby-boom generation.
Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat Nation in Ontario, declared a state of emergency in the winter of 2011 and called in the RCMP. Why was this necessary? Were funds being withheld? It was reported her band received approximately $90 million over a period of five years. As well, the band received approximately $3 million from Debeers diamond mine royalties. Despite the funding, it was stated the band was in a desperate situation. Families did not have heat nor food and winter had set to the region. Did the chief and members of the band council forget winter comes to northern Ontario? Why in Heavens name did they not prepare for winter? We saw news footage of young families living in desperate conditions. Why was the tribal administration not doing something about the situation? Why is it the federal government is always to blame? This is not new, as the federal government has been made the scapegoat for many years. Where were all of the people and especially the chief and members of the council who should have taken responsibility for situations? With the sums of money the band had received over the last decade, where did it all go?
It should be noted several First Nations bands have begun to accept responsibility for themselves, sought education and become entrepreneurs becoming owners of oil companies, farming operations, ranching, business ventures.
I would venture they have been successful at these undertakings. This proves these First Nations people are well able to move into the mainstream way of life and be successful. Many of the First Nations people have taken advantage of the opportunities offered in universities and have entered into many professions and have become as proficient at their work or endeavours as non-aboriginals.
It is our obligation, as trained and educated citizens, to become more involved with First Nations peoples and guide them towards becoming more responsible citizens, so in time they will not be dependent upon the government and taxpayers for their monthly stipend. This is going to take time and co-operative efforts from both parties. Are First Nations people capable of understanding and assuming these responsibilities? Absolutely. With the proper guidance, education and encouragement they can succeed. Those of First Nations decent who have left the reservation and ventured out on their own have proven this time and again.
Should First Nations people give up or lose their customs and culture? I would be highly disappointed and disturbed should they ever consider such a thing. Why should they? After all, we have never expected the Scots, the Ukrainians, the French and others to part with their traditions, why would we expect that First Nations people should part with their long-standing traditions.
The people of the First Nations are a proud and intelligent race and their leaders must now prove they can think ahead, envision the big picture, and be prepared to work with both provincial and federal governments to settle all issues with open minds , as well as work with other bands to find solutions to all of their common concerns.
Likewise, both levels of Canadian government must be prepared to work closely with the leaders of the First Nations Assembly and the bands they encompass.
It is my earnest hope the First Nations Assembly and the federal and provincial governments may become more harmonious in their negotiations of issues most pressing to both the Assembly of First Nations and other Canadians.
