84 native nations resist Canadas Financial transparancy act

a reply to: Sabiduria

I appreciate your points on the need for transparent governments! And also remember that con of our pm promising all things transparent and delivering the opposite.

Just questioning the timing of it, as its been well known of the inequality of living conditions within First Nations for decades. Been going unanswered, basically swept out of the media except for the occasional report of one who was "caught", but never addressing the actual conditions and the whys. Or at least it seemed that way to us.

Allowed to go on for decades, and now? they're going to address it? Who are the largest group opposing the politicians? Who have been the ones who have stood up to a gov'ts the most where the army had to be called in? Its been the Indians.

I think the problem lies more with this post and until that's addressed, it will be millions of dollars spent on inquiries and consultations and 2 years from now they'll come to the same conclusions, and how many more First Nations people will have to live in deplorable conditions?
The post from the2ofusr1:
"Different strokes for different nations I guess .I would think that the nation of Canada might like to see a little more transparency within their own Govt. as well and should be making noise to that effect .Their seems to be a big black hole somewhere between the Senate and the PMO's office as well directly in the PMO's office .There is that saying that you need to clean up your own back yard first . I am not saying that the individual first nations couldn't do a better job for their constituents but that is their responsibility not some other nations to impose on them . It would be like some European nation telling Canada what it has to be transparent about . The issue of what constitutes sovereignty of a nation has to be taken into consideration and respected ." a reply to: Sabiduria

"Canada does want to see more transparency within our own Government, Stephen Harper conned Canada into thinking he was going to bring about a more transparent government but it has been anything but." You mean that Canadians want this but it would seem that The Crown does not . You see the ones running the Govt. answer to their higher powers and not the citizens .Yes we can elect someone else to that seat of power but they will still have to do the bidding of the ones that control them . That is why there remains the issues within the Native communities .

" Canada is only demanding it because First Nations Leaders are ignoring their own people's demands, We are trying to be their voice. Canada demanding transparency of First Nations Leaders is akin to England demanding transparency of Canada, they have the right because we are a colony of England." I understand the frustrations of some of the Natives and I agree they should be heard . First Nations are equal (treaty) peoples with the Crown Corporation of Canada .If in a equal relationship that exist then you would think that the First Nations have equal authority to impose transparency laws on the Crown Corporation of Canada ,would you not?

The move ,sending more money to the north had little to do with providing a better life for the INuit . It was to make sure Canada had a equal partner to keep it's sovereignty in the North . I guess it all comes down to understanding what is meant by the Crowns phrase "The Indian Problem" once you understand what that problem was and still is then you can connect the dots . The first Nations are not just tribes of peoples but are Treaty Nations . In other words a group of people do not have a right to make a treaty but must first be considered a Nation . We miss understand what that really means and the implications . It means that they (First Nations) are like countries and are souvenir . They (First Nations) have never given up their souvernity and Canada Crown Corporation has a fiduciary responsibility to them . There are many cases before the courts addressing this fact and every case up till now has been in favor to First Nations . Problem with it is that The Crown has always delayed as long as they could .We are not talking about months or a few years but decades .

There is a good reason why the Natives coined the term "forked tongues" It is just as common today as it ever was except it none natives noticing the politicians doing it and there is no one better at it the Harper . This law Harper want to pass will do nothing to address the real issues Native people face . Maybe as equal Treaty partners the Natives can create a law that would force the Crown Corporation of Canada to be more transparent to it's constituents -citizens . Kind of a goose gander thing wouldn't you think ? a reply to: Sabiduria

I wonder sometimes that if there ever was to be a civil war in US and Canada whether it would be between the Governments and the Native Tribes. It looks to me as if the Tribes have finally had enough of all the crap going on, and let's face it, the anger that has been built has been there a lot longer than for the average citizen. Years of oppression boiling over. They would be supported by many, many citizens.

How about the Canadian government show us all their ledger. Then they can go around demanding others.

originally posted by: stirling
Jeezus Harvin they weren't helpless or stupid....they have survived the frozen north since before we showed up......

Not "we" as I've never been to Canada, nor my ancestors. What i was wondering is how they were able to survive the extreme temperatures and wild animals (wolves, grizzlys etc) with no gun powder and no real shelter. Just seems so strange to me.

How did they get there? Where did they come from? Did they sprout out if the ground? Did they walk there from someplace else?

So i live on a reserve, we have a casino. (just following the stereotype thats all lmao)

We do have somewhat transparent financial information from the chief and council, and its alarming at how much money my leaders make compared to the average joe.

Last year one of the councilors made 100k+ in one year, and they are on 2-3 year terms. ( cant remember exactly) And even one of the councilors has said its pretty much a part time job. Huh? Part time work making nearly 100k a year?

My band was going to propose a 30% (?) pay cut, not sure how that ended up yet. But they could take a 50% pay cut and still be paid generously.

Mind you they dont just take all the money and run. We do get a decent sliver of the pie which of course helps financially

So yeah, while they have been getting $500 clothing allowances a month, free gas basically, and a large check every month...the people on the bottom of the barrel are barely scraping by. Not out of laziness or greed or what have you. But just because of the way our money is being handled by the 'leaders'. But yeah, we voted in a new chief this year (and hey i actually knew this one all my life, instead of a chief that lives off reserve, what a joke that was). So hopefully he can change things for the better.

But yeah, im on the fence. Transparency will have its pros and cons for both the citizens and the goverment.

P.S. Not complaining, just figured id share my opinion on this topic.

a reply to: Harvin
Lol, what makes you think we had no shelter though? Do you imagine we run around butt ass naked too?

originally posted by: TKDRL
a reply to: Harvin
Lol, what makes you think we had no shelter though? Do you imagine we run around butt ass naked too?

It must have been so hard to survive. They didnt have log cabins right? And making fires with no matches. You figure six months with freezing temperature, making fire every day, with no fire they would freeze solid.

Hungry animals like wolves, grizzlies and the big cats with giant fangs and with only bows and arrows?

I know the Eskimos had igloos and whale blubber but their numbers were always very low and stayed at a low level and obviously due to the harsh conditions. Plus i doubt the Eskimos had the type of prey animals that you see further down south.

Do you know how these people got to Canada?

So you say "we". Do you have records of your ancestors?