[ZTWsquared]

Frost__2001,Jun 16 2006, 10:19 PM Wrote:I will agree and say Canada is not a fair and equal country, but reality is when it really comes down to the basic rights of natives, they tend to be brushed aside and all the problems left in the dark untill they boil over and things happen. There are more documented abuses I can refference too, and most were towards the Natives then anyone else, and I could mention more with the mention of the head tax for the Chinese, Canada is not as equal as we'd like to think it is, but it as a country is trying to push that aside with it's conservitive views in my opinion like what the states did.
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Frost - in terms of recent history (since WWII) I don't think I totally agree with your analysis. But even if you're right and there are documented abuses, our political and judicial systems are there to protect everyone - aboriginals included.

Considering their relatively small numbers (some 50,000 status and 200,00 non-status IIRC) aboriginal peoples have access to government funds and programs and special considerations unlike any other minority of any size. I'm not saying it isn't right that they do ... but I am saying this is not indicative at all of institutional prejudice.

The real prejudice, and yes it exists, lies within the rest of the Canadian population as individuals. But just as you say there are reasons for aboriginals feeling the way they do, there are reasons why many non-natives do not feel sympathetic to their cause. For example, the statements and actions of natives at Caledonia only reinforce the notion that natives don't believe they are Canadians and they don't feel compelled to obey Canadian law. Most Canadians really feel very uncomfortable about that ... and many think of these aboriginals as a group of law-breakers who should be charged, and question why they haven't been.

I believe aboriginals have to make a decision one way or the other and then let the rest of us decide how we feel about what they've chosen.

And if aboriginals are truly thinking about their future, their decision will be made based on the realities of the 21st century; to whit: the Europeans and other "more recent immigrants" aren't going back to where they came from.

And if the aboriginals want fairness from the 30 million + non-aboriginals who reside in Canada, they will affirm that the non-aboriginal population has a right to expect them to behave as law-abiding citizens of this country.

And to your points specifically about Caledonia -- the issue here isn't the land claim - there are plenty of processes in place to deal with them and special arms of the government tasked to do so.

The issue is that the aboriginals are not happy with the process and its outcome; and they are unwilling to let the rulings of the court apply. It is unacceptable in any other aspect of our society to ignore the ruling of a court. There is always a legal recourse. It's about time that aboriginals decide whether they want the protection of the Canadian government and/or the courts, or not. If not, I can make some suggestions for a new deal, but I guarantee the aboriginal people won't like them.

It may not be fair for all (both sides win/lose) but we're all stuck with what we have, and we can decide to work within the system we have (and accept the outcomes) or we can throw it all out.

I'd say that the aboriginals in Caledonia have decided to throw it out, and right now, given how I feel about things, I'd say go ahead and throw it out. Do that, and I know what kind of feedback I'll be giving to my MP and MPP concerning aboriginal "rights."