Harper's First Nations Education Plan is Under Fire and It Should Be!

“He Said She Said” put Harper’s First Nations education plan under fire.  I agree with this team’s perspective.  The only people who will benefit from Harper’s First Nations education plan will be the Aboriginal industry. Harper needs to put his money where his mouth is and invest that money directly into First Nations education at the grassroots level where it is so urgently needed.  Our children are suffering. Does not anyone care?    

Like the proposed national roundtables on citizenship arising from Bill C-3, what more can a blue-ribbon panel on First Nations education tell us that has not already been said??  History is repeating itself.  Money flows to the National Aboriginal Organizations, who in turn distribute the funds to the Aboriginal industry, who then prepares a report that is shelved.  We have seen this over and over and over.  Stop already!

How long are we going to play this ineffective game?  I guess until we are all assimilated and the National Aboriginal Organizations no longer have any citizens to assimilate.

The following are comments from the article:

“If Harper was so supportive and open to improving the education, employment, and living conditions for our First Nations people, he would have shelled out the money for programs dedicated to those priorities in 2005. The groundwork for progress was already laid; Harper rejected it.”

I disagree with this statement. There was absolutely nothing in the Kelowna Accord to implement. The funds spent on the Kelowna Accord should have been directly invested at the grassroots level.  The Kelowna Accord is just another example of the Aboriginal industry benefitting off the backs of First Nations once again.

“So like you, I think Harper's letter to Chief Shawn Atleo is just empty rhetoric.”

“I think the most significant take-away from the letter is that Mr. Harper is an empty cipher and an ineffectual blatherer. A crashing bore. A tower without a bell.  Most Canadians already knew that. It's too bad that Mr. Atleo, rather than reminding us of that fact, decided instead to play Mr. Harper's game, matching him platitude for platitude. If history is any guide, it won't add up to anything significant for Native Canadians.”

We already know where the money should be spent and how much should be invested in First Nations education at the grassroots level. Just do it!!!!!

Why are we playing the same game over and over and over? It is time to examine who is really benefitting from the game: the grassroots people or the National Aboriginal Organizations and the Aboriginal industry?  WHO is watching out for you?

It is time for change at the National Aboriginal Organizational level. They are not effective and not looking after us.

Here is the link to the article:

http://news.sympatico.ca/oped/coffee-talk/harpers_commitment_to_first_nations_education_worse_than_worthless/d292ca27

Harper Agrees to Meeting with Chiefs – Careful What You Wish For

According to the APTN article:  "Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he is interested in a formal meeting with First Nations leaders and has asked his office to engage in discussions with the country’s main First Nations organization on a wide-ranging reform package to overhaul governance and economic development."  Careful what you wish for.

We do not need Harper to rebuild our nations and we do not need another Act to replace the Indian Act.  Any Act that regulates an “Indian” is an Indian Act regardless of the title.  We did not live under an Indian Act prior to contact with Europeans and we can do so again. 

Everyone has to play a role in the rebuilding of our nations.  According to the Harvard Project on Indian Economic Development, what we need are accountable and transparent governance processes and structures in place with effective dispute resolution mechanisms. We do not need an Act to accomplish this goal. Plan these structures and processes yourself and do not rely on anyone else to do it for you.

There are plenty of educated First Nations people at the grassroots level who can rebuild our nations and who want to advocate for our interests at the national level. Involve them and like the Harvard Project on Indian Economic Development concluded:  Just do it! 

We, including the Chiefs, do not have a voice at the national level and we are being denied the right to speak and make decisions on issues that affect all of us.  The oppressed have become the oppressors.  In order for change to occur, the oppressors have to acknowledge that they have become the oppressors.

The Prime Minister never does anything without a hidden agenda.  Be careful for what you ask for at this meeting if it takes place.  You just might find a new “First Nations Governance Act” dropped onto your lap without consultation.  History is repeating itself.  A variety of bills are going through the House of Commons and Senate right now.  Who is watching out for you?

Oh, and do not follow the U.S either. They already tried it and it does not work either.  We want real self-government and nothing less!

Here is the link to the APTN article discussing the proposed meeting:

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2010/12/16/harper-agrees-to-meeting-with-first-nations-leaders/

Characteristics of a Great Political Leader

What are the characteristics of a great political leader? Have you ever thought about it?  Here is my take on the characteristics that make a great political leader.  I was not thinking about any political leader in particular as I prepared this list of characteristics because the list of political leaders, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, is vast. 

If you are a political leader and do not contain these characteristics, get out of politics. If you contain little of these characteristics, perhaps it is time to examine and reform your leadership style.  If you contain a lot of these characteristics, kudos to you! 

Here we go:

Inclusive – a great leader NEVER turns his back on his people, including his dissenters.

Selfless - a great leader puts the needs of his people before his own needs at all times.  A great leader cares about his people and not himself.

Strong -   a great leader speaks on behalf of the people despite opposition and resistance.

Respect - a great leader earns respect.  He does not demand it.

Listens – a great leader allows his people to speak and he listens.

Transparent & Accountable - a great leader takes responsibility for his decisions and (in)actions.  He also answers to them.                                            

.

Ethical –  a great leader does not give contracts to his spouse and friends or fly around the world at the expense of the taxpayer.  He also does not support initiatives for personal gain.

Democratic – a great leader consults and allows his people to participate in decision-making.

If you have any other characteristics to add to this list, please send them to me and I will post them.

I reviewed the following article for an overview of the characteristics of a good leader. You will find some of the characteristics that I quoted are from this article.  I'll post more articles on the qualities of a good leader as I review more articles.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/characteristics-of-a-good-leader.html

One More Year of Harper

Might as well save our tax dollars because we would probably end up in another minority government again. 

Cheers to another year of life under totalitarian rule!

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101218/OTT_harper_election_101218/20101218/?hub=OttawaHome

Kudos to Cathy Towtongie, head of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc!!

According to CBC;  "The newly elected head of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. says she's slashing $20,000 from her own salary, as well as turning down some perks that have come with the job before."

"Cathy Towtongie, 52, who was elected as head of Nunavut's Inuit land-claim organization on Monday, said she will cut her annual salary from just over $179,000 to about $159,000 starting next month.  In addition to the wage cut, Towtongie said she won't live in a house that Nunavut Tunngavik reserves for its president, opting instead to live in a two-bedroom apartment. She is also declining a company-issued car, saying she will be making enough money to buy her own vehicle if she needs one."

"When I became the president, it was never about benefitting from the corporation. It was about public service to the people and the Inuit of Nunavut," Towtongie told CBC News on Wednesday. I've always said the land [claim] deal was not to benefit the leaders. It was to benefit all Inuit across Nunavut and that has been my commitment and my goal."


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2010/12/16/nunavut-tunngavik-president-salary.html#ixzz18Qc13Da7

Ahhh, the Honourable Paul Martin...the man with deep pockets

The Honourable Paul Martin speaks about the poverty of First Nations people. The Winnipeg Free Press article discusses the former Prime Minister's take on poverty:  "This is not only unspeakably immoral, it is economically dumb," the nation's 21st prime minister said. "It is dumber than a bag of hammers."

Thank you for those kind words but why did not you do anything about the poverty when you had the opportunity to do so as Prime Minister?  Did you pump money directly into the First Nations communities to address the issues of poverty such as clean water and food security?  No, you did not.  Instead, you chose to hold national roundtables that benefitted no one but the Aboriginal industry. 

There is nothing in the Kelowna Accord except a bunch of promises to promise to negotiate. There was nothing concrete or binding in that Accord.  I am by no means a Conservative follower but how could the Harper government implement that Accord when there was nothing in it to implement?

Don't get me wrong.  I think your post-PM Aboriginal initiative is great.  "The Martin Aboriginal Initiative is devoted to encouraging aboriginal kids to stay in school and pursuing careers in fields such as business and banking. It also assists in the development of aboriginal businesses. In Winnipeg, Martin's not-for-profit corporation has worked with such organizations as Children of the Earth High School, the Business Council of Manitoba and the Winnipeg School Division."

If you really want to make up for your inaction on First Nations issues as Prime Minister, you should invest in the restructuring of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) as an organization so that it can effectively advocate for the interests of First Nations people.  The AFN is a prisoner of the federal government of the day and First Nations people have the right to speak under section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

Read the link to Paul Martin's speech on Wednesday.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/ex-pm-blunt-on-aboriginals-111986229.html

Obama Pays Lip Service to the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples

President Obama did not endorse the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples (UNDRIP). He qualified it.  He said, "The United States supports the Declaration, which—while not legally binding or a statement of current international law—has both moral and political force. It expresses both the aspirations of indigenous peoples around the world and those of States in seeking to improve their relations with indigenous peoples. Most importantly, it expresses aspirations of the United States, aspirations that this country seeks to achieve within the structure of the U.S. Constitution, laws, and international obligations, while also seeking, where appropriate, to improve our laws and policies."

President Obama, like Prime Minister Harper, said the UNDRIP was aspirational and not legally binding or a statement of current international law. President Obama is wrong.  The UNDRIP is not an aspirational document, it is real and it is binding at international law.  President Obama, like Prime Minister Harper, have NOT set a new course in the relations between Indigenous peoples and the U.S/Canada.  What they did is nothing but lip service and a slap in the face to Indigenous people in Canada and the U.S. 

Attached is the U.S. document:  http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/153223.pdf

First Nations Citizens Have a Right to Pay Equity

Preston TwoYoungmen recently published an article, entitled “Be Fearless, Stand Up, and Speak Out for What’s Right”.  His article discussed the high salaries of some leaders and compared them to the low salaries of frontline workers.  He asks why this happens and encourages First Nations citizens to speak out.  He states that some frontline workers, health care and education, on-reserve are paid 20 per cent less than off-reserve. This is tantamount to discrimination and violates section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the right to equality.

 I do not know if the 20 per cent statistic is accurate but I have experienced this same injustice that Preston speaks about on a few occasions throughout my career. The following two paragraphs from his article shed light on the issue:

“While 700 plus chiefs and councillors in Canada may justify their large earnings by comparing their positions with their counterparts from municipal, provincial, and federal governments, it does not begin to identify reasons why on average other positions on reserves are paid 20 per cent less than off reserve.

While the “leadership” earns its comparable salaries, the frontline workers in education, healthcare (including our emergency services), public works, public safety and security, post office, professional drivers for our water trucks, waste disposal, and road graders are left out in the cold.”

Section 87 of the Indian Act provides that the property of an “Indian” under the Indian Act is exempt from taxation.  Property has been interpreted by the Courts to include income. However, over the years, the Courts have been narrowly defining what property is and developed a “connecting factors” test to determine whether income is property. If you are a “Status Indian” under the Indian Act and work on-reserve, your income may be exempt from taxation.  I am a Status Indian under the Indian Act. 

Sound good???  Not quite. Not all Status Indians get to enjoy the treaty right to tax exemption like some of our leaders, especially the elite leaders.  Some Aboriginal managers think that since you are a “Status Indian” and are tax-exempt, you do not deserve to be paid the same salary as your non-First Nations counterpart who works off-reserve, even though you may have worked just as hard and possibly did better in university than your mainstream counterpart.  Therefore, you are paid 20 per cent less to match the salary of your non-First Nation counterpart who works off-reserve. 

I have experienced the discrimination firsthand by an elite leader that fights tirelessly for the treaty right to tax-free exemption. Senior management received the tax-free benefit but I and some other Status Indian employees did not. There were some Status Indian employees who received the tax-free benefit but only because they were connected to the senior management team or an elite leader.  I was paid approximately $20K less than what I should have been earning if you looked at my non-Aboriginal counterpart and my qualifications. 

I discussed the pay inequity issue with the elite leader’s non-First Nations manager.  I was told that since I was a “Status Indian” under the Indian Act and received the tax-free exemption, I did not have a right to receive a salary equal to that of my non-Aboriginal counterpart in mainstream society.  I was told this despite the fact that senior management is paid the same as their off-reserve counterparts.

I explained to this non-First Nations manager that he had no right to discriminate against me and pay me a lower salary just because I was a Status Indian. I explained to him that this is discrimination based on race and that one’s status as a Status Indian should not be a factor in determining salaries.  A male “Status Indian” manager, who was connected to the elite leader, told me not to complain because I was still making more than my mainstream counterpart working off-reserve!!  I was floored!  Needless to say, I could not change it so I left the organization at the first opportunity. The final straw for me was when I saw the elite leader’s wife carrying a designer handbag.  I am all for working for First Nations at a reasonable salary but I did not go to law school to maintain the lifestyle of an elite leader and his team. 

When I was nursing, I worked for an Aboriginal community.  The first thing the Executive Director asked me is if I was a Status Indian. I replied yes, not knowing what was about to happen next.  She dropped my salary by $10K per year.  I was astounded that she had done this.  At this time, nurses were in demand everywhere so I told this Executive Director that if I did not get the same pay as mainstream nurses, I would go work for mainstream society down the road.  She paid me the same as a non-First Nations nurse. 

I am, by no means, painting all Aboriginal leaders with the same paint brush as there are some really well deserved Aboriginal leaders who do truly have the interests of their people at heart and do put the needs of their people first.

Morale of the story:  First Nations citizens have the right to pay equity!!  You have a right to receive the same salary as your off-reserve counterpart.  Speak up if you are suffering from this same discrimination. It is the only way to make change.  

Here is the link to Preston Twoyoungment’s article:  Enjoy!

http://www.cochraneeagle.com/2010/12/be-fearless-stand-up-and-speak-out-for-what%e2%80%99s-right/

Grand Chief Mike Mitchell of the Mohawks of Akwesasne Speaks!

Well said! I wish I had been there to cheer him on...lol. 

Here's a clip of the APTN article:

A key Mohawk chief says he is getting frustrated with the structure of the Assembly of First Nations special chiefs gathering in Gatineau, Que.  Akwesasne Mohawk Council Grand Chief Mike Mitchell said chiefs attending the meeting are “sitting there like zombies” while AFN executive and regional chiefs give “long winded speeches.”

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2010/12/15/chiefs-frustrated-with-afn-meeting/

Indigenous lawyer Sara Mainville and her take on the salaries of Chiefs

Please read the article on the smear of First Nations over the salaries of Chiefs prepared by Indigenous female lawyer, Sara Mainville.  Good governance and the right to speak is what will bring us out from under the Indian Act.  Not all Chiefs pay themselves big salaries and not all leaders are self-interested.

Read and enjoy! I will be posting articles from smart Indigenous women (and men too) who speak with wisdom.  Please send me articles and papers if you want them posted.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/907018--smear-of-first-nations-over-chiefs-salaries-overlooks-facts

"Conquer and Divide": A Tool of Oppression for the Self-Interested

Harper is causing First Nations people a lot of grief during his quest to assimilate us.  I, for one, am getting really irritated by his bully tactics and anarchistic attitude towards every policy that he undertakes to implement.  I am also getting irritated at some Indigenous people who are telling those First Nations people who are speaking up against the leadership to “stop conquering and dividing the people” because it is helping Harper implement his agenda and/or reinforcing stereotypes of First Nations peoples.  BULL is all I have to say!  The only thing that is going to stop Harper in his tracks is for more SELFLESS First Nations people to stand up and start speaking up.  If anyone is assisting Harper, it is the National Aboriginal Organizations, like AFN and CAP, by being so complacent and supporting Harper’s policies without consulting us.  The only way to make change for the people is by speaking up.  You have no right to tell us what to do, say or think so stop trying to silence the people.

First Nations people have a right to speak under section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and we can say whatever we want, whenever we want, and to whomever we want.   The Indian Act has been in place for 150 years and the people living under it have been oppressed and silenced by the federal government and their own leadership in many instances.  The people have a right to participate in decision-making and a right to be consulted on issues that affect them at the community, regional, provincial, and national level.  It is only when the people are allowed to speak that the socio-economic status of the community will rise. The right to speak is the first step in any healing or reconciliation process.

First Nations grassroots people are smothered under several layers of political bodies:  their leadership, a tribal council, a regional body, a provincial body and then a national body, like the AFN.  The people do not have a voice at most levels outside of their communities, if they even have a voice at all.  I have seen one Councillor tell a few citizens to stop complaining.  My response to this Councillor would be if you do not like the criticism, get out of politics. The people have a right to voice their opinions and a Chief and Council should be asking the citizens for direction. The direction should come from the community, not the leadership. 

The “stop conquering and dividing the people” line is a tool of oppression by those who are often self-interested and wish to retain control. It is a line to make you feel guilty for speaking out on issues that affect you directly.  Do not listen to the person who tells you this.  Many of our people are so engrained in life under the Indian Act that they do not realize that the “conquer and divide” line is actually a tool for the federal government to oppress the people so that they can implement their one-size-fits-all program for First Nations people.  It also helps the AFN and CAP maintain control over everyone.  Yes, there are people who are so self-interested that they will do anything to gain control and will criticize everyone.  We know who those people are so ignore them.

All First Nations people are different and we can no longer be forced to live under one rule when everyone has different views and opinions on life and how leadership should govern the people.  We will all never agree on any issue.  We know this so stop trying to keep us in one box.  Let us grow and thrive instead.

Speak up people!  The oppressors (Canada and some of our leaders) may become uncomfortable for a period of time at the thought of losing control but if you keep peace and good governance as the end goal, peace will eventually follow.  You cannot have peace without experiencing some discomfort beforehand.

Have a great day and keep talking!  If you're not talking, START!!

Who is Charlene Desrochers?

Good Evening Everyone

I thought I would introduce myself so that you know who I am as you read my blogs.  I am a Cree/French woman and member of Constance Lake First Nation in northern Ontario.  I am also a single mom of three wonderful children, ages 13, 14 and 20.  I grew up in Longlac in northern Ontario.

I am a Status Indian under section 6(2) of the Indian Act and my children are non-status Indians.  However, these are terms that the Department of Indian Affairs (Indian Affairs) uses to define who I am as well as my children.  I do not define myself according to the Indian Act and find it insulting that, in 2010, Indian Affairs is still adamant about telling me who I am.  I know who I am! 

The Indian Act was created as an Apartheid regime that South Africa emulated.  The people of South Africa fought for 40 years to bring down Apartheid and the Indian Act Apartheid regime in Canada has been in existence for over 150 years.  First Nations people should seriously consider bringing down Apartheid in Canada.   It is a repulsive and discriminatory piece of legislation that oppresses the people and perpetuates the cycle of poverty in our communities.

I am a Registered Nurse and Lawyer. I received my law degree from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Law in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy from the University of Arizona.  I am also a Fulbright Scholar. 

Most of my nursing career was spent in 14 First Nations communities in northern Ontario.  I did work for a period at Anishnawbe Health Toronto and saw firsthand the experiences of life in the city for urban Aboriginal people, including the homeless.  While nursing in these communities, I witnessed the intergenerational impacts of residential school, such as alcohol and drug addictions, child apprehensions by CAS, domestic violence, and crime, etc.  I also experienced the joy of feasts and community celebrations.  Despite hard lives and poverty, First Nations people managed to retain a sense of humour and that humour is often expressed during those community celebrations.  There is no humour like that of Aboriginal peoples.    

After law school and graduate school, I focussed my career on Aboriginal law and policy. I have my own law practice where I provide legal services to First Nations and their citizens on a variety of issues.  I have previously worked for National Aboriginal Organizations, like the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP,) and I did a short stint at the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada.  Life in these three organizations was not what I expected so I started my own law practice.  I am enjoying it. 

Life inside the AFN, CAP, and Health Canada has made me rethink my loyalty to the Aboriginal elite leaders who claim to represent our interests.  I saw loads of self-interest and the outright ignorance of the interests and basic human rights of First Nations people.   Don’t get me wrong.  There were some good people working inside these organizations and I do not regret working for these organizations at all. I got to see firsthand how Aboriginal policy is actually developed. It is time for change and only the grassroots people can make that change happen.  If the grassroots people do not start speaking up, nothing will change. 

My blogs will contain information about the Aboriginal elite leaders, the political parties, and the Department of Indian Affairs, and possibly leadership at the grassroots level if the issue arises.  My loyalty is to the grassroots people who do not have a voice.  You have a right to speak and should not be silenced by anyone. I am hoping that by speaking out, many grassroots people will follow suit and do the same, and that we can create that change together.

I hope you learn from my blogs!

AFN leadership

If the AFN truly cared about the interests of the people, the AFN would embrace the people and allow us the right to speak and vote at their assemblies. Embrace us!  Don't exclude us!

AFN - Why are you not allowing us the right to speak at your assemblies and to participate in decision-making?

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is holding their annual Special Assembly in Gatineau, Quebec.  Chief Ovide Mercredi just spoke to the Assembly about our great leadership.  We have some great leaders but the AFN does not allow ANY First Nations people whatsoever, except the Chiefs, to speak on any issues or allow them to vote for National Chief of the AFN.  The AFN makes decisions at the national level without consulting us.  If AFN truly was a representative organization of the interests of First Nations people, the AFN would allow the grassroots people to participate in decision-making and vote for National Chief.  This is NOT democracy and we, as First Nations people, have a right to speak under section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  We want to speak as those issues directly affect us!  It's time for the grassroots to push the AFN for the right to speak at their Assemblies.  Until we do so, the AFN will continue to deny us the right to speak. 

Be fearless, stand up and speak out for what’s right

Be fearless, stand up and speak out for what’s right

Third Party Management of Indian Act Bands

The Department of Indian Affairs (Indian Affairs) wants the land and resources that belong to First Nations.  To do this, Indian Affairs must buy the complacency of Chief and Councils.  So if a Chief and Council are mismanging funds, Indian Affairs will not hold them accountable in order to keep them complacent.  Instead,  Indian Affairs will appoint a third party management firm to take over the control of finances for the First Nation.  This is not right right.  If a bank executive mismanaged the funds of a bank, that bank executive would be held accountable and the public would hear about it.  Third party management firms have never been scrutinized by anyone.  Indian Affairs does not want them under scrutinty because it needs those firms to take the land and resources away from First Nations.

It's time to hold Indian Affairs responsible for their actions!  It's time to open up the books of third party management firms to find out exactly what the Department of Indian Affairs is up to.  First Nations people have a right to see those financial documents. If your First Nation is in third party management, ask for all documents in their possession and put your request in writing to the third party firm.  If the third party firm refuses to provide copies of the books to you, please contact me at desrocherscharlene@hotmail.com and I will ensure that the world knows this information was not disclosed despite your request!!

The public needs to be informed as to how dysfunctional the Department of Indian Affairs really is.  The problem is not the people. It's Indian Affairs!

Welcome to my Blog!

I will be posting my views, comments, and opinions on issues pertaining to Aboriginal people(s) in Canada and throughout the world as the need arises. Stay tuned!