I have been really busy with my law practice for the month of April and have not had the time to write a blog about the 2011 federal election taking place today. However, I have been reading the news articles, blogs, tweets, etc. about the election and I have a few comments regarding the election and First Nations people, especially sovereignty as it relates to us.
Here we go:
1) Voting in the federal election is not going to solve the socio-economic disparity between First Nations and non-First Nations people. History has shown us that it does not matter which political party is in power because they all have the same agenda: assimilate First Nations people through the racist Indian Act and rob the revenues from the resources on or under our land through racist “consultation and accommodation” principles set by the Canadian legal system.
When are First Nations going to acknowledge this fact and change the “game”?
2) To vote in the federal election is a sign that you are a client of the state; however, to not vote maintains your status as a client of the state. Either way, you’re a client of the State! However, if we assert sovereignty, we can take our rightful place as sovereigns. That goal is not idealistic or unreachable. All it takes is “GUTS”. Do you as First Nations leaders have the “GUTS” to assert sovereignty? Our children are suffering and the status quo is not working.
3) Our Nations are moving forward in a manner that meets the needs of the State. Canada's “Aboriginal” policies are one-sided and we receive court decisions that limit/narrow the rights of Indigenous peoples. The Indian Act regime is a regime that administers poverty and that is it. We will never eliminate poverty but it can be reduced and not by following the State as we are presently doing whether we vote or not. The Indian Act needs to be repealed and NOT REPLACED! We do not need another “Indian Act” under a different name to assert sovereignty.
4) Voting is not the problem. The problem is the lack of unity and action among the leadership. If the Aboriginal political organizations put as much effort into protecting our rights and interests as they are in advocating for us to vote in the federal election, we would have some major change at the grassroots level!
5) Grand Chief Evans made the comment that the academic rhetoric regarding sovereignty and voting is good but not reflective of life on the ground in First Nations communities. My response? It is not indicative of life on the ground because the leadership chooses not to embark on that path. The path to sovereignty is a difficult one with some hardship along the way. The path of least resistance is what Grand Chief Evans, although unintended, is endorsing; the alleviation of the poverty of our individuals through government-directed education policies. Be careful what you ask for.
6) Encouraging our participation at all levels in mainstream society, including voting, encourages the assimilation of our people. People get comfortable in their personal lives, especially when the money starts rolling in. Some of our people want the same things as non-Aboriginal people and sacrifice our collective interests for their own personal gain. Look at some of our educated people and leaders who have the ability to stand up for us and call for direct action, such as asserting sovereignty. Do they? Why not? The answer is blatantly obvious.
7) Unity on the federal election voting issue is safe and noncontroversial for the Aboriginal political organizations. It is easier to push us to vote than it is for them to act and protect our rights. Their lack of action and unity maintains the status quo, which are poverty and the suppression of our rights as SOVEREIGN nations.
8) Grand Chief Evans made that comment that increasing our participation in voting in federal elections will enable our people to assert sovereignty in the future. I agree but if we do not assert “sovereignty” now, there will not be any “sovereignty” to assert in the future. The present is just as important as the future.
9) Education is the key to alleviating poverty for our people; however, our people need to be educated about “sovereignty” and not the incremental lap-dog paced government-directed education policies as advocated by the federal government under the guise of THEIR (not ours) National Aboriginal Organizations.
10) Sovereignty applies to all of us, not just the Mohawks. Assertions of sovereignty also requires action, otherwise it is just words. Anyone can spout "assert sovereignty". It means nothing unless you actually assert it and live by it.
11) Asserting sovereignty does not mean giving up all your rights to federal programs and services. We can have the best of both worlds. The longer we suppress the word "sovereignty", the sooner our cultural assassination will be complete. The status quo is not working and increasing our participation in mainstream politics is not going to bring about the major change we need right now.
12) We need to bring about change in a wholistic manner. Focus on change at all levels at the same time. Do not follow the federal government’s dysfunctional approach to policy development, i.e. take one step at a time, with an end goal, but without the plan to get there. It does not work, never has and never will.
13) How do we get out of this? If every First Nation and their citizens, urban and not, in Canada "UNITED" (like the Egyptians did) and showed the government of Canada and the provinces that we mean business, we would actually get some dramatic change in our situation whether we are treaty or not.
What are you afraid of? That mainstream society will think badly of us if we unite for a purpose that meets our collective needs? That it will promote racism and stereotypes of our people? Try thinking about us and our interests instead of the federal government.
14) Greed and/or self-interest are the ruling factor in our plight of poverty and oppression. We have a choice: continue as is and vote/not vote and maintain the poverty in First Nations or actually do something about it with a united voice. Take your pick!
15) We choose to live like this and we do not have to. It is time for the people to wake up and unite for a common purpose: the future of our children.
16) It is time for all First Nations and their citizens, on and off-reserve, to put aside their personal differences and to start thinking about the children of the present and future.
17) If the federal government throws a $ bill at a leader, especially the National Chiefs, for conformity, that Chief should say "no" and follow the rest of us to ensure dramatic change for everyone. You cannot bring about change without experiencing discomfort beforehand. The Egyptians suffered throughout their united protest but they achieved major change and results in the end. We can do this without violence.
18) If the Egyptians can do it, so can we!!
19) Vote or do not vote. To each his own.
WHO IS WATCHING OUR FOR YOU AND OUR CHILDREN?
This is my own personal opinion and it is not intended to be legal advice. Please seek independent legal advice pertaining to your situation.
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