Comments on: Don’t let Dalton pass the buck

By: terry

terry — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:38:00 +0000

Jo I am cynical when it comes to the political system as it stands ..I believe there are good caring and informed politicians on all sides …Somehow though I don’t believe they are the ones making the decisions that effect us as a society .I guess if it wasn’t for some secret meetings with powerful and influential people involved I wouldn’t feel this way but to be honest weather Paul Martins or Mulroney’s old gang running the show I see no difference
As far as a fair and quick settlement goes the court of law will eventually make those decisions .You know it was only as recent as 1983 that a Treaty was found that has opened up the whole can of worms in the east here .sometimes the courts are long and then usually the Govt. appeals and appeals until they finally have to resolve. This is unfortunate as it takes much time and resources that could go towards education health care job creation and just a better quality of life for all Canadians .

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:16:42 +0000

Thanks for those links, BTW.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:15:16 +0000

…but if they are I am sure with a just spirit and system a lot of issues will be finalized…

Terry, do you have more hope for a quick and fair settlement with this Conservative government than the record of previous Liberal Governments, or do you see them as all the same?

By: terry

terry — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:04:17 +0000

Hi Jo…I don’t know if you have read this or not but there is truth in this article http://www.newtfn.com/thetruth.html
and I found this article as well that I was surprised when I read it http://victoriastar.canadaeast.com/rss/article/335648
I guess its taken a long while to bring about some of these claims and I am sure the Govt is not overly anxious to get a quick settlement to the thousands of other claims before the courts but if they are I am sure with a just spirit and system a lot of issues will be finalized …I think every person on Turtle Island wants it ..

By: terry

terry — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:38:50 +0000

Exactly Joanne .It explains why on the world level how there were only 3 colonial nations that went against the vote for Indigenous rights. Canada being one of them .I just finished reading the history of St.Mary’s first nation. http://www.stmarysfirstnation.ca/pages.asp?pid=1
I think if you were to study the history’s of the different groups within Canada you would find the same spirit imposed on them ..and maybe that the problem ,its not the law but the spirit in which it is taken or given .

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:47:08 +0000

“…but I guess it depends on what laws you use…”

That’s a very good point, Terry.

The problem is that we tend to view conflicts from our own particular world view, and any incidental moral infractions are excused by the overall goal (i.e. the end justifies the means).

By: terry

terry — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:02:51 +0000

To be truthful Jo , it seems the longer they take the better for them .I was at a party where there was a mp and the conversation came up about the Burnt Church incident .as most every one at the party was familiar with what was being said in the news , and it didn’t look good for the Natives , The conversation came to land . The only other person that knew that the Natives still owned the land was the mp and the conversation ended .
I think that if it wasn’t possible for the Govt. to stall on this issue most Canadians would just freak .
The only land claim I heard of in NB was a piece of land the Redbank Nation bought from the Govt.I found that to be very unusual that the Natives should have to buy land that was never legally in their possession .I say legal but it depends on what laws a person is talking about ..
If you take the war ,s that Canada is involved in right now . Many believe they are illegal wars . but I guess it depends on what laws you use .There must be a big difference between International law and common law .I do know that its only been in recent history that The Natives are making any inroads into the courts .Its almost sick as to the time spent in courts over Native issues .My cousin just finished a 5 year nightmare over a deer skin he was curing to make a drum with ….I guess the only ones that are winning are the lawyers ..
I really believe that its education and common sense that will finally bring about a just day.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:25:01 +0000

Thanks for the info, Terry. It is a confusing, involved issue for sure. Each land claim has it’s own history and concerns.

Do you feel that this government is any different from previous ones in the way it is attempting to handle land claims?

By: terry

terry — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:21:16 +0000

This article should provide you wit a sort of understanding as to the problems the Indian Act actually poses
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/08/01/bc-land-claim.html
The Beothuk of Newfoundland are actually extinct but the new definition the Act gives tells a different story

By: terry

terry — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:04:54 +0000

Hi jo .. I read this post. http://kumtux.blogspot.com/2007/07/negotiating-terms-of-surrender.html
I am not sure what they are offering to 6 nations but it could be a bit misleading to someone outside of the loop … apparently the BC govt settled one claim out there where the gave another nations area to the Band they settled with …According to some, at the present rate of claims being settled with first nations it will be 2050 or later, by that time according to the Indian act there wont be any natives left . They use a very confusing formula for determining who is a Indian ..For Instance both of my grand parents were Native but chose not to be put on the Reserves and in doing so became non Native ..