Natives in Ontario have to protest to get their court case settled.
Why would a land claim that was filed in 1999 still be going on 7 years later, and lead to 250 houses being set for development this Summer? Land claims are never easy to settle, just look at Israel and Palestine. At least we don’t have a population so desperate that they’ll blow up innocent people to get media attention when they are being mistreated by their government. But why are we resorting to this kind of controversy in Canada over land these days? I have a feeling it’s because Native people were cheated and coerced off their land hundreds of years ago, and it’s only been in the past 30 years that they’ve had a legitimate shot in our justice system of re-ataining what they lost. Land is a big deal, it generates wealth for whoever has it, and the loss of prime real estate is a major factor in the state of economic distress that faces many Native cultures in Canada, and in fact North America.
As far south as Guatemala, Native farmers are forced off their land and murdered by people that want to own everything. The only thing different in Canada is that instead of murder, the corporations “legally” devalue the product grown by the producers, sue the producer as in the case of Percy Schmeiser and Monsanto, or conspire with other corporations to manipulate the free market. Who needs death squads when you have a squad of litigious urban dwelling lawyers who’d sue their own mother if they were paid enough?
Struggles for land are not new, the only difference is that in modern Canada we can usually take pride in resolving them without bloodshed or blood feuds. Let’s hope both sides in Ontario take the peaceful way out, and work together to profit from the land and the development, instead of one side being completely shut out.
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Treadly is a blog in Victoria Australia that caught my eye with some pictures of people’s daily commute to work using their bike. Remember, it’s going to be Winter in Australia soon.
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![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.efc.ca/images/efcfreet.gif)
Treadly&Me | 21-Apr-06 at 11:03 pm | Permalink
Hey saskboy, I’m in Victoria not New South Wales. I don’t go around saying you’re in Quebec, do I? :-)
Anyway, it’s good to hear you’re back on the bike to work - watch out for those vans! Let me know when you post photos of your ride.
Saskboy | 21-Apr-06 at 11:07 pm | Permalink
Sorry Treadly, I saw the news report for NSW and assumed you were there too, I hadn’t looked into your profile details. I’ll correct my blog entry.
Canadian Pardon | 21-May-08 at 3:02 pm | Permalink
What takes away much of the viewed legitimacy for many Canadians is that since Aboriginals do not pay taxes but still receive the benefits from Canadian programs they are seen as being outside the canadian system. There is a legal backlash in the courts who see them as unsympathetic often. This creates more resentment on both sides which only exacerbates the problem. there is trouble finding equilibrium between the two sides on the issues and until this is done one side will be screwed over at a much higher rate.
Saskboy | 21-May-08 at 3:43 pm | Permalink
CP, welcome to my blog. If you reply, I’ll modify the URL back to what you had it.
It’s not true that Aboriginals don’t pay taxes. They pay tax like anyone else when they work off a reservation.
It is difficult finding an equilibrium between unequal equals, as First Nations and other Canadians are treated by the government. Yet it’s not fair too, to say that we should unilaterally declare the treaties invalid, and apply the laws of other Canadians onto First Nations people. If we considered our reaction if the opposite was done, we’d understand the problem.
Simply put, we need a lot more communication, and a willingness from both sides to make changes that benefit everyone as much as possible.