Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Social Justice: Part Two

    In my last post I named two issues that arose in December. The second is the Idle No More movement.

    Idle No More was started by a couple of women with an  issue out of the last budget where many waterways would not be protected. This means everything to aboriginals when it comes to gathering safe fish. Further down the road, people with recreational property will suffer if the water quality deteriorates. By skillful use of social media their issue caught fire. Things were just ready for this movement to expand.

   When Steven Harper's government came to power, they scrapped the Kelowna agreement which had been agreed to by the previous government. Although the Kelowna agreement was far from perfect it was a movement in the right direction to begin settling major outstanding issues with First Nations. This decision angered aboriginals as it should. Steven Harper continued to treat the whole issue with utter contempt.

    Treaties with first Nations were broken almost as soon as they were signed in the 1800's. Some reserves and much land was taken back by the government. Government agents would check and find no people on a reserve and assume the people didn't want it and quickly took  it back. Aboriginal people were nomadic and had moved huge distances across  their land to survive successfully.  With the reserve system they were imprisoned on their small bit of land. Hunting for food was almost impossible. Aboriginals were were reduced to starving, begging and stealing to have some food. Treaties promised machinery and advice on a farming. This program worked extremely well until some dunderhead decided to stop supplying machinery and advice. Aboriginals were good farmers. Once they lost the machinery farming failed.

    The list of problems with treaties is enormous and the longer the issue drags on the worse it gets.

   So with a long history of disagreements First Nations have with the Canadian Government it's no wonder that the Idle No More movement caught on. So the Idle No More movement has become a major vehicle to publicize issues and urge  Steven Harper to come to his senses and solve some problems.

    Steps Idle No More have been taking have been stepped up when there was no response from Steven Harper. Steven Harper would seem to be sneering at the whole issue.

    I supported the Occupy Movement last year which of course was fighting for social justice. I whole heartedly support the Idle No More movement and hope that they gain some solutions. It would also be hoped that our Prime Minister Steven Harper , would come to his senses and begin a realistic conversation with First Nations People.

    

15 comments:

  1. Amen, Red. The First Peoples deserve to have a conversation with ALL of us. Blessings to you for all that you do.

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    1. Thanks.
      I think we need to talk to all groups that are marginalized in some way.
      I was immersed in it for five years and it completely altered my life.

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  2. http://idlenomore1.blogspot.ca
    Red here is the blog for idle-no-more

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    1. Thanks for the blog name. I would like something to fallow . I have Marilyn Buffalo on Face book.

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  3. I support many issues ,but clean water is a must.As a kid we drank from all the streams, eventually using purification tablets.I hate to see warnings from eating off the land.

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    1. I agree water is basic but it is treated callously by industry.
      Yes I remember the good old days when we would drink out of a slough. I wouldn't do that now.

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  4. Another interesting piece, especially to one not familiar with Canadian politics. And there is a degree of comfort to be gained from residing in a country with a uninspired, divisive, and self-interested Government that such challenges are faced by people in other countries as well.

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    1. We all have some serious issues in dealing with each other. It seems to me that colonialism left an awful lot of problems behind and they will bother us for years to come.

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  5. Strangely, Harper managed to make a special trip to meet with Justin Bieber.......does this indicate where his priorities are?

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    1. Yes Linda, that is an awesome comparison.
      Nice of you to follow Hiawatha house and drop in and leave a comment.

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  6. Interesting insight into Canadian politics. Reading Linda's comment leads me to believe Mr. Harper doesn't have the best priorities in order.

    I haven't had a chance so far but here's wishing you a wonderful New Year!

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    1. Steven Harper is making changes that many people don't like . He has a majority as he has skillfully split the vote . He had a 38% if votes. What about the other 60% ?
      Thanks for the New Years Greetings and the same to you. Have a great 2013.

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  7. Its is so sad to see what politics have become - for one particular party it is splashing as much dirt as possible about their opposition and doing this every hour of every day on an media, tv, radio, etc. Politics is about splashing your name about and taking expensive vacations, holidays, unecessary trips to foreign countries at our expense and God knows what else. Nobody seems to care to peek into Mr. Harpers deep, dark background and see from whence he came and what his true beliefs are. There are certain people getting richer and they are the "Harper Selected", the ones that have supported him from his "Dark" days, got him elected. Justin Bieber is white, rich, young and popular and just imagine how many Bieber Fans would look in Harper's direction, because their idol posed for the "Photo Op" - This man "Harper" is a real threat to all Canadians - look at his first real act to send our peacekeepers off to Pres Bush's invasion of a country just to get their greedy hands on oil. Who ever thought peaceful Canada would be out hunting and killing in the name of Terrorism under the command of leaders like Bush and Harper. Sorry, do not want to offend anyone but can anyone tell me where the weapons of mass destruction were and how many innocents came home in body bags. This is the man you allow to run your country - whether he is ignoring Occupy Movement, the Idle No More, the seniors, healthcare, or whatever - I just ask this one simple question - DOES ANYONE SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE?
    Thank you Red, for the interest you have and what you do and accomplish as an individual. Thankyou for your opinions and beliefs.

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    1. The fact of the matter is that these guys have done no good and a lot of bad stuff. We're going backwards.
      Thanks for your thoughtful comment.

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