In Canada there are several very serious aboriginal protests going on at this time..
Historically there are a multitude of reasons for aboriginal grievances. Europeans came and stole aboriginal land. Treaties were made with the aboriginals. The treaties were poorly written and have caused problems ever since. The government didn't hire the best lawyers when treaties were written.
Reserves of land were given to aboriginals. Many times parts of reserves or all of a reserve were taken back without aboriginal consent.. Promises were made and never kept. Education is a major issue. The governments idea was to take away aboriginal language and customs by education. That education destroyed a whole generation of aboriginals.
Anyway, I think I've made my point that there are solid reasons for grievances. What's going on today is not productive. There are a series of protests which have shut down railroads. What sparked the issue were some hereditary Chiefs in British Columbia who were protesting a gas pipeline that was to go across their territory. The RCMP began removing the protesters. Other aboriginals from far away decided to support the gas line protesters. Things boiled over.
Now the aboriginals and government have dug their heals in and neither side is willing to back down. Some politicians are also trying to use the situation for their advantage.
So I am sad about this situation that has become an impasse. Most of the aboriginals do not support the blockades and protests. Most aboriginals are hard working people trying to make a living. Aboriginal governing is a mess. There are elected band councils and then there are hereditary chiefs. Many times these two groups do not agree. The government set up the elected band councils The hereditary chiefs follow traditional ways.
The situation has become more complicated than it needs to be.
Now many readers will not know what I'm talking about or not care but I guess I had to write this for myself.
Always good to hear what is on your mind Red:)
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteSimilar situations have existed for years in many states here in the U.S. between native American Indians and government.
ReplyDeleteWe can't seem to come up with suitable solutions.
DeleteI am sorry to hear about this and I do understand your concern. It is indeed a very sad situation and the aboriginals have been taken advantage of too many times. We have similar situations here in the U.S. with the American Indians. These kind of situations are heartbreaking becuse in my mind the original inhabitants of a country should be celebrated.
ReplyDeleteNeither one of us trusts the other.
DeleteHello, I can not blame the aborginals for not wanting the gas pipelines to go across their land. The pipes tend to leak, it could ruin their crops and their drinking water.. Wishing you a happy day!
ReplyDeletePipeline construction is pretty loosey goosey. The technology is thee to build safe pipelines.
DeleteIt is a mess. As you say, it has deep historical origins, and is not going to be resolved speedily and the potential for violence is present. But it seems to me that the Wetsuweten (spelling?) should have the right to refuse to have pipelines cross their land. Imagine the consequences of even one spill. And fossil fuel is old technology in any event, with at best about a thirty year remaining life.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand what can or can not be done on territorial land.
DeleteAnd one more thing, Red. I reviewed a book for the Canadian energy expert, John Erik Meyer, recently, called "The Transition to Renewable Energy - Lessons for Canada and the World." Should be required reading for everyone. Time to shut down the tar sands!
ReplyDeleteI will have to look for this one. Oil companies have a callous disregard for the environment. In Alberta the old companies have walked away from abandoned oil wells without cleaning up the site.
DeleteIt really is a mess with no end in sight. I'm not sure what's going to happen. But I'm not surprised it has come to this. We've been headed this way for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteSadly you are exactly right.
Deletedear Red
ReplyDeleteglad to read you again ,i was kind of missing you during my slow presence in blog land due to some obvious reasons
i totally understand your point here
as teachers we both know little bit history of this world and if the one you read resembles to one we read here
powerful has took over the land of weak since beginning whether we admit or not ,some were lucky to be able to take bits of it back (not completely though as secretly they are still ruled by agenda of who left)
many had to fight for or give up ,disappear are live with new identities they had to adopt inevitably to adjust in new cultural storm
i wish peace to your area
blessings!
Colonialism has left us with many problems. We have our problems but the Indian subcontinent was left with massive problems as well.
DeleteI have seen some articles about the problem, but you have made it very clear that the real problem is not honoring the original treaties, and bad management. I hope it is resolved to help the aboriginals.
ReplyDeleteMany aboriginals are making their way in life. That's good but the realistically there are many problems left.
DeleteNot one of the easiest of subjects to deal with. Colonialist conquerors have never been particularly understanding since the beginning of empires millennia ago.
ReplyDeletethey left problems that will last a very long time.
DeleteIt is a thoughtful post, Red.
ReplyDeleteWhat it boils down to is that the pipeline is to go on unceded land, through a territory that is governed by chiefs who inherited title, while the band councils are constructed by a federal, white colonial government.
The chiefs wanted a different route on their ancestral lands.
This is how the white men won, by conquering and dividing tribes, who were previously not able to unite across the land.
In every way the aboriginals have been taken advantage of.
DeleteIf only we could go back in time and right the wrongs of the past! The world would look very different now.
ReplyDeleteHind sight is always perfect.
DeleteIt is a frustrating situation, with no easy solution.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we've ever put in enough effort. short term solutions fall apart.
DeleteBut isn't this just another example of NIMBY ... Not in My Backyard? But my sympathy goes to the native Americans because of all the broken promises.
ReplyDeletePipe liners give them selves a black eye by being careless with construction. And yes , I admit that I wouldn't want someone to show up and put in a pipeline down the middle of my street.
ReplyDeleteThe situation isn't going to be easily resolved, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, Red. This is happening in Hawaii right now too. There is a terrible history here about what was done to the Hawaiian people by the United States (business people who wanted the land and power.) However, like your aboriginal people in Canada, the Hawaiian people are not all in agreement about everything and things are not necessarily being handled properly. It’s hard.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very sad situation for both sides. Hopefully they can both come to a mutual agreement to get both sides where they need to be. A difficult situation for all. We are in Eastern Ontario so I understand. Keep writing your opinion Red. B
ReplyDeleteIn the old days it was hard to put together these protests. Now, with the internet, and "social media", people are easily in touch and much more organized. These are trying times. Maybe the good side to all this is going forward with people of all cultures having an opportunity to be sure they are involved in changes which affect them. Congrats on another interesting post.
ReplyDeleteWell I for one certainly do care about the plight of North American indigenous peoples and how they continue to be robbed and marginalised. The injustices are not just part of history, they are part of current affairs.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mess, and not just the current situation but the whole aboriginal issue.
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining this so clearly.
ReplyDelete