Racism towards Canada’s First Nations Increases
On Jan. 22, the Canadian magazine Maclean’s published an article about the murder of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine.
What most people do not know, however, is that this case is just the tip of an iceberg. Fontaine was not the first girl to go missing or to suffer sexual abuse in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
And the reason why she, and others, went through this horrendous experience is because they are First Nation.
“The racism against native North Americans is profound, and ongoing,” said Eric Mortensen, assistant professor of religious studies.“It is not something that has been solved. There is a sense that the whole society in general has a little bit more of a tolerance for intolerance than perhaps in times a little further back.”
Such hatred against First Nation peoples started centuries ago.
“Those negative stereotypes go back to the very beginning, back to 1492,” said Thomas Guthrie, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology. “Europeans were dispossessing indigenous peoples of their lands in North America, and that process was often violent — especially against women.”
Fontaine was visiting her mother during summer vacation and having a good time before classes started again. Unfortunately, she would never come home.
“I think there is almost close to 1,100 or more missing or murdered aboriginal women,” Damon Johnston, president of the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, told The Guilfordian in a phone interview. “And because Manitoba has one of the highest per capita populations of aboriginal peoples in the country, a fair number of the victims are from Manitoba or happen to be in Manitoba.”
Racism against Native North Americans is not exclusively Canadian. The United States is also a central stage to many cases of discrimination and hatred.
Maclean’s’ article covers not only Fontaine’s past but also cases similar to hers and different points of view on the subject including that of Winnipeg’s mayor, Brian Bowman, who believes that Canada is not divided.
“You have got a more conservative government in Canada, so they do not want to make a big deal of it, or focus on it or put it on the table as a topic for important discussion and change,” said Mortensen.
Some people believe that change might, in fact, be the best solution, and that a great place to start is kindergarten.
“Early within the educational systems of this country, there has to be a retelling of the true history of this country,” said Johnston. “It has to be retold from our perspective, but also from a perspective of fact and truth in terms of the colonial approaches.”
The idea of reeducating people from an early age is also shared by other Americans who truly want to see racism and prejudice eradicated.
“When you are born you do not have any prejudice,” said first-year Eli Phillips. “It is really important to educate so that, as time progresses, there will be fewer and fewer incidents of racism.”
“In a world so diverse, the most important thing should be unity instead of war,” said Johnston.
“I do not see other Canadians as my enemies,” said Johnston.“I see them as going on this journey with us. And that we have a common goal, that is to heal our wounds and start repairing the damage that was done and, in the end, have a better Canada.”
Merlene Bishop • Feb 14, 2015 at 3:13 pm
It is shameful that such attitudes and behavior still exist in the 21st century.
We can do better than this. Strong leadership could pave the way for increased dialogues on Native racism, but something has to happen to stop the abduction of Native women.
David E.H. Smith • Feb 14, 2015 at 3:16 am
Does CORPORATE CANADA Prefer Limelight on ‘Race’ not Shareholders’ Dividends versus harmless NON shareholders, both; Native & non Native? CorpCan’s ‘FOREIGN’ ASSOCIATES, TERRIFIED if Native Male Political Leaders Implicated in ‘Disappearing’ Native Women’s Advocates.
Native Women, et al, Expectations of Freedom from Fear of Retribution in Due Diligence Info SHARING & Consultations; Deliberate,’Illegal’, &/or, Unethical DEPRIVATION of INFO Re; ‘Domestic’ & Foreign
Treaties Basis for Suing Corp.Can. & its Global Assocs.
Corporate Assocs. to Sue Corp.Can. for Fraud While Reopening Both Treaties to Guarantee Provisions of The WAD Accord & Transparent Negotiations to Access Natural Resources?
HUMAN NATURE; How Cultures & Traditions can be used to explain Corruption, Info Deprivation & Bullying to Protect the Power of ‘Death-Pots’.
The Fanning the Flames of ‘Sort of RACISM’
Haven’t The ‘Nationalistic’ (Pre Global Economy) Corporate Canada & its Lobbied Politicians Done Rather Well via Fanning The Flames of ‘Sort of RACISM’ & Feathering Their Nest to Enable Their SHAREHOLDERS & those of Their Assocs. to SUE the harmless NON Shareholders, both; Native & non Native in the Latest ‘Foreign’ Treaties/Arrangements?
More Political interference of RCMP Investigations ‘kills’ victims, RCMP officers’ morale & Railroads Inquiries/Commissions.
After reading about the fears of retaliation of the Native Canadian women at the Special House of Commons Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women, by powerful chiefs & councils for questioning & improving the chiefs/councils plans & decisions, etc., it has been suggested that it might be easier to minimize any potential for negative ‘stereo typing’ of Native chiefs & their councils by:
1) the most vulnerable Native community members (95% – 99% of the members of Native communities),
2) non Native funders of Native communities
&
3) et al,
by pointing out once again, but, with greater emphasis, that the most vulnerable community members, both; Native & non Native, are slowly & painfully becoming aware of the threat that is posed to the bullying, information depriving despots (Death-Pots) by way of the sharing of the relevant information, in forums that have eliminated the fear of retaliation.
And, therefore, in regard to the recent, June 5, 2014, comments by the grand chief of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians Gordon Peters about negative ‘stereotypes’, it has also been suggested that Mr. Peters needn’t be concerned as Native & non Native Canadians have made:
1) the distinctions between the bullying despots & the most vulnerable community members
&
2) the distinctions between those chiefs & councils that want/need their community members to start getting the relevant information, including the information & questions in The WAD Accord & its Compensation
and
those chiefs & councils who need to keep their community members in the dark in order to supplicate the most ‘vulnerables’ to limited beliefs & ‘hopes’
and
thereby, maintain, &/or, enhance their abusive powers.
Perhaps, Mr. Peters can take some solace in knowing that he may be able to learn more about which bullying, information depriving despots are presently being ‘de-stereotyped’.
Some of the chiefs & councils may even graciously admit that some of the more abusive aspects of human nature are being used & rationalized by despots by claims that the abuse of their power is based upon tradition, &/or, culture that excludes the comprehension of the abuses by non Natives. Doesn’t this suggest that unless you are in the position of being able to be bullied, etc., then you are incapable of, &/or, should be prohibited from helping those who are being bullied by providing the information & safe forums for the discussion, sharing, improving information, plans, etc. before they become a decision that are acted upon & the human costs are added up? There are many examples of this ‘helping’ precedent in other human communities around the globe.
The potential sponsors of this ‘helping process’ understand the importance of identifying, investigating, prosecuting & enforcing the prevention of the abusers from continuing their abuse. Similarly, the potential sponsors can assist the most vulnerable community members to ascertain the amount of compensation they are due for previous abuse. These sponsors who are being considered have also observed & understand that the political abuse of the RCMP is causing a great deal of morale problems within the non union service (see; Paul Palango; ‘Dispersing the Fog’). Therefore, it is for the aforementioned reasons that the potential sponsors would like to be considered to help the most vulnerable community members eliminate their fears & help the most vulnerable develop the natural resources that are accessed by way of the community’s lands. These are also the lands that have already been secretly ‘negotiated’, &/or, are in the process of being secretly ‘negotiated’ within Canada by way of the despots & without the full due diligence sharing of the information with the most vulnerable community members.
There are several reasons why some of these foreign corporate sponsors might be considered. They are:
1) basically, to understand & perhaps prevent bullying despots from making secret arrangements whereby,
in exchange for:
a) the despots’ cooperation to endorse the last minute ‘new’ &’improved’ environmental & safety standards, etc. for their projects that may be derived from the C – CI Treaty, the EU – Canada CET Agreement, the TP Partnership, et al
&
b) the ‘protection’ provided by the bullies for the potential foreign participants/ investors from the most vulnerable community members,
the potential foreign participants/investors may exclusively & secretly reward the bullies financially & thereby, further legitimize the bullies power & control by way the bullies’ mechanisms of fear.
2) some of the potential foreign participants are as disgusted with the ‘unethical’ & ‘inhumane’ arrangements of corporate Canada & their representatives in the government of Canada as many Native & non Native Canadians, et al, are. One potential participant said:
‘It’s not that we are racist when it comes to dealing with Canadians,
it’s just that we can’t stand the way that you suck up to us’.
That is to say; while corporate Canada & its political representatives ‘suck up’ to the ‘coveted’ foreign investor, the ‘Canadians’ also ‘shi…’, uh, “purge down”. It may be regrettable that this bullying is just part of human nature?
Isn’t our job to identify & to minimize, &/or, eliminate it.
Therefore, while the most vulnerable Native community members may be looking for a much ‘better’ deal that protects their rights to live & express themselves in the absence of fear, isn’t it reasonable to assume that they can also expect to start getting the aforementioned relevant information for their humble consideration, including The Compensation that is embodied in The W.A.D. Accord?
So, does the ‘much better deal’ by way of these ‘foreign’ countries include:
1) the elimination of the bullying by the information depriving despots,
&
2) enabling the employment opportunities that can equal those non Native Canadians & then use the “better deal” to shrink the financial disparity between:
the 95% – 99% of the communities’ most vulnerable members
&
the 1% – 5% of the existing political & financial bullies, both; Native & non Native?
&
3) et al.
But, aren’t the above reasons why The W.A.D. Accord (aka; The Australian Question) was developed in the first place? That is to say, The Accord was developed in order to ensure that the most vulnerable community members are getting the relevant information & are getting the opportunity to consider, to discuss, to ask questions about it, to improve, to create alternatives, to reject, etc., the information & questions in The Accord, including The Compensation that is embodied in it?
By way of closing, now that Mr. Peters’ concerns about negative stereotyping have been laid to rest, the most vulnerable community members, et al, might also consider some of the other areas of information that they are continuing to be deprived of that can be, &/or, are being abused by the the aforementioned bullies in order to strengthen their, the bullies’, ‘legitimacy’ besides:
1) the on going land settlements & treaty rights negotiations,
2) the development of Aboriginal self-governance
&
3) et al?
And, finally, how do you, the readers in North America, China, the European Union, the Trans Pacific nations, et al, think that these human nature issues can be redressed by The WAD Accord?
I look forward to reading about your questions, your comments, your improvements, etc., regarding the above & the information listed below.
Sincerely,
David E.H. Smith
– Researcher
– “Qui tam…”
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(Nature) Rights & Economics in 1) the C-CI Treaty, the CET Agreement, TPP, et al, and 2) Native Canadian Treaties via The WAD Accord
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