For standing up for ourselves, our beliefs, and folks we love, women are often called a bitch.
When we demand social justice, women are often called a crazy bitch.
Just goes to show you conservative men lack both imagination and decent comeback lines.
I tripped across this a while ago- a radio interview with Tony Prudori- INAC flack in Thunder Bay in a CBC radio interview about the Attawapiskat school issue. It's an older issue now, but I just played it for Wideye and she laughed and said YOU MUST POST THIS. So here is a link to the best CBC interview that I have personally heard to date on the subject. An oldie but a goodie. Kudos to the reporter only identified as "Marcos" in this interview. Click here to hear it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY4ZNuXd5S0
Of course our favourite pretty boy would race to protect his man...it's not about THAT colonial practice. Geesh! Silly Indians..they just don't get "context".
By Jorge Barrera, Canwest News ServiceSeptember 30, 2009Comments (1)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper should apologize for saying Canada has "no history of colonialism," some First Nations leaders say. The prime minister made the statements during a news conference in Pittsburgh last Friday while talking about the virtues of Canada.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper should apologize for saying Canada has "no history of colonialism," some First Nations leaders say. The prime minister made the statements during a news conference in Pittsburgh last Friday while talking about the virtues of Canada.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper should apologize for saying Canada has "no history of colonialism," some First Nations leaders say.
The prime minister made the statements during a news conference in Pittsburgh last Friday while talking about the virtues of Canada.
"We also have no history of colonialism," said Harper during the G20 summit news conference in Pittsburgh. "So we have all of the things that many people admire about the great powers but none of the things that threaten or bother them."
While there was no immediate reaction to the statement, the words stuck a nerve among some First Nations leaders who are now demanding the prime minister apologize. They said it contradicted Harper's apology for Indian residential schools and ignored Canada's origins as a colonial creation of the British and French. They also said the Indian Act and conditions on reserves are still living vestiges of Canada's colonial history with First Nations.
"It is not the truth. There should be a retraction for sure and an apology," said Ghislain Picard, grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.
In a statement, Picard said: "Denying the history of colonialism in Canada is like denying the holocaust."
The Prime Minister's Office said the comments have been taken out of context and misunderstood.
"It was in response to a question from Reuters about Canada's voice and role in the international financial market. Basically, the prime minister was giving some context and saying that unlike past global empires, Canada does not have a history of colonialism with respect to the financial market," said spokeswoman Sara MacIntyre. "Past global empires have implemented policies that are colonial in nature. It was really focused on the international financial scene . . . I think it has been misunderstood and the prime minister stands behind his apology that was made last year."
Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau, the former head of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, also said the statement had been taken out of context.
"It is important to consider the context of (Harper's) comments last week," said Brazeau in a statement. "The prime minister sought to differentiate Canada's history with that of past global empires with histories of colonialism. (Harper's) apology for the tragedy of Indian residential schools last year clearly acknowledge the wrong doings and racist policies of Canada's past."
Canada's leading native organization, the Assembly of First Nations, the national arm, did not return requests for comment.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Ron Evans said he wanted to hear the AFN's new leader Shawn Atleo speak out about the issue. Evans said he was writing a letter to the prime minister about the matter.
"I am just shocked that someone would say something like that knowing the history of their own country," said Evans. "They tried to destroy a race of people."
Michael Cachagee, executive director of National Residential School Survivors Society, said the prime minister's statement undercut last year's seminal residential school apology.
"This man speaks with a forked tongue," said Cachagee. "He has mud on his face on this one. Colonial pie."
During the apology delivered last June, Harper never mentioned colonialism, but Evans referred to one passage he said offered a textbook example of colonialism.
Harper said: "Two primary objectives of the residential schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture. These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal."
With a file from Reuters
Here is Harper's full statement as quoted by Reuters:
October will be Women's History month. While the official theme is "women and sports," aboriginal women, and NGO's like Amnesty International will be raising awareness about missing and murdered aboriginal women during the first week. Some 520 aboriginal women have been murdered or have gone missing in Canada since 1970. More than half of the cases have occurred since 2000. More than two-thirds of the total number of women have been found dead, while 25 per cent are still missing. Here are three cases I have been following. Several opposition MP's and aboriginal groups have called for a national inquiry asking why cases remain unsolved and why aboriginal women are targeted. It's a good time to put some pressure on government to have a full inquiry.
Hillary Bonnell’s Mom: “Whoever has her, please don't hurt her; that little girl is my world."
16 year old Hillary Bonnell spent part of the summer in the Mi’kmaw community of Burnt Church, in New Brunswick. On September 5th 2009 she attended a late night party in the community. A friend gave Hilary a lift to a main highway, the well-travelled Route 11, about two kilometres from her aunt's house where she planned to spend the night. It was around 3 am, as she walked down the highway to her aunt’s when Bonnell telephoned her mother, Pam Fillier, who was in nearby Miramichi, reminding her they were to go shopping for new school clothes the next day. Hilary never made it to her aunt's house. Surveillance video taken from 4D's convenience store on the corner of Micmac Road and the well-travelled Route 11 showed the missing girl was there at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday and appeared to be alone. The last known communication with Hilary took place later Saturday morning when she sent a text message to her cousin, which indicated she was scared and wanted to “get away” but did not say where she was. Since that message was sent, Hilary’s cellphone has either been disconnected or drained of batteries, since all attempts to reach her have been unsuccessful. She had no purse, makeup, change of clothes, or cash Hilary is aboriginal, has dark eyes and black, shoulder-length hair. She is 5-5 and weighs about 134 pounds. She was last seen wearing a purple T-shirt, a black sweater, jean shorts and sandals. Her community is offering a $15,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to her discovery. http://www.helpfindmychild.net/hilary-bonnell
Claudette's family: :"She is a mother of 4 beautiful children who need her to tuck them in at night and tell them she loves them. Claudette is a good mother and they need her home."
21-year old Claudette 'Penny Tyo.' Osbourne, mother of four, disappeared 14 days after giving birth to her baby girl. Shortly before she disappeared, Claudette called her boyfriend and indicated to us that she was hemorrhaging. She has been missing since July 24, 2008 and was last seen near Selkirk Avenue and Charles Street in Winnipeg. Osborne is 5'7", 145 lbs, and was wearing black pin striped pants, black v-necked t-shirt with a ruffled collar. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to her discovery. If you have any information please call: Police Missing Persons Unit at 986-6250 Crimestoppers at 786-8477 Manitoba Search and Rescue: George Leonard 777-0553
Maisy's Grandmother: "Not knowing if she's alive or dead, that's the hardest thing"
(Kitigan Zibi, Quebec) Maisy Odjick’s treasures, her flute, her camera and treasured photos are still where she left them at the home of her grandparents, where she usually stayed. There is still a pillow on the arm of the brown fold-out couch where Maisy slept, and her clothes are still in the white cupboard in the corner. Her family got a cake for her last birthday and put gifts under the tree for her at Christmas in case she came home. Maisy Odjick was last seen with her friend Shannon Alexander, who is also missing on Sept. 6, 2008. At the time, Odjick was 16 and Alexander was 17. Shannon’s father Bryan said he has been waiting by the phone for months, hoping someone who knows the girls' whereabouts will call. The two girls were heading to a dance, on a Saturday night, and planned a sleepover at Bryan’s home. Bryan had left for the weekend to help his Son paint his home. When her returned he found the doors to his house locked, while inside, the girls had left their purses, their wallets, their identification, their backpacks — even Shannon's medication. But the girls themselves where nowhere to be found.
There is a 13,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of the girls. Maisy Odjick, now 17, is six-feet tall, 125 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Maisy has two piercings on her bottom lip and one in her nose. Shannon Alexander, now 18, is five feet nine inches, 145 pounds and also has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information should contact the Kitigan Zibi Police at 819-449-6000.
The state of health conditions on reserves should have identified First Nations as high-risk for pandemic alarm and put these communities at the top of the list for pandemic planning. Clearly this did not happen. Why? If is isn't systematic racism, what is it? This issue is larger than the current H1N1 virus, which is fortunately mild. We've learned that a future, more virulent pandemic will devastate First Nations communities if the system does not improve. The H1N1 also shows why disease and viral infections cause needless deaths in First Nation communities every year.
So let's consider what we already know about the epidemiology of H1N1 at St. Theresa's.
2005-Canada's Public Health Agency warned that First Nations would be at risk in event of a pandemic unless inter-jurisdictional protocols were developed along with plans for delivering antivirals. -2009, May 01-31-1356 people st the St. Theresa First Nation(total pop 3,200) visit the nursing station. That's more than 1/3 of the community. 567 of these reported respiratory illness. The nursing station reported the spike to Health Canada and provincial/regional health authorities. May 4-Provincial health officials offer to provide anti-viral medication to St. Theresa's. Federal health officials, who have jurisdiction over the reserve, refuse (story) May 4-30-The province repeats it's offer to bring anti-virals to St. Theresa 13 times. Each time Health Canada refuses. -mid-May St. Theresa's school is closed to control the spread of the virus. Federal provincial health authorities are notified as well as the federal department of Indian Affairs. While this should have been a red flag, there has still been no testing for H1N1 at this point and federal officials continue to refuse offers of help from the province. May 26-27 Because there has been no testing for H1N1, no warning is issued to avoid large gatherings. A Manitoba General Chief's Assembly is held at St. Theresa Point. May 26-June 1- Health officials fly two additional nurses and two doctors to St. Theresa Point May 26-June 1 - 7 people including 2 pregnant women are medivaced to Winnipeg with suspected H1N1 May 29-June 6 -Testing for H1N1 begins June 1-5-The spike in continues, 96 cases of respiratory illness are reported to the nursing station in 5 days. June 2- Media first picks up the story that 7 people including 2 pregnant women have been medivaced to Winnipeg from St. Theresa June 3 - The federal government finally accepts the province's offer to help, anti-virals and masks are sent to the community. June 3 - One of the pregnant women miscarries, the other delivers by emergency C-setcion. The two women and infant are in critical condition. June 3 - Two cases of H1N1 are confirmed at St. Theresa Point First Nation, a third case is confirmed at nearby South Indian Lake. June 3- The total number of hospitalized patients from St.Theresa's doubles to 20, hundreds more in the community complain of respiratory illness June 4- St. Theresa Chief David McDougall holds a press conference with two other chiefs from a neighbouring reserve. He complains of the initial slow action, poor communications and the government's refusal to build a hospital to serve remote First Nations communities. They also state that a lack of running water in some communities and over-crowded housing (12 persons per home) make it difficult to comply to health and safety recommendations such as avoiding gatherings and hand washing. June 5 - Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald goes public with allegations that federal officials originally refused help from he province. She adds that federal officials have refused to participate on press conference to share information with the public. June 5th - Federal officials agree to participate in future press conferences. They send an epidemiologist to the community to investigate how the virus spread.
If anything you've read here makes you concerned, please send and email to: Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq at: Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca Or Provincial Health Minister Theresa Oswald at: minhlt@leg.gov.mb.ca And please CC Don Kelly at the Assembly of First Nations at: dkelly@afn.ca As well as the Alexandra Paul at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs at: apaul@manitobachiefs.com
From the Winnipeg Free Press: The chief of Misipawistik Cree Nation and former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations and said systemic poverty for aboriginal people has to be overcome and he challenged aboriginal men to step up and assume the role of provider for women and children."They have to wake up to the reality that they are contributing to the poverty of our people by not taking measures to improve their households," he said following a press conference at the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre."They need to improve their education and go out and find jobs so they can earn income for their families." (Read the article)
This reminded me of a great teaching by an elder. The story goes like this.
A young man, in despair, seeks out an elder for advice.
He tells the elder: "I fooled around on my wife, and I left her for another woman. Now I only see my 2 kids on weekends. I started partying too much and lost my job. The woman I fooled around with got pregnant. She didn't like the fact that I wasn't working and had no money, so she left me. I am completely alone, I feel bad and my parents are on my case. No one in the community respects me anymore. I want to learn to be a traditional man so I can regain my self-respect, the respect of my parents and my community."
The elder replies: "You've come to the right place. The first thing you need to do is quit the boozing and partying. Then you must put on nice clothes and get a job. Once you have a job you need to buy a house, and move your two women and your three kids into the house and buy them all food, clothes and diapers. When you have accomplished this, come back and I will give you the second lesson on how to be a traditional man."
Following up on Wideyes suggestion, that folks should write to the school, the police, the crown attorney's office in Thunder bay about the case of the 7 year old child who was assaulted when a teacher's aide sheared his hair in class. I fully believe that the Crown Attorney should prosecute for assault, and that the police, the school and the school board who are all in the business of protecting children should be pushing the crown attorney's office to do so. I have updated my blog with addresses folks can write to if they are interested in encouraging the institutions involved (crown attorney, school board etc) to do the right thing.
Other folks may have differenct ideas of what actions/remedies need to be taken, and disagree with me about the assault issue. I’ve been following this story on other blogs (Dawg's blog, PP 2.0 - Dispatches by Northwestern Lad, The galloping Beaver, and It's all about potential to name a few. Good discussions BTW) and I've seen a number of people post ideas of what they’d like to see as remedies, the school board apologizing, sensitivty training etc. I think the main point is that we all agree this is unacceptable to happen to any child. Perhaps some letters can encourage them. Clearly encouragement is needed sicne they have done little over the past month since the incident occurred.
Here are some e-mail/snail-mail addresses to encourage these agencies to do the right thing. Update:Check the comments where folks are pitching in to add more contact info.
Director Gordon Fillmore (Crown Attorney Rep) Crown Attorney's Office 1805 E. Arthur Street Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 2R6 Fax: 625-1618
Chris Adams Thunder Bay Police Service 1200 Balmoral Street Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5Z5
McKellar Park Central Public School Principal: Michelle Probizanski Vice Principal: Melanie Mussellam (Acting) 301 N. Archibald Street Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 3Y3
Fax: 807-623-1586
Mayor Lynn Peterson 2nd Floor, City Hall 500 Donald Street E P.O. Box 800 Thunder Bay, ON, P7C 5K4
I read two stories in the Globe and Mail that reminded me of a couple of lessons or observations told me by an Ojibway Chief from a small community in Northern Ontario. The stories in question covered the CAW hard line position in the Fiat and Chrysler negotiations and Obama's "tempered optimism" on the economy.
The Chief told me that anybody can take a group of people who are poor, who have limited access to ready solutions, and rile them to protest and anger but it takes a true leader to take that same group of people and rile them to change their own situation for the better. He also said in a time of crisis you need to be on the floor with the people every day and sometimes two or three times a day even if to tell them that nothing has changed.
I am not a strong supporter of today's unions (although my blogging partner may feel differently). It is my belief they have lost their focus and purpose... their reason for being. In the Fiat/Chrysler story I see an example of a leader who must take the cheaper short cuts and rile his constituents to anger in defence of his position rather than lead them towards a solution. Obama has been in the news and in the face of his constituents every single day - he encourages, tells his people they will have to go through tough times but they will make it because they are strong and resilient...He has asked his country to change their behavior to better their place......
I wonder though if it is because how why union leaders are elected? To defend of fight for more not to necessarily lead through tough economic times or economic downturns? I really don't know maybe this is the time to realize not all warriors make good leaders all the time? Anyway, I think it is interesting to observe the teaching I received on such a grand stage.
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