These vast sums of cash you claim are doled out to the dept of indian affairs are not equitably distributed to the actual native americans. I lived in the province of quebec for 18 of the 22 years I lived in canada. What you say regarding the vast sums of money they receive is something that is without validation. You can say anything you want, you can even believe what you say if you so desire, however reality has another side , another perspective, which shows the canadian indian living on far less than the average canadian family, and those who stay with their culture, there language, have less than a fair chance of finding equitable employment, Native Americans whether in Canada or the USA have a far shorter life span than the canadian or american citizen, In the USA the male native american lives less than 50 years, I don't have the statistics but I would bet its less or about the same in canada. A large part of the native americans are for some unknown reason lacking in the ability to metabolize ethanol. I can't drink. The first time I drank more than an once of ethanol I went into a comma that lasted 8 hours, I was about 12. The next time I drank half a half picture of beer was in the navy , I ended up in sick bay for three days with acute gastritus SP? Over the years I built up the devastating consequences of having a couple of drinks, but the world is a better place if I don't drink. The last stastics I read in a medical journal is that it kills 1 1/2% of all native americans in their youth. If it affected the europeans or jewish community in a like matter it would be illegal. In the texas county that I grew up in ethanol in any form was illegal. You obviously haven't access to the real facts about the inequalities of income and quality of life of the natives in quebec or elsewhere, neither do you have any concept of treating the north american native american indian sub-cultures as a separate culture entirely who faced the greatest hohocaust in recorded history, You prefer to name a couple of family groups as they appear in your history, which is a best a halftruth if not an all out lie. Sitting down with one indian , getting him drunk and having him sign a paper that you have prepared in a language he doesn't understand may be good enough for the conclusions you draw, but in my world, which is real , The Pseudo-Accord has no meaning at all. I perceive the native american tribes, which once numbered over 10,000 as having been exterminated By your ancestors, and their native lands have been denatured to the point that its not safe to drink the water, most of the wildlife has vanished save the few who overpopulate because the bounties you put on their ears and skins have ended their existence in " La Belle Province " Further in your intended Constitution, once you sepatate, it's quite clear as to the ownership of all native territories, Your intentions are to disenfranchise them completely. And then your patois/quebecois will learn the meaning of what its like to survive in a world without bridges and dams---You think its a joke, the dams and bridges part, don't you? He who laughs last laughs loudest. Whats wrong with the concept of respecting your neighbor as yourself, rather than trying to shove a dying language down his ear, Respect, freedom of speech, respect any other persons culture unless its determination is to destroy yours, then live as close as you can to this person, if its allowed, if not then play by his rules, there is no crime if you can't describe it
So, if I understand you well, the native american people are a sub-human specie that can be brought to agree on anything with a bit of booze, and that his word and signature is worth nothing?
There's no doubt that native americans have been victimized massively by the US and Canadian government in the past and still are today, but so is a lot of other people (think "black people", "jews", "irish", etc...).
It's rare not to find someone who's ancestors haven't been prosecuted over the last centuries. A lot of native americans left their primitive way of living, and joined the modern society - as most people did too.
If a french canadian guy is stubborn enough to refuse to change his way of life, and insist on living the same way his ancestors did hundred of years ago, he can expect the same living conditions and life expectancy - 40 years old-, that's his choice.
But somehow, for native americans, it is only expected of them to continue this primitive way of living, and blame other people for their misery. What was the life expectancy of native americans before the white man came? Much below 50 years old, to be sure.
Truth is, a lot of native american rejected this proposal and left the reserves to join the modern society (lots of ordinary quebecers have native american ancestors), but aren't categorized as native americans anymore. Only those who decide to stay in those self-imposed ghettos where misery, alcoholism, delinquency, and child an women abuse are rampant (all being subsidized by the government's welfare) count as the legitimate voice of native americans.
It's great time the native american to stop living in the past.
With confidence I can say that the reason that Natives have a bad life on the reserve is because they rely on government to build their homes, fund their schools, etc. If the government has failed aboriginals in the past what makes them think things will change?
Best thing to do is give individual band members property rights and let the bands sell their resources (mining, forestry, hunting) to create economic development and jobs and not to rely on hand outs. No point discussing the negative effects of welfare here.
As for Quebec seperation, why not? Let the dead weight of Canada go. No more language regulations that cost business money, but more importantly no more equalization and the subsization of inefficiency and welfarism.
Ludwig von Mises Institute | 518 West Magnolia Avenue | Auburn, Alabama 36832-4528
Phone: 334.321.2100 · Fax: 334.321.2119
contact@Mises.org | webmaster | AOL-IM MainMises
Mises.org sitemap