Native Canadians
Sun, 2007-08-26 08:22
#1
Native Canadians
Sun, 2007-08-26 08:22
#2
I have just read the article written by Sue Collis about her husband. I am so appalled at the way our Native Canadians are treated by almost everyone - government, bureaucracies of all sorts, the legal system, the medical system, the educational system - that I had to write in support of her and her husband's activities. I am not in favour of violence of any kind, from anyone, but Ghandi's approach of passive resistance worked well in India and it's time it was used in Canada.
Sun, 2007-08-26 08:55
#3
[url=http://www.rabble.ca/in_her_own_words.shtml?sh_itm=63e6719638099df206990... The Sue Collis article[/url]
Sun, 2007-08-26 10:28
#4
Thanks for your comments, Oban (and your link, Sharon!). Welcome to babble!
Sun, 2007-08-26 11:03
#5
Hi Oban, welcome to babble. Glad you finally posted.
Sun, 2007-08-26 15:57
#6
A friendly reminder...
I know that people mean well when discussing Native issues. But, please do not call Natives in any discussion "our" Native people, or "our" aboriginal people, etc.
Native people, First Nations people, aboriginal people, etc. do not belong to anyone.
Native people have a difficult enough time being considered wards of the Government through the Indian Act and do not wish to be considered anyone's property. The word "our" signifies that Native people are property.
When discussing Native people or aboriginal people, or First Nations people, indigenous people...please use the word "the" Native people, or "the" First Nations people, etc.
Thanks.
[img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Sun, 2007-08-26 16:44
#7
saga
quote:
Originally posted by Oban:
[b]I have just read the article written by Sue Collis about her husband. I am so appalled at the way our Native Canadians are treated by almost everyone - government, bureaucracies of all sorts, the legal system, the medical system, the educational system - that I had to write in support of her and her husband's activities. I am not in favour of violence of any kind, from anyone, but Ghandi's approach of passive resistance worked well in India and it's time it was used in Canada.[/b]
I agree ... absolutely appalling. Perhaps a rerun of the protests of 96-97 WITH Indigenous people would demonstrate the point to the public? Say ... 401 ... rush hour? Sue Collis is absolutely right: We shut Toronto down for one day and Hamilton for two days, and NOBODY got charged with anything. At the time I thought that was appropriate, and I still do. [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img] However, it is certainly a WHOLE lot different that the way Shawn Brant is treated.
As for passive resistance ... What about the Tyendinaga blockades has been non-passive? They never even came in contact with police, except at the first blockade for negotiating ... an agreement the OPP promptly broke.
Caledonia was another negotiated and broken agreement that resulted in violence ... "We used a LOT of force." OPP offiocers said. That is because the negotiated agreement was that people on the site would be giovern a chance to leave before being arrested. They were told by police that they had to leave or be arrested, but when people turned to leave they were chased, tackled, tasered, beaten to the ground by 5 cops to one person. It was absolutely disgusting, must NEVER happen again.
One has to wonder why the OPP has invested in training for special aboriginal negotiating unit if the negotiators are always overruled from the top? OPP never keep their word. What is the point of negotiating with them? They won't be believed again.
Ghandi and his people won independence from Britain by bring the colonial economy down ... through economic disruption. This is exactly the Mohawks' strategy, and as Malcolm X said ... "I am non-violent with anyone who is non-violent with me."
[ 27 August 2007: Message edited by: saga ]
Mon, 2007-08-27 12:47
#8
Thanks Red Cedar - it's not my intention to be rude.
Fri, 2007-08-31 10:15
#9
saga
[url=http://www.thewhig.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=676298&cat... ocal+News&classif=[/url]
Activist granted bail; Shawn Brant led Aboriginal protests
Jeremy Ashley / Osprey News Network
Local News - Friday, August 31, 2007 @ 00:00
Mohawk activist Shawn Brant was ordered to stand trial on nine criminal charges before walking out of a Dundas Street West courthouse and into the arms of friends and loved ones yesterday.
Brant, who has spent the last two months in custody, was released on strict bail conditions including not to participate in any demonstrations or protests and not to leave his house for the next 30 days without police permission.
[ 31 August 2007: Message edited by: saga ]
Fri, 2007-08-31 12:35
#10
Yay!
Just one thing - please don't quote entire articles here. Quote a paragraph or two and link to the rest. It's a copyright violation otherwise. Could you please edit your post?
Fri, 2007-08-31 18:08
#11
saga
quote:
Originally posted by Michelle:
[b]Yay!Just one thing - please don't quote entire articles here. Quote a paragraph or two and link to the rest. It's a copyright violation otherwise. Could you please edit your post?[/b]
WHAT? You are not going to move the thread? [img]confused.gif" border="0[/img] [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img] [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img]
[ 31 August 2007: Message edited by: saga ]
Tue, 2007-09-04 10:45
#12
Oban,
i know t was absolutely not your intention to be rude, and i know all this PC stuff can be daunting...
but i bristled when i saw the term Native CANADIANS
not being overly-PC, but many Native people dont recognize the legitimacy of the Canadian state and dont identify as Canadians
just pointing that out [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Tue, 2007-09-04 12:44
#13
sigh.
Welcome to the left, Oban.
Tue, 2007-09-04 13:49
#14
Hey now.
I think we can all benefit from learning the terms of reference when it comes to these issues.
I noticed that Ward had posted a forum title suggestion in another thread, using the term "Native Canadians" in it. I remember thinking at the time, most Native activists I've read about and come into contact with do not call themselves "Native Canadians" for that very reason: they do not recognize the legitimacy of "Canada" which is basically stolen land.
Oban seems like a pretty decent person who is sympathetic to the cause. Most of us are happy to learn new frames of reference when we're learning about various movements and such. Maybe "the left" does go on too much about words, but then, a lot of people believe words and frame of reference are important.
If I'm not mistaken, I think in the US, "Native American" is considered an acceptable term, so I can see where the confusion would come in.
Basically, people should call people what they want to be called. And I don't see why anyone should take offense at being told very nicely (as was done here) what the preferred terminology is.
Tue, 2007-09-04 14:24
#15
and none of it was done rancorously
no disrespect was ittended
and none was meant in pointing out the alternate terminology
Tue, 2007-09-04 14:25
#16
But where are my manners? Welcome to babble, radionihilist! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Tue, 2007-09-04 15:02
#17
I don't think there really are any good terms for the two thousand or so independent nations "we" met on these Turtle islands (and subsequently dispossessed, destroyed and imprisoned) as even 'First Nations', the best of the lot I know of, implies a kind of vague multiple partnership with Canada since. Too bad Columbus had such a poor understanding of geography. (not that that would have altered the end results any) Maybe someone could come up with something better someday, but meanwhile I don't think too much can be infered by their use, unless they're used in some derogatory or patronizing way.
Wed, 2007-09-05 03:49
#18
quote:
Oban seems like a pretty decent person who is sympathetic to the cause.
....who hasn't posted since August 27....
A decent person who is sympathetic to aboriginal issues or issues of fairness and decency would, I expect, pick up the language through osmosis, if given the chance.
As polite as everyone was in their hurry to educate-- and I fully understand and appreciate why-- it seems to have been self defeating.
Wed, 2007-09-05 06:34
#19
thanks Michelle! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]