Lost in the fuss as governments of British Columbia and Canada act to expropriate rights and lands of the Wet’suwet’en people is a sad situation that already gave proof to what should be Canada’s greatest shame…
Ruled by climate change deniers
Both the Horgan and Trudeau governments made symbolic commitments to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Neither was sincere. Horgan passed UNDRIP into BC law but now ignores the declaration. Trudeau said they would table a bill on UNDRIP but this week decided to put the promise aside. Indigenous people won’t be surprised by choices of either government. They’ve observed 150 years of oppressive acts and broken promises.
Delusion, deception, inertia
Faced with a choice between respecting Supreme Court confirmed indigenous governance and serving foreign financial interests (Shell, Petronas, and PetroChina), BC NDP joined with the land polluters, not the land protectors.
Forget what they say, watch what they do
Pal explained that I had wasted time reading platforms and promises. He said the only method of judging real intentions is to scrutinize a politician’s finances. Give me a list of contributors and full details of a candidate’s financial records. I’ll know exactly what to expect without reading platforms or listening to promises. Tell me who a politician is beholden to and I can figure out what they are going to do.
A Theatre Near You
We felt outrage over this and other indignities experienced by persons of colour in the USA. For some reason though, we paid no attention to segregation in our own community. Perhaps less conspicuous, but it was real…
Treaty 8
Report of Commissioners for Treaty No. 8 WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, 22nd September, 1899. The Honourable CLIFFORD SIFTON, Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, — We have the honour to transmit herewith the treaty […]
Questions
Does Justin Trudeau identify with the thousands of people who demonstrated in opposition to Kinder Morgan’s pipeline expansion or the handful of people who showed up to an industry sponsored counter protest?
Be opinionated, first be informed
We examine a reader’s comment and find the assertions made fail badly when tested for accuracy.
A promise made…
In the May 2017 election, only two of the main parties committed to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. BC Liberals were uncomfortable with clauses related to informed consent that would interfere with business of their corporate donors. John Horgan’s NDP Government and Andrew Weaver’s Green Party committed to a different approach. This was affirmed in today’s Throne Speech and we are left to hope the promises are not hollow, as were similar ones by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Linda Larson, Have You No Sense of Decency?
Liberal MLA Linda Larson’s comments were absolutely inappropriate, ill-informed and, quite frankly, incredibly ignorant. Just as the world still remembers other human-rights atrocities, like the Holocaust, to honour victims and learn from the past, the lasting effects of residential schools on First Nations people must also not be forgotten.
Canada’s indigenous suicide crisis
Inuit who lay claim to a third of Canada’s vast landmass, face shortened life expectancies, a high infant mortality rate, high rates of tuberculosis, widespread food insecurity, dangerously inadequate housing, and shockingly deficient local health care. But it was when Obed turned to the topic of suicide that the 750 people in the audience felt the full wintry force of his Arctic reproach…
Why the rush to spend billions?
BC Hydro’s own sales records demonstrate Site C is not needed. Domestic consumption of electricity has been flat for more than a decade and technological efficiencies indicate we will need less power, […]
Proceed without caution
Even slightly aware BC citizens know that Premier Clark and her accomplices are incompetent. Liberal managers include not a single person capable of completing a basic course in strategic decision making. The […]
Mr. Prime Minister, start pushing British Columbia
Trudeau says Indigenous people can teach the world how to care for the planet, APTN National News, November 30, 2015: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a speech in Paris that Indigenous […]
Alert Bay filmmaker wins San Francisco festival award
I’m headed to Alert Bay for Thursday’s showing of Barb Cranmer’s “Our Voices, Our Stories.” Ms. Cranmer, a partner in the Culture Shock gallery, just returned from the San Francisco Indian Film […]
Pacific Northwest LNG
Letter to PM Trudeau re Lelu Island https://www.scribd.com/embeds/289524162/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true
How a people live
The trailer for Lisa Jackson‘s fine documentary: How a People Live, the story of the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations of BC. The full 45 minute documentary is available through the CBC Player. I recommend […]
Racism taints Kwikwetlem reporting
This week we learned that Ron Giesbrect has been re-elected as Chief of the Kiwkwetlem band. The following was first published here October 8, 2014——————–My initial reaction to reports of compensation paid […]
Plus ça change…
Suzanne Methot reviewed Farley Mowat’s Walking on the Land, which was published in 2000. From that review: “Farley Mowat detailed government treatment of the Ihalmiut, First Nations people in Canada’s northern lands. […]
The doctor’s prescription
The Tyee presents testimony of Salmon Arm family physician Dr. Warren Bell to the NEB Northern Gateway hearings. Doctor’s Diagnosis: Pipeline Symptom of ‘Social Pathology’ is a thoughtful piece, well worth reading. […]
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