How can I debate Native Rights in Canada?

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

Where I live, native rights are an issue. Aborigonal people get special rights because of oppression towards them in the past and present. My friends argue that they would not experience opression if they didn't receive the benefits people envy such as free education. I disagree with this idea, and I think their belief is motivated by a desire to place themselves above another group. Furthermore, I think some native rights are good and others are bad, but I know something needs to be done to help this population. Also, free education is something everyone should have, and I think my friends are attempting to make people equal by taking away native rights instead of increasing other rights - like making education free for everyone. Regardless, I am having difficulty arguing on this issue, and I would like some help. Of course, they argue they have done nothing to natives and should not suffer because of ancestry - a valid argument but irrelevant to the issue of special rights to those who need them.

[RNK]

Tell him, that the federal government treats aboriginals like parrots.

Yes, they are given free food. A free home. No obligations.

But they are caged, and because of this, they have no chance to survive in the modern white world. The "free hand" they are given is nothing more than another tool of oppression in disguise.

You should talk to local Natives about it, if there are any. They are rare outside of their cages -- I mean Reserves.

[Eoin Dubh]

Here is something from your area which may be applicable for you when debating your friends. ;)
It is from the Communist Party of Canada:
-------------------------------------------
September 22, 2000

For a Peaceful and Just Solution
to the Burnt Church First Nation Crisis

Central Executive Committee
Communist Party of Canada

Racism and profits are behind the federal government's violent suppression of fishing by the Mi'kmaq people in Burnt Church First Nation. The Communist Party condemns the life-endangering police actions and mass arrests in Burnt Church.

The corporate media claim that Mi'kmaq fishers are ignoring depleted resources, the environment and the endangered jobs of white fishers. Federal scientists have exposed these claims as lies.

These false claims are part of the racism originating from the biggest corporations that have a stranglehold over Canada's rich natural resources. The common enemy of First Nation and non-aboriginal fishers is the multinational corporations that are depleting stocks, driving down livelihoods and inciting racism.

The federal government provoked the Burnt Church crisis by its violent denial of the Mi'kmaq Nation's treaty fishing rights, rights that have been affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada.

The federal government's actions are setting a dangerous precedent for the negotiation of treaty rights with all First Nations. Powerful political forces are calculating an escalation of the crisis will set back all current treaty rights, and further remove any prospect of settling outstanding land claims.

The corporations that dominate the economy have a narrow, self-interested stake in the outcome of the Burnt Church crisis. They oppose any land claims and self-government agreements that may limit their control over Canada's rich natural resources.

This strategy is coming out openly in the platform of the Canadian Alliance Party. The CA rejects "race-based allocation of harvest rights to natural resources. (The CA) position in land claims negotiations will be to ensure respect for existing private property rights."

The CA says not a word about the historical colonial theft of First Nations' land! Their policies aim to assimilate First Nations in Canada, by refusing to recognize the inherent rights of First Nations as nations.

Link:
http://www.communist-party.ca/news/Stateme...00/brntchrk.htm (http://www.communist-party.ca/news/Statements/2000/brntchrk.htm)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And We do further strictly enjoin and require all Persons whatever who have either wilfully or inadvertently seated themselves upon any Lands within the Countries above described, or upon any other Lands which, not having been ceded to or purchased by Us, are still reserved to the said Indians as aforesaid, forthwith to remove themselves from such Settlements." -Royal Proclamation Act, 1763.

Bruce Clark was a lawyer defending aboriginals after the Gustafsen lake resistance. He used the above Royal proclamation during the trial to prove that any settler occupied land was illegal.

Check out what the Mounties (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) had to say about him:

"Kill this Clark, smear the prick and everyone with him." -Dennis Ryan, RCMP Gustafsen Lake Crisis Management Team, Sept. 1995. Disclosed during the Gustafsen trial.

http://ocap.ca/node/124

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/44/066.html

"It's the real criminals who are in control here. The judges. The lawyers. The politicians. And in the enforcement arm, the RCMP and its agencies. These are the real criminals because they're covering up the theft of native land."

-William Ignace, imprisoned Shuswap elder

[BillHicks]

1. Engage the plays and texts of Tomson Highway, and the relevant criticism, especially 'Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing" re: the Kimberly-Clark paper mill in Kapuskasing Ont that manufactures the newsprint for the NY Times and the oral/written Gutenburg issue

2. Look up the name Gabrielle Slowey w.r.t. FN land claims etc
http://www.cst.ed.ac.uk/2005conference/pap...lowey_paper.pdf (http://www.cst.ed.ac.uk/2005conference/papers/Slowey_paper.pdf)

3. Take a look at the Charlottetown Accord and how it would have created a third order of government (Aboriginal Self-Government) equal to the other two (Fed/Prov):
http://northernblue.ca/canchan/cantext/constitu/1992char.php (Section IV)

[chimx]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2006, 05:56 AM
You should talk to local Natives about it, if there are any. They are rare outside of their cages -- I mean Reserves.
dude, what the fuck? maybe you should talk to some local natives. come out to montana and talk to some Salish and Kootenai about how they live in "cages" up on the flathead.