As the hunger strike of Teresa Spence (Native Canadian Chief) continues, the plot thickens and also brings to light other aspects of Native Rights.
When it appeared like the Prime Minister Stephen Harper would meet with Spence and other members of the First Nations Council, she became unsatisfied with that result. She originally said her goal was a face to face talk with Stephen Harper, but now it seems she has her eye on the attention of an international audience.
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| Teresa Spence - Native Chief on Hunger Strike |
In my original blog on the topic, I likened Chief Spence to a child who holds their breath to get what they want. And like a petulant child who is given in to, they are constantly wanting, “MORE, MORE, MORE! NOW, NOW, NOW!”
It seems that the little bit of notoriety she has gleaned from her hunger strike may have gone to her head. She has begun to alienate the press AND the other Chiefs of the First Nations of Canada. However, this brings to light another very important factor in Native Rights that is hardly ever addressed.
A very serious issue was brought to my attention a while back, when natives on Reservations wanted their own, private, Native only, police force. This was pushed for by several Chiefs and in some locations this right was granted. (But once crime got out of control the RCMP had to go in again to restore and maintain order.) However, there were many, people who lived on these reservations that were against these private police forces from the beginning. I asked, “Why?”
What people on the “outside” (of reservation living) may be unaware of is that the Natives in control of these reservations act very much like the mafia. THEY get the money, THEY have the power, THEY have the voice. The only time the poor are focused on is when spotlighting a few of them is of use to gain more funds from the Government. But the majority of natives on reservations are poor because they are NOT part of the “inner circle” of natives who control the Reservations.
About 90% of those living on a reservation are everyday people just like you: Decent, ready for hard work, hoping to make a live able wage, send their kids to college and make a better life for their future generations. While the other 10% (the Chiefs, their families and “henchmen”) get all the money, the power, control every aspect of reservation life and have the ear of the Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister.
While Government funds allocated to native programs go to the Chief and his band, the price the average Reservation Native pays for attempting to change things and speaking out will be: the loss of their job, their home taken, an education denied to their children, threats to their family, free drugs given to their children (addicts are easier to control) and ultimately beatings.
And once a person is in that position, … leaving and getting free is next to impossible. How would they get the money to leave? How do they leave unnoticed? Who is there to help them once they escape? Who will even believe them? They’re poor, unemployed, uneducated, with family members addicted to drugs and terrified to open their mouths? Would you believe someone like that? Or would you rather take the word of a native leader who is highly educated, well spoken, has a beautiful house, a “sweet ride” and is wearing a $8,000 suit?
Do you want an indicator of whether I’m wrong or right?
Next time you see a native person speaking in the media about life on the reservation (someone who isn’t part of the 10% governing elite), note that their names will be withheld and their identity disguised.
Question: “Why hide who they are”? Because they’re poor, or unemployed or saying reservations need better conditions? Why would talking about that require anonymity?
Answer: They’re afraid because they haven’t been given permission to speak. And once you’ve spoken, where in Canada could you go to be safe after you’ve opened your mouth against those in charge AND they know your identity? (PLUS, you might still have family or friends living on the Reservation that they can “get to”)
It’s THEIR rights we should be concerned about. They may be going hungry, like Teresa Spence, but it won’t be by their own choice. If OUR Prime Minister feels compelled to meet with members of the native community, why doesn’t he bypass the “higher ups” (and their pressure tactics) and take a surprise, unscheduled stroll onto a Reservation to look around. Maybe have a private chat with all those people who live each day in a PRISON of poverty, intimidation and fear. With no hope for pardon or parole.
