Dear editor,
I recently read an article by Frank Assu that was well written, objective and fairly balanced re the problems in this native community.
I also read the rebuttal in the Comox Valley Record by his cousin Sonny. The latter was self-centred, and vindictive, smacking of victimization.
There is no doubt that the situation in the Indian community smacks of gross mismanagement of funds or corruption of the first order.
When the federal government dared to suggest an auditor review the distribution of monies 鈥� $34 million dollars a year 鈥� Chief Theresa Spence arrogantly called for the United Nations to intercede, claiming that the band was being mistreated by the federal government and everyone should 鈥渕ove on without assigning blame.鈥� As per usual, the best defence is an offence.
The current federal plan to negotiate appears to be placating the Indians with unlimited funds, no taxation, free housing and the like. In fact, In my opinion, we have turned many native people, not all of course, into a variation of welfare bums constantly demanding more and more money from the federal coffers.
An idea may be to turn the existing reserves into First Nations parks and provide each band with a lodge or some building to continue their cultural activities.
Each member would then be eligible for an average-priced house in the nearest community. If the members chose to remain together as a group, in the park, they would be set up as a town, municipality or the like and be subject to the same, rules, grants, etc. as any other Canadian community living in their area.
Gone would be native and non-native communities living under different rules and grants, clearly an unequal scenario.
Discrimination does exist between natives and non-natives and the federal government is doing little or nothing to solve this problem.
I agree with Sonny Assu that we must fight stereotypes and not promote them. Not all First Nations people are lazy, drug addicts, uneducated or freeloaders.
On the other hand, First Nations peoples must take charge of their lives and live as equal Canadians in our society.
Attawapiskat is a shining example of how not to deal with our First Nations people and it is deplorable to see the NDP government rep for the area 鈥� MP Charlie Angus 鈥� cry foul and turn this disgrace into a political football. Shame on you, Charlie.
Average Canadians are entitled to know exactly how our taxpayers funds are being spent on First Nations. All monies paid out on behalf of the First Nations from the start of government grants must be factored into the treaty negotiations and paid for from the proceeds of the negotiations.
We must find a better way to settle treaty issues.
All Canadians must be treated equally and as a taxpayer. I sure don鈥檛 feel that this is the case under our current First Nations policy.
Dennis Guelpa,
Courtenay
