Apr 11, 2007
Aboriginal Protests: Do They Work?
In today's reality, are Aboriginal protests worth it to get a message across or do they just hurt our image?
Is confrontation the answer or is effective negotiation a better option?
Posted by Brazman at 6:02 PM
21 comments:
You know when I see on TV the different interest groups carrying sings ,holding hands and uniting in a cause, I think of unity and how important it is . When I see a warrior dressed in battle fatigues confronting military personal I think of the need to .When I think of the ill effects of negotiations that have gone on before . I am left without hope . Integrity will do a lot if brought to the table of negotiation ,but without it there will be ill effects . We have the treaty's , we have the Royal Proclamation , and we have the Royal Commissions Report . How are we to negotiate these things without giving up either part or partial ? Why confront ,or negotiate , is there not a way to take a hold of what we have already ? Are we to become civic-ally disobedient in order to negotiate for something less than what has already been brought to light ? We have no options , we are at a end . We may be able to make them listen , and enter into negotiations but we cannot give them Integrity .... Terry
Hello again,
You sure have grabbed my attention with your questions.
Yes, Protests do work. They leave a lasting impression on the people involved, the people who where impressed (media, local awareness, bc and national chiefs). Those images and memories do not go away.
Back in 2005, I protested in Haida Gwaii at the Yakoun Logging Protest Camp. Pictures can be found at the Council of Haida Nations: Forest Guardians website, or my personal bebo website.
Confrontation is necessary, always has been. Otherwise the message never gets out to the mainstream media and then nobody hears of it.
As for hurting our Image ~ Never believe that standing up for one's rights is shameful. Show them we have spines in our backs. We stand up for ourselves, our livihoods, our families.
Negotiation only delays the inevitable. Today's wars are not always faught with guns and bombs, but with words, what do you think those back marking on paper are all about. Treaties as far as I can feel, are about tricking the natives of their resources, not for trinkets, but for paper money (with Haida art on no doubt to show in a hidden sort of way, that the government is profiting from natives without giving back to them.)
In the end, as natives and non-natives, we have to promote abundance and not greed. Greed limits abundance, and creates unnecessarily defensive and offensive measures on both sides.
The creator has shown us abundance, does the bird, Robin have to earn its food? No a buffet awaits on the lawn in front of him. He moves elsewhere if the lawn is bare or dried out.
Thanks, Howaa! for opportunity to speak a little of my mind.
Regards,
Todd (Gannyaa)
Patrick,
Great question!
Well ... it seems to me that reclaiming your land is the only way to go. Even Barbara McDougall admitted that - the government doesn't act on land claims unless there are people inconvenienced.
Then, of course, your name is mud from the get go ... it seems hopeless because the government intends it that way.
Information demonstrations ... we have had good luck with that approach. Provide education ... people go for that.
Canadians want to understand the issues, I believe, but when it is filtered from you through the government through the media ... what we get is just distortions.
I like the concept of LEGAL blockades on June 29, where treaties have been broken and thus forfeit. That would be a good educational demonstration for Canadians of the scope of the issues.
I am interested to know what urban aboriginal people are planning for that day.
regards
a Six Nations supporter and
Canadians for Aboriginal Rights.
http://cfar.proboards104.com
cfar_ck@yahoo.ca
Hello Cfar,
Thanks for the question and your timing couldn't have been better.
The CAP Board of Directors met last week to discuss a wide array of issues, including the upcoming "National Day of Protest" set for June 29, 2007.
CAP will not endorse this national day of protest because we believe it is being held for the wrong reasons. Having said that, we know that some off-reserve Aboriginal people may participate and that is their personal right to do so.
What I've heard in the last several months with respect to this protest, seems to be linked to a perceived lack of money.
There are several leaders who are calling on the federal government to honour Kelowna. Some are displeased with the 2007 budget and some are questioning some of the cutbacks in funding that has occured in the last year.
I believe that before anyone would endorse this national day of protest, ask yourself this question:
If money is the issue for this protest and if indeed the answer is that more money be pumped into reserve communities, shouldn't communities be held to account to their people as to where/how the current money is spent? Wouldn't increased accountability make it easier for all Canadians to assess if more money is the answer? I believe before protesting on the issue of money, we have to deal with structural changes to the system(both government and Aboriginal) so that we keep in focus with the real issues.
CAP is currently working with all levels of government to bring about greater equity of access of funding and opportunities, which are based on results-not blank cheques for the benefit of off-reserve Aboriginal peoples.
To that end, keep visiting our website for up to date news and future announcements. Cheers!
On May 2, 2007, I will participate in a panel on a tv show entitled, TVO's "The Agenda" with Steve Paikin and this very topic of protests will be discussed.
The show is scheduled to air at 8:00pm(02/05/07) and the theme includes:
1) are we headed towards a hot summer of Aboriginal protests;
2) aboriginal poverty; and
3) how to handle protests.
Also scheduled to appear are both Ministers Prentice and Ramsey(Ontario). Please tune in and offer your views.
I believe protests are needed because 'negotiations' with gov't often result in our side of the negotiation 'giving away with cap in hand'.
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your input.
As you are aware, any type of negotiation is a "give and take" exercise and the offers made by the other party are usually brought to the people for ratification and in most cases, Aboriginal groups operate on the basis of consensus rather than simple majority.
I believe this process leads to greater credibility and democracy and in the end, it is the people who accept or reject those offers.
I have said time and time again that although friendly protests do work, at times, negative protests do not work and in fact, hampers progress that could be made.
When individuals, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal are inconvenienced for reasons they do not know, it sheds a negative light on the protest and the protesters. We are unfortunately seen as whinners and complainers.
I believe in order to be successful, we, collectively have to better educate our people with respect to the process of negotiations and we must do a better job at educating the general public of our issues and some of the wrong-doings upon Aboriginal people. When people are made aware of our issues and understand them, people are generally more sympathetic to try and address them and assist us.
I think it's time to stop pointing fingers and start taking responsibility for the future we want for ourselves. Continuously playing the "blame-game" has not helped our cause in the last 300 years and I don't see it helping us or our children in the future.
I'm not suggesting we forget the past and history of this country towards Aboriginal people but it is time we set the course we want for ourselves, while acknowledging the fact that "we are all here to stay".
We are the ones who should correct the wrongs that have been done - we should not expect others to do it for us.
That is why I believe protests only work when people have an understanding of the issue(s) before the protest actually happens, as opposed to protesting believing it will educate people.
What measures or steps can or should be taken, other than protests to shed a positive light on the issues we face in this country?
I believe OKA in the early 90's was a protest that proved to be quite positive except for the fact that someone got shot and that was unfortunate and should have never happened.
In today's reality, I think protests give Aboriginal people a bad name and Canadians view us as being whinners.
Duing the First Nations Governance Initiative, our band council urged people in the community to jump on a bus to go protest against the governance act in Ottawa. The fact of the matter is that most people who were on the bus had no idea why they were going to protest but I think the majority of community people were supportive of the act.
In the end, we were pursuaded to protest against something people wanted because protest was the indian thing to do but it was for the wrong reasons.
Instead of protesting, we should concentrate on working together so that consensus is built in formalizing strong positions. What is happening right now is chiefs running scared because they are being outted. It is time things change and this national day of protest is not the way to go. Chiefs should listen to their people!
Brazman,
I saw the Agenda and ... I guess you are responding to the AFN's involvement in June 29, but that protest day was announced and happening before the elected councils bought in. It will continue to happen if they pull out, too. It is about the land and the environment and revenue sharing, about inherent rights and traditional land stewardship.
It is about the fact that where treaties have been broken, Canada (and CN, etc.) have no legal access across the land!
We did an information-demo yesterday among the urban arts-environment crowd that told me there is a LOT of support among Canadians. Hell, they were signing our petition even though it was too dark for them to even read it!! When I mentioned the day of protest, their only question was "where do I sign up?"
We are all fed up with our governments that operate on the shady side of the law, stonewalling implementation of rights for economic reasons. A lot of us also recognize that aboriginal rights and control over land use represent a HUGE environmental leap forward.
The tired old 'Canadians won't like you if you protest' is just propaganda. It comes from the over 60's and tories of all ages, and the msm frankly.
Most of us who are retired and becoming the 'senior' generation now came of age to Vietnam, Kent State, Jimi Hendrix and climbing on and off buses not knowing what we were protesting that day, but it was all worth protesting!! I spoke to several people who, like me, did the 'back to the land' thing back in the day. We are grandparents now, and VERY concerned about the health of the planet and the (lack of) environmental or human ethics of big government and big business.
Time will tell, but I think if you miss this boat you will regret it.
Hi G,
I certainly appreciate the comments and the suggestion you had to offer.
I have acknowledged that many protests have proven to be useful and others that have outright paved the way for positive movement on Aboriginal issues.
I just don't believe this "National Day of Action" is happening for the right reasons. I somewhat have to disagree with you when you state that this is about, "...the land and the environment and revenue sharing, about inherent rights and traditional land stewardship.
It is about the fact that where treaties have been broken, Canada (and CN, etc.) have no legal access across the land"!
Although those are fundamental issues that we still need to deal with, I have not heard that from other leaders who will be participating on June 29th.
What I have heard is a protest because of budget cuts, lack of funding, the government not honouring the Kelowna Agreement etc...In other words, it's all about money but at the same time these leaders will say it's about treaties, the environment and other "important issues" when everyone knows fully well that it's about the Chiefs wanting more money.
As long as Chiefs perpetuate a system that is discriminatory, that is self-serving and that continues the welfare-state of depency then I think this is a boat I will not regret missing because that will not help our people.
For more information, please visit:
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePublication.aspx?SourceId=186623&Lang=1&PARLSES=391&JNT=0&COM=10463
"I have said time and time again that although friendly protests do work, at times, negative protests do not work and in fact, hampers progress that could be made." ~ Brazman.
Sure a Protest may start out peacefully until the local Canadians start getting upset, drunk and pulling out weapons, because of loss of job income.
Canadians if they have a stiff against Aboriginals will always have a stiff and so will most of their children and grand-children. Old feuds often never die.
My friend the Haida Researcher found this ..
The North-West (Port Townsend) Newspaper made the following statement:
“The Indians are a loathesome and indolent race, of no earthly use to themselves or anybody else in the community -- save the doctors ... ... Let the Indians be sent to the Reservations where they belong ... [and then] our natural resources would rapidly develop, society would improve and strengthen, and free-love and atheism find fewer endorsers on the shores of Puget Sound” (North-West: May 24, 1862, p. 2 ).
Haida Researcher Link
http://Brodie-B.bebo.com
The government set up then is perpetrated by people today. No real laws or progress has changed since. Just political posturing.
Today major changes have to be made for the future of aboriginal generations. Its the responsibility of Chiefs to act as if they are already sovereign. Ask the government to divide the funds individually ~ relieving some responsibility / accountability from the First Nation Chief.
Protesting does work... Either positively or negatively. Small and large business thrive on negative publicity ~ gives them a chance to make right and earn unexpected media attention.
Howaa! Again for a voice.
Regards,
Gannyaa
What do the people who are going say it is about?
Hi G,
What I've heard from some leaders across this country is that this National Day of Action is about "land claims" and "treaties" and about poverty. To me, that's just rhetoric to garnish support.
If you really look at the people who are supportive of this national day of action, it is a handful of chiefs...it is not the grassroots people themselves. Many grassroots people I've talked to have absolutely no clue of what this day is all about.
We should not diminish the importance of land claims and treaties but in my opinion, this national day of protest is all about talk of potential financial cutbacks to the AFN, it is about the federal government not honouring Kelowna(which would have substantially increased the AFN's budget)and perhaps it is about the increasing talk of accountability or lack thereof from some Aboriginal leaders. Whatever the reason and whatever the justification, it might make people feel great to out and protest but if chiefs really cared about "Making Poverty History" they would be protesting to eliminate the single biggest contributing factor to Aboriginal poverty in this country - the Indian Act. It's time to reconstitute our Nations. Imagine the day where we would have between 60-80 Chiefs of real Nations as opposed to the current 633 of fragmented comunities of those Nations.
The majority of Aboriginal people support the idea, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal peoples made the recommendation, UN Indigenous experts also issued reports to that effect but those who not support are chiefs. Why is that?
Those who are most affected by the Indian Act are Aboriginal people living both on and off-reserve whether they know it or not. Those who stand to benefit most from the Indian are the band chiefs and councils.
If Aboriginal people were aware of the potential that lay before them without an Indian Act, we would instantaneously and collectively change the lives of hundreds of thousands of Aboriginal people. I'm not convinced that June 29th will do that but if it does, then I stand corrected!
"they would be protesting to eliminate the single biggest contributing factor to Aboriginal poverty in this country - the Indian Act. It's time to reconstitute our Nations."
............
I am involved in organizing non-aboriginal Canadians to support the Indigenous Nations in protesting the theft of land and resources and the involvement of elected politicians in distorting and sidetracking land disputes "to limit the liability of the Crown". It is all about money, and yet while the moneychangers count their coins, the earth that sustains us all is being destroyed.
We will be out in support on June 29. We are hoping to raise awareness right across the country of the need for respect for our existing Canadian laws: Sec 35 of the Constitution, respecting "existing aboriginal rights and treaties" and of the Supreme Court rulings that say the government "must uphold the Honour of the Crown" in aboriginal rights issues, AND that "the Crown has a duty to consult and accommodate" the plans of Indigenous peoples for their traditional and treaty lands.
Assertion of aboriginal rights on traditional lands, and Traditional Indigenous stewardship of those lands is critical to all of our futures, to preserve the land, to stop the pollution and desecration that threaten us all.
These are issues of concern to all of us.
can we agree that at least we agree...for what ever reason we protest make it your own and be united in at least this one thing....if it is true as you say it is about more money for the chiefs then let them have more...if some spills over to someone that maybe dosent deserve it as much than the chief then so be it for now...we need to get back and if we can unite on unity alone then so be it...stop wining and enter the protest and make it your own for your own reason as you say the chifes are making it their own and I will make it my own ,,,,but let us unite...Katou
I see what you are suggesting. I agree with the concept of Indigenous Nations leaders. Good luck with that!
I think the 29th can be a day to inform Canadians about any issues you choose, not just the AFN's agenda.
Negotiations, Negotiations what about meandhow does this immediately benefit me? What is left is financially destitute for the "Grassroots" people.
New governing bodies who have won a popularity contest in their community; do they have the capacity to run a multi-million dollar corporation? I will let you decide. I don't care if they are from that family or this family, can they run a mulit-million dollar corporation? These are the same elected officals accountable for your future. They get elected and are thrown into negotiations, who is their best friend, Lawyers and anyone associated with billable hours for direct invoicing to the First Nations. Now, how about our side, negotiations cost MONEY, perdiems and travel expenditures... and are classified as advances on final settlement. You do the math, let's see who is getting benefiting. There again, what actually trickles down to the "Grassroots' people, we so called statistically being counted again and again by the Indian Act, during all these negotiations for the betterment of our peoples.
In the 70's Cheif and Council would receive about $500per month to be an elected official and had to pay their own way to meetings. And when they weren't heard, then drastic measures were set up, like demonstrations and/or roadblocks, whatever it took to be heard.
If I was living on-reserve and all levels of goernments have not met the time constraints in achieving a task towards effective negotiations then I say it is time to demonstrate for my local issues. Due keep in mind that the more people involved or indirectly involved costs MONEY. Demonstrations must be utilized as the last line of defence, while educating both non-native and native peoples as the first line of offence.
Demonstrating Nationally, isn't that what "Paid" elected officials are for? Then if that fails and fails, the white guy over there asks for a resignation of his elected official. So therefore, if you are not getting a bang for your buck of your elected official then, some communities enact on the Vote Of Non-Confidence.
Let's hear thatvoice from the past who said "BC IS INDIAN LAND". This is an old fight from the 70's and look how much money has been thrown at this old fight and to only come full circle. Who has benefited from this old fight and are we that much ahead?
This is an old band-aid being taken off slowly, so exactly what does this have to dowith Off-Reserve Indians? What are the Off-Reserve issues and what are you doing to advocate on my behalf as a "TOWN INDIAN"?
Lim Limdt,
59700###01
Okanagan Nation
Very pertinent question on the issue of advocacy.
We are currently in the midst of educating parlimentarians, non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal people alike regarding the discrimination, disparities and unequal treatment Aboriginal people living off-reserve encounter every day and the reasons attached to this differential treatment.
In our outreach strategy, it must be stated that contrary to popular belief, most Canadians are not aware of Aboriginal issues in general. Many people may say it's because they don't care but I think it's because we are doing a poor job at communicating our issues with the rest of Canada.
Much of this is, in my opinion a question of leadership or lack thereof. We can no longer "assume" that people are educated on Aboriginal issues and that they will come to our rescue.
That is step #1(public education outreach). Step#2 includes attepmting at bringing equitable treatment for ALL Aboriginal people in terms of education, housing, health benefits etc...Basically, it's all about providing equal opportunities. Step #3 of CAP's advocacy is about bringing specific concerns and issues to the attention of both levels of government that benefits or seeks to benefit all off-reserve Aboriginal people. To this end, we will shortly post a list of CAP accomplishments throughout our 36 year history that highlights the political advocacy role that we do that has and continues to benefit the off-reserve Aboriginal population.
WHAT ABOUT THE YOUTH???
If I am right in understanding your question, let me assure you that we involve CAP and off-reserve youth as much as we possibly can...from policy development to having an official elected National Youth Representative that sits and has voting rights and is a full Board member of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.
Moreover, it is a requirement from our delegate system that each Province select one youth as official voting delegates at our Annual General Assemblies.
CAP has a young, vibrant and functional youth council that is trying to tear down systemic barriers that young Aboriginal people have been facing for decades. They are also developing policies that directly affect Aboriginal youth throughout Canada, which includes over-representation in prisons, youth gangs, drug and alcohol abuse, racism and discrimination to name a few. Basically, they are fully engaged and we continue ensuring and promoting their endeavours.