John Horvath (jhorv)
Published 2007-06-23 11:18 (KST) - Korean News
The Canadian government is breathing a sigh of relief as blockades of road and rail traffic, planned by some of the country's native population (also known as "First Nations") as part of a national day of action on June 29, appears to have been averted. Yet the problem doesn't seem to have been totally resolved, as native leaders warn that there still could be blockades elsewhere in the country at the end of this month.
The national day of action had been called by Canada's First Nation communities in order to draw attention to lingering land claims issues between native communities and the government. There are more than 800 outstanding land claims across Canada. At the speed with which present land claim issues are being dealt with, it will take somewhere about 200 years to resolve all outstanding claims.
Discontent and Canada's First Nations
Pressure has thus been put on the Canadian governments to resolve these claims more quickly. In mid-May a video was put on YouTube entitled "When Justice Fails, Stop the Rails" by a group calling itself the Railway Ties Collective. The three-and-a-half minute video was filmed at night with a person standing over a train track, showing step-by-step how to set off the red emergency lights that tell train conductors to stop immediately.
There is no doubt that the video encouraged native people disgruntled with the slow pace of land claim issues to take action by creating rail blockades. "Creating the political will for just and timely resolution will take your help. Real solidarity means shouldering some of the burden of struggle," stated the video.
News of this video caused a public outcry. The railways said the measures outlined in the video were extremely dangerous and urged YouTube to pull the video (the video was pulled a few days later). The mainstream media was also up in arms, calling the video and such actions "terrorism." The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Canada's federal police force), meanwhile, merely stated that they were aware of the video but refused to say whether or not they were investigating the matter.
This seemingly cautious approach is something that is actually part of a much bigger process related to the growing issue of native land claim settlements. The video actually came after native people near Tyendinaga, Ontario, already staged a protest of a similar nature. Likewise, a group of Mohawks stopped rail traffic between Montreal and Toronto for almost an entire day in a similar protest.
There have been many warnings of mounting frustration among Canada's native youth. Young natives are becoming increasingly desperate as social conditions continue to deteriorate in their communities.
Although most native communities in Canada express sympathy and understanding for one another, not all share the same sort of outlook of how to deal with this enigmatic problem. Some look to diplomacy and discussion as the most effective ways of bringing about change and improving the plight of Canada's native people; others take a more radical approach.
Indubitably, the lack of progress on land claim issues have slowly but surely radicalized many First Nation communities. Hence, following the railway sabotage video on YouTube, some groups have made their intentions known for the upcoming national day of protest. In Ontario, Chief Angus Toulouse said its natives might blockade the 401 highway, one of Canada's busiest, on the eve of the Canada Day weekend. "Sometimes blockades, sometimes this kind of action, is what draws the attention of governments, and it's sad to have to go there. It really is," he said.
Others are even more radical in their outlook. Chief Terry Nelson of the Roseau River First Nation in the province of Manitoba threatened to blockade the rail line connecting Eastern and Western Canada. "There are only two ways of dealing with the white man," he was quoted as saying. "One, either you pick up a gun, or you stand between the white man and his money." He continued: "I prefer to stand between the white man and his money. And I think it's pretty darned clear that if I were speaking about the poverty of the First Nations, nobody would even care."
Until now, the initial response of the Canadian government to all this was one of aloofness. The Indian Affairs Minister, Jim Prentice, simply said that rail blockades are illegal and counterproductive, and would erode goodwill with non-native Canadians. Yet given that the simmering discontent that threatened to boil over this summer in the form of disruptive blockades was fast approaching, the government had little choice but to finally act. Thus, earlier this month a plan was announced which would supposedly speed the time it took to resolve land claim disputes.
The plan largely follows the recommendations of a Senate committee which examined ways to streamline the entire settlement process. More money, a total of $250 million a year over 10 years, has been now allocated toward settling land claim issues. Also, a new and independent agency to settle some of these claims has been established. Currently, the Indian Claims Commission investigates treaty violations, but can't make binding rulings. Critics have long called for an independent land claims process with more money and staff to settle cases.
Upon presenting the plan, the government expressed confidence that the national day of action slated for later this month would be peaceful. Some native leaders have already given their support to the government initiative. Chief Phil Fontaine, head of the Assembly of First Nations, an umbrella group of Canada's First Nation communities, hailed the plan as a "historic" proposal, saying it gives hope for First Nations people who have fought decades for fair and just resolution on land claims.
Others, however, have expressed some doubts, saying that the plan is a mere drop in the bucket. Still, they are willing to give the government the benefit of the doubt. Thus, those who have planned blockades of key roads and railways have called of their militant actions as sign of goodwill.
Although a confrontation with Canada's First Nations during the long Canada Day weekend looks to have been avoided, the underlying issues facing Canada's native populations still have not been addressed. As many First Nation leaders have already pointed out, mounting frustration among Canada's native youth have led many to become increasingly desperate. Unless this sense of desperation is also addressed -- and not just outstanding land claim issues -- then Canada's lingering problems vis-a-vis its native populations will continue to smolder.