Letter to the editor:
Re: Respect due First Nations people
Janet Shaw laments the "Third World" conditions on many First Nations reserves. Tax paying citizens of the Second Nation might agree that such remote communities be treated as Third World peoples.
The masked warriors who show up at blockades are adamant that they are not Canadian citizens. Foreign aid would then be handed over with strings attached. Misbehave and the monies come up for re-evaluation.
Presently Ottawa shells out a whopping $12 billion to aboriginals, a veritable black hole with minimal accountability. Where does all that money go?
Canadians screamed foul over the sponsorship scandal, but when reserves are asked to give some details of the tribe's spending, shouts of "racism" are heard.
Consider water systems. As of 2006, only 43 per cent of the 1,117 workers who operated that essential service on reserves had achieved the minimal Level 1 Certification. If something malfunctions, they probably can't fix it.
Reserves seem to be busting at the seams with newborns, adding to overcrowded households and fueling health and social problems.
First Nations like Rama, that make a financial killing from society's gambling addicts are the exception, although some of the wealth from that pot of gold goes to their have-not brethren.
What seems to be lacking on most reserves are leadership, accountability and, above all, that invaluable determination to improve one's lot in life. As for "respect," that has to be earned.
Garry Burke