Indian Agents are Back - PM's New Indian Affairs Crew
I am writing this blog today not only because of my increasing concern with regards to the number of bills which are being pushed through the House and Senate without any consultation with First Nations, but also because of the folks pushing these bills. Specifically, I am talking about the Prime Minister's newest crew of people at the highest levels who not only advise him about "Indian Affairs" but who also administer Indian Affairs. Previously, PM Harper had Tom Flanagan as his Chief of Staff (COS). Mr. Flanagan as we all know, has written several controversial books and articles related to First Nations which more or less advocate for their eventual assimilation. In his view, any concept of special constitutional rights for First Nations is unjustified. He views First Nations concepts of communal property as both "primitive" and communist". Now he is advocating for the whole-sale privatization of reserve lands to free them up for sale. One might say - w