tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89175730329499539632024-03-19T03:04:10.475-07:00Indigenous NationhoodPam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-77349235817978295902021-08-01T08:38:00.002-07:002021-08-01T08:41:37.522-07:00Clearing the lands has always been at the heart of Canada's Indian Policy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7N59OBuBAG_18YrhTQUB7KGlSY9w3pxgTx9WTVvvL-pWGq-Ou8BwsTZUAtelaYptfUi67TXv7HZJjpGXwNUpHK1IDhn07adLLcEjrLp0PpBBtgDwxXlu2Tntt1D9pU-9JQfCHvV41z3s/s1080/Clear+IG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7N59OBuBAG_18YrhTQUB7KGlSY9w3pxgTx9WTVvvL-pWGq-Ou8BwsTZUAtelaYptfUi67TXv7HZJjpGXwNUpHK1IDhn07adLLcEjrLp0PpBBtgDwxXlu2Tntt1D9pU-9JQfCHvV41z3s/s320/Clear+IG.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*Originally published in Globe & Mail Feb.27, 2020</div><p></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>CANADA'S INDIAN POLICY HASN'T CHANGED MUCH</b></span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">AFTER THE EVENTS</span> </b></span><span style="color: #191919;"><span style="font-size: medium;">of the past few weeks in Canada, one thing remains clear: Canada’s Indian policy hasn’t changed much since its inception. Indian policy has always had two objectives: to obtain Indian lands and resources and to reduce financial obligations to Indigenous peoples acquired through treaties or other means. Its primary methods were elimination or assimilation of Indians.</span></span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Colonial governments had a long history of scalping bounties to kill specific groups of Indigenous peoples, using small pox blankets to increase death rates from disease and forced sterilizations to reduce the populations. Even Confederation did not dispense with the violent colonization of what would now become known as Canada. Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, told the House of Commons in 1882: “I have reason to believe that the agents as a whole … are doing all they can, by refusing food until the Indians are on the verge of starvation, to reduce the expense.” Canada was fully engaged in clearing the lands, by any means necessary.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YWoX_7JPsD5De1GlzqnXmZw4HE43RzipHpzpb2CUjJj-ldxNowyTiCDvlSGLgm2JDyzuqx4NPYR9fWE6v-gwisKG0LBrJQQ2QFHzSttwiSdt8MxHyYvVx_YTj2KHg3jhdDHbNMWKX-PD/s1080/Genocide%252C+Indian+Policy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YWoX_7JPsD5De1GlzqnXmZw4HE43RzipHpzpb2CUjJj-ldxNowyTiCDvlSGLgm2JDyzuqx4NPYR9fWE6v-gwisKG0LBrJQQ2QFHzSttwiSdt8MxHyYvVx_YTj2KHg3jhdDHbNMWKX-PD/s320/Genocide%252C+Indian+Policy.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/aps/index.php/aps/article/view/22225/pdf_22" style="text-align: left;">https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/aps/index.php/aps/article/view/22225/pdf_22</a></div><p></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>RECONCILIATION: THE GOAL IS THE SAME</b></span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now referred to as Indigenous reconciliation, the goal is still the same: to clear the lands of Indigenous peoples in order to bolster settlement and extraction of resources. This singular focus formed the basis of the violent colonization of Indigenous lands and peoples and, ultimately, is why Canada has been accused of genocide by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Canada’s complex set of laws, policies, practices, actions and omissions have created an infrastructure of violence toward Indigenous peoples and the continued dispossession of their lands.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is at the heart of the devastating socio-economic conditions of many Indigenous peoples today, including multiple health crises such as diabetes, heart disease and strokes, lower life spans, higher rates of mental illness and some of the highest suicide rates in the world. These genocidal policies also serve to remove Indigenous peoples from their lands through high foster care rates, killings and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls and the skyrocketing incarceration rates.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jl71D-nFX_s" width="320" youtube-src-id="jl71D-nFX_s"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Genocide in Canada</span></div><p></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>APOLOGIES VERSUS LAND BACK</b></span></p><div class="u-wrapper pb-feature pb-layout-item pb-f-article-asf-body-top" id="" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"></div><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Despite carefully worded apologies and promises of a better relationship, none of these conditions has changed and, in fact, most are getting worse. Add to this that First Nations have less than 0.02 per cent of all their lands left – mostly in tiny reserves controlled by the federal government. Political rhetoric about supporting Indigenous self-determination means very little when we are denied access to our lands and resources.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We need to be honest about what is going on. There never was any real intention of recognizing Indigenous land rights – whether under Indigenous laws, Section 35 aboriginal and treaty right protections in the Constitution Act, 1982, or by implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It has been painfully clear, at every flashpoint in Canada’s history, that it is willing to starve Indigenous peoples into submission or imprison them to access their lands.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is at the heart of what is happening across Canada over the past few weeks. The Wet’suwet’en Nation, as represented by their traditional government, acting on Wet’suwet’en laws and decision-making protocols, have said no to pipelines on their traditional territory. While five of the six band councils within the Nation have allegedly agreed to the pipeline, their jurisdiction extends over their reserve lands. It is the hereditary leaders who have the legal jurisdiction over their traditional territory, to decide whether the pipeline can cross their pristine forests and rivers.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bQjYSRO7EqHRypBWXf5g9HE3-aaZ0hMgnHaAAm8RMOSbcluKJDYuVNZ9x9rvftc7x-OWiXhZQEkKlB0wpf7ZTLGlgX2HuP9tSi0W9Cu6MOtX3_iPidqCk22MsyyJUwB2Qjh0VSQtO3GB/s1080/Molly+Wickham+on+Gitdimt%2527en+Yintah+Access.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bQjYSRO7EqHRypBWXf5g9HE3-aaZ0hMgnHaAAm8RMOSbcluKJDYuVNZ9x9rvftc7x-OWiXhZQEkKlB0wpf7ZTLGlgX2HuP9tSi0W9Cu6MOtX3_iPidqCk22MsyyJUwB2Qjh0VSQtO3GB/s320/Molly+Wickham+on+Gitdimt%2527en+Yintah+Access.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/pampalmater/molly-wickham-on-gitdimten-yintah-access">https://soundcloud.com/pampalmater/molly-wickham-on-gitdimten-yintah-access</a></span><p></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>CANADA BREACHS ITS OWN "RULE OF LAW"</b></span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Supreme Court of Canada had already acknowledged in the <i>Delgamuukw</i> case that these were the proper representatives to bring a claim of aboriginal title. Eight of these leaders have said no to the pipeline. Despite this, the RCMP invaded their territory and forcibly removed them from their lands – counter to Wet’suwet’en law, Canadian law and international law. UNDRIP, which is now implemented in British Columbia, prevents the forced removal of Indigenous peoples from their lands. This flagrant breach of Canada’s own rule of law is why the peaceful solidarity actions started all over Canada.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEuVojjiFwqGUAED-mzOAyWigQQRvFU-DSRnSy4TqAjvR3AOLYg1itvMuKXX6WM7fBoM2J_0iUVxeQx_2v-w32juGIGnQbxwnBFsuHCWoiEw1da7j8EOM_TYhV10spvodwoxJdhKU0IUr/s1080/Mi%2527kmaw+treaty+rights%252C+reconciliation+%2526+the+rule+of+law.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEuVojjiFwqGUAED-mzOAyWigQQRvFU-DSRnSy4TqAjvR3AOLYg1itvMuKXX6WM7fBoM2J_0iUVxeQx_2v-w32juGIGnQbxwnBFsuHCWoiEw1da7j8EOM_TYhV10spvodwoxJdhKU0IUr/s320/Mi%2527kmaw+treaty+rights%252C+reconciliation+%2526+the+rule+of+law.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/mikmaw-treaty-rights-reconciliation-and-the-rule-of-law">https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/mikmaw-treaty-rights-reconciliation-and-the-rule-of-law</a></span><p></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is also why these actions will continue. Every time law enforcement is sent in to the clear the lands of the “Indians” to make way for pipelines and extraction of resources, you will see more and more Indigenous nations and Canadian allies stand against this injustice.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The real issue has always been about the land. The way forward is recognition of our right to be self-determining over our own lands and resources.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anything less is just the same old Indian policy that invites more uncertainty and social conflict. Canada can do better. It’s time to move past genocide and work toward respect for Indigenous land rights.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>#LANDBACK</b></span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: calc(1.125rem * var(--scale-factor, 1)); line-height: 1.5;">*This article originally appeared in The Globe and Mail on February 27, 2020 and updated on February 28, 2020 and can be found here:</p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-clearing-the-lands-has-always-been-at-the-heart-of-canadas-indian/">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-clearing-the-lands-has-always-been-at-the-heart-of-canadas-indian/</a></span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">The blog version has been slightly edited for style and the addition of resources.</span></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: calc(1.125rem * var(--scale-factor, 1)); line-height: 1.5;">For more information and related publications: <a href="https://www.pampalmater.com">https://www.pampalmater.com</a></p><p class="c-article-body__text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: Pratt, Georgia, Palatino, "Book Antiqua", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: calc(1.125rem * var(--scale-factor, 1)); line-height: 1.5;"><br /></p>Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-17344642736680935822021-03-01T15:46:00.004-08:002021-03-01T15:56:36.433-08:00Canada Fails (Again) to Ensure Clean Water in First Nations: Auditor General<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4lrsoFxDQJ3RbviG9WA28ofniXiu3hPmfkIu2Zu48GNPQ8U2SAAnaKb_chO5LM-EpoTomIvvQUCYXhjxME4pdfSMnIBDiEZ7v_MCPF01MeXGJXif71Mt-opm84gBAez2tVH_a8Apw0na/s1080/dirty+water.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4lrsoFxDQJ3RbviG9WA28ofniXiu3hPmfkIu2Zu48GNPQ8U2SAAnaKb_chO5LM-EpoTomIvvQUCYXhjxME4pdfSMnIBDiEZ7v_MCPF01MeXGJXif71Mt-opm84gBAez2tVH_a8Apw0na/s320/dirty+water.png" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>AUDITOR GENERAL REPORT ON CLEAN WATER IN FIRST NATIONS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU </span></b>had no problem finding $7 billion dollars to buy Trans Mountain pipeline - so where’s the money for water pipelines to First Nations?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This week, the Auditor General for Canada (AG) released her report on whether Canada is providing enough support to ensure that First Nations have access to clean drinking water. The answer was a clear no. This is despite the Liberal government’s promise back in 2015 to eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations by March 2021.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The report entitled "Access to Safe Drinking Water in First Nations Communities" found that federal policies and funding amounts did not align with its promise to end all long-term drinking water advisories (DWA) on reserve. But the story doesn't begin or end with DWAs. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIq5_Xi2NNKyxvjeSQlKavOmZulUT4IRmD3EhaO81AI4LPvsyI1f_1tzonuxsu5VzA4GRE7Xe1LUCGqxYeS0XJFVfWnZBfSQoR1xG-pimpLZbse4tjp8mKgeRuSyGUHjymVJ1AmJ4vTTr_/s1140/parl_oag_202102_03_banner_e.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="1140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIq5_Xi2NNKyxvjeSQlKavOmZulUT4IRmD3EhaO81AI4LPvsyI1f_1tzonuxsu5VzA4GRE7Xe1LUCGqxYeS0XJFVfWnZBfSQoR1xG-pimpLZbse4tjp8mKgeRuSyGUHjymVJ1AmJ4vTTr_/s320/parl_oag_202102_03_banner_e.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_202102_03_e_43749.html">https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_202102_03_e_43749.html</a><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">FIRST NATIONS LANDS & WATERS</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">First of all, </span><span style="font-size: medium;">we would not be in this crisis if our sovereign jurisdiction, laws and governing powers over our traditional territories and resources were respected. Canada has created and maintained this crisis after generations of </span><span style="font-size: medium;">colonization, genocide, land dispossession and state control of our water sources. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And no, there is nothing in any of the treaties that said the Crown could take all the water, control it, monetize it and then deny clean water to First Nations. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">But that is exactly what has happened, despite the fact that the United Nations has recognized access to safe drinking water as a human right - over a decade ago.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Canada continues to act as an outlaw breaking Indigenous laws, its own domestic laws and international laws in relation to human rights. When it comes to the basic human rights of Indigenous peoples - Canada ignores its own so-called "rule of law". </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The continued failure to provide clean drinking water to First Nations is a prime example of systemic racism.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x9vKPwpX9lE" width="320" youtube-src-id="x9vKPwpX9lE"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><b>CANADA ASSUMED JURISDICTION OVER RESERVE LANDS</b></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Crown first steals Indigenous lands, resources and waterways through fraud, deception and breach of its own laws, and then reserves unto itself jurisdiction in the Constitution Act 1867 over "Indians and lands reserved for the Indians". </span><span style="font-size: medium;">In other words, the federal government has assumed legal and financial responsibility for water infrastructure on reserve. And this water crisis is the result.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">First Nations have been calling on the federal government to address the water crisis for decades. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1995, Health Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) found that 25% of water systems on reserve posed health and safety risks. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2001, INAC found "significant risks" to water quality and safety in 75% of water systems on reserve - a shocking number.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A decade later in 2011, INAC reported to the AG that more than 50% of water systems still posed significant risks to community members. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2014, it was 43% of water systems and here we are in 2021, and the risk level hasn’t changed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">At a press conference about the AG’s report, Indigenous Services (ISC) Minister Marc Miller said that while they had hoped to address all long-term drinking water advisories, they lost "a construction season" due to the pandemic. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">One construction season? If we only start the clock from 1995 forward, then they’ve lost 25 years of construction seasons. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The AG pointed out that the delays by ISC were there long before the pandemic and referenced previous AG reports that have consistently raised concerns about the lack of clean drinking water in First Nations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And let’s not forget the numbers here. In addition to the 60 long-term DWAs that are left to be resolved – half of those have been in place for more than a decade. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Imagine an entire decade in Fredericton, Toronto, Winnipeg or Saskatoon without clean drinking water and where there was only enough water to bathe once a week. That would NEVER be tolerated anywhere else for anyone else. The situation would be treated as the urgent crisis that it is.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NSKMy7Nc-TyGuZSmxDRc49NGy3zB0rjRSco7ds5bTTj-Qpq_hehqwjAcgRKEgIQMv4LmmGmtJoeSVtdY9gcBozW16xkKKKo8yVZn6TTQ5gZhXgMozXvysnnKzp80OlXM2sO8od3u7m6d/s1280/image+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NSKMy7Nc-TyGuZSmxDRc49NGy3zB0rjRSco7ds5bTTj-Qpq_hehqwjAcgRKEgIQMv4LmmGmtJoeSVtdY9gcBozW16xkKKKo8yVZn6TTQ5gZhXgMozXvysnnKzp80OlXM2sO8od3u7m6d/s320/image+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Canadian Dimension: Where's Trudeau's pipeline for water to First Nations?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/wheres-trudeaus-pipeline-for-water-to-first-nations?">https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/wheres-trudeaus-pipeline-for-water-to-first-nations?</a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">FEDERAL POLICIES FOR WATER ON RESERVE ARE DECADES OLD</span></b><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The federal government’s less than sincere commitment to urgently address the water crisis in First Nations is betrayed by the fact that their policies are decades old. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The sad reality is that no one in the federal government has been concerned enough about the health, safety and well-being of First Nations families to treat the lack of access to safe drinking water as a crisis.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In fact, over the years, AG reports found that the federal government couldn’t even be bothered to do annual inspections for all the water systems, despite their medium to high-risk. It's as if the words "significant risks" to community members were merely notations in a report.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Auditor General also noted that some of the federal government’s policies in relation to water systems on reserve are decades old and some were written in the 1960’s. She further noted that they have not amended their </span><span style="font-size: medium;">policy in relation to funding for the operations and maintenance of water systems on reserve for over 30 years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This means that the funding they do provide to First Nations to maintain their water systems does not take into account new technologies, the actual costs to maintain or the risk-level and actual condition of the water system. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">On top of that, they only provide up to 80% of the costs determined by this outdated policy, while at the same time paying First Nation water operators 30% less than the rest of Canada.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Is there any wonder why the federal government is constantly chasing drinking water advisories and never seems to catch up?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Think about it this way: if your roof has a leak and it would cost $10,000 to repair but you only “invest” $1,000 what happens? </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, your roof is entirely fixed, it continues to leak causing more damage to the roof and the rest of the house. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The next year, it will cost you $30,000 to fix the roof and the extra repairs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the point the AG made: </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">“If funding to operate and maintain water systems is insufficient, water systems may continue to deteriorate at a faster-than-expected rated.”</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99wvtXy3Mqutdr4RgKZMlNleHN-ERAam0bJ9phvMu73PAr16vnfA6_KH7hCU9LbsknzpA-8WBQh5CQhNoGJR4F5EiPNU_LYFEQQMvqhT-Ocknb4XBcJoWHT2x-BuWNDXJesacfdrlJxl4/s1200/PO-Facebook-Image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99wvtXy3Mqutdr4RgKZMlNleHN-ERAam0bJ9phvMu73PAr16vnfA6_KH7hCU9LbsknzpA-8WBQh5CQhNoGJR4F5EiPNU_LYFEQQMvqhT-Ocknb4XBcJoWHT2x-BuWNDXJesacfdrlJxl4/s320/PO-Facebook-Image.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First Nations Water Problems a Crisis of Canada's Own Making</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/february-2019/first-nations-water-problems-crisis-canadas-making/">https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/february-2019/first-nations-water-problems-crisis-canadas-making/</a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><b>THE NUMBERS SHELL GAME</b></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It’s important to dig into the numbers to truly understand the full scope of this problem. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The AG's report was limited to only the 1,050 "public water systems" in 600+ First Nations. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">This is because ISC’s water policies and funding formulas do not provide support for those who rely on wells or cisterns. Worse than that, their water policies do not support for those without any running water!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And this isn’t a small number. More than one third of all households on reserve are in the category of wells, cisterns or no running water at all. So the problem is much bigger than it would first appear. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It’s also important to look at how ISC has differentiated between short-term and long-term DWAs. The government seems to be</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> congratulating itself for having "only" 60 long-term DWAs left, meanwhile over the same period, the AG confirmed that there were 1,281 short-term DWA. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">More than 10% of those short-term DWAs were for periods of two months or more. But worse than that, the AG also found in some First Nations, they had multiple short-term DWAs, that when added up, were more than a year in total cumulative length. But they don't get counted in long-term DWAs and misrepresents the seriousness of short-term DWAs. Even with long-term DWAs, they get counted as "lifted" or "resolved" if temporary measures are made to bring in water - even if the deficiencies in the water system have not been remediated.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">DWA numbers are clearly not the most transparent or effective way to measure whether or not the water crisis has been remedied. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The more transparent measure would be whether each household on the reserve and each daycare, school, health centre, community building and business, has consistently safe, reliable, clean drinking water and sanitation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">That’s the number that matters – not how many DWAs you lifted one minute but were re-imposed the next. That’s a shell game that only serves to hide a much larger problem and certainly doesn’t respect the human right of First Nations to water.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o0RB0N3m2OWQqE8nAs6jRC25bqxusYb-OVK4riWRgktOL54AsTYdyfoWCFXu7TruUmN1EeizRawmXz4uf_HG-2GJB1cj_cDjeAX0qXfiS3hQi5jyQjf3YWCteCgSEeSSWuudTR_hnxmu/s1280/CTV+Water+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o0RB0N3m2OWQqE8nAs6jRC25bqxusYb-OVK4riWRgktOL54AsTYdyfoWCFXu7TruUmN1EeizRawmXz4uf_HG-2GJB1cj_cDjeAX0qXfiS3hQi5jyQjf3YWCteCgSEeSSWuudTR_hnxmu/s320/CTV+Water+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2148811&">https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2148811&</a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">LET'S TALK PIPELINES...</span></span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Canada brags about having 84,000 kms of pipelines all over the country servicing the oil and gas industry. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">When confronted with losing the Trans Mountain pipeline, Trudeau managed to find $7 billion dollars in a hurry to buy it. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">So, where are the pipelines bringing clean water to First Nations Trudeau?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There are man camps full of thousands of mostly men flown into First Nation territories, in even in the remotest of places, that have access to healthcare, safe, mould-free housing, healthy food, and clean drinking water and sanitation. So, w</span><span style="font-size: medium;">here is the healthcare, housing, food and clean water for First Nations?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Canada’s military brings millions of litres of fresh water to other countries in emergencies – so where’s the clean water for First Nations? </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Canada has spent more than $240 billion dollars on pandemic relief measures, but there isn’t enough money to ensure water in First Nations during a pandemic?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Minister Miller says they lost a construction season during the pandemic and that’s why they couldn’t address the water crisis. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Really? Because the construction season for oil and gas pipelines, the tar sands, mining projects and other extractive projects and infrastructure continued during the pandemic. But construction couldn't proceed on </span><span style="font-size: medium;">water pipelines?</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cUmi9OmeMtzQfsDQmtym5LgnvCimEeJvOm6vEsEBC8OkF-TdBdJvVjD4ynMw6UaGgrIiGBW2R5hjy8QNK89W5C_qEm4v9GFi49K44htyoOkySKHyWNuE4cYhyphenhyphenCtezYYqFJHqGqzoNEAt/s1280/CTV+Your+Morning.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cUmi9OmeMtzQfsDQmtym5LgnvCimEeJvOm6vEsEBC8OkF-TdBdJvVjD4ynMw6UaGgrIiGBW2R5hjy8QNK89W5C_qEm4v9GFi49K44htyoOkySKHyWNuE4cYhyphenhyphenCtezYYqFJHqGqzoNEAt/s320/CTV+Your+Morning.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.ctv.ca/shows/your-morning/auditor-general-says-canada-hasnt-done-enough-for-first-nations-boil-water-advisories-s5?">https://www.ctv.ca/shows/your-morning/auditor-general-says-canada-hasnt-done-enough-for-first-nations-boil-water-advisories-s5?</a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No one but Liberal politicians are buying these excuses anymore. The reason all First Nation households don’t have access to clean water is widespread, longstanding, systemic racism and a denial of basic human rights for First Nations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It is the same reason why there is a housing crisis on reserve; the same reason why there is a humanitarian crisis of First Nations children in foster care; the same reason why there are crisis-level rates of incarceration of First Nations; and why there are thousands of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in this country.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Until we address the racism in Canada’s laws, policies and practices, we’ll never end genocide against First Nations or the water crisis. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">There is no such thing as incremental equality or partial human rights. You either have them or you don’t. And clearly, First Nations have neither equality nor the protection of human rights.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We need Canadians to stand up and say this isn’t right. Demand that the federal government bring every resource to bear to ensure safe, reliable, clean drinking water and sanitation to every single household on reserve. Not in two years, three years or after the next election - but this year. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Next year's reports needs to count households with water and sanitation - not DWAs. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Treat this as the national emergency that it is and get it done like they would if this was in their own backyards. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We all know i</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">t would only take a week without water for any of these politicians to call in the army in their town or city if this happened to them. So get it done. And while they are at it, they should also return some of the lands, resources and waterways they took - so this isn't a problem in the future.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">For more information: <a href="https://www.pampalmater.com">https://www.pampalmater.com</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-88370052722951239232021-02-10T10:37:00.000-08:002021-02-10T10:37:29.047-08:00Canada's Shell Game on C-92 Funding<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK42FhYYEm-VCOaQjHrwaaRHg0Eg5LhFBVMkqVktwFXDL1cE6fCJkLOSlP021gQbavaJRpcrb61u6ZjdGUH-xhYhZtzbdwfYsNYpx-_ePpO_uggaIPOq29fX0gzyr_qDHf_bl2QKG5KSxu/s1080/IG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK42FhYYEm-VCOaQjHrwaaRHg0Eg5LhFBVMkqVktwFXDL1cE6fCJkLOSlP021gQbavaJRpcrb61u6ZjdGUH-xhYhZtzbdwfYsNYpx-_ePpO_uggaIPOq29fX0gzyr_qDHf_bl2QKG5KSxu/s320/IG.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">C-92 An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Métis Children, Youth and Families</span></b></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT</span></b><span style="color: #373739;"> has once again proven that legislative initiatives tend to be effective deflections from their ongoing failures to address human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples. Bill C-92: </span></span><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (2019) was heralded by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the federal government as the solution to the “humanitarian crisis” of First Nations children in foster care. The AFN in particular pushed hard for the legislation to pass in Parliament, despite widespread opposition and protests from First Nations from all over Canada. First Nations legal and child welfare experts also warned Parliament that C-92 did not align with Canada’s political promises and could in fact make things worse. They were right.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>NO STATUTORY GUARANTEE OF FUNDING</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many substantive problems with C-92, but the most obvious is that there is no statutory guarantee of funding for First Nations in the legislation. In other words, there is no judicial right that a First Nation could use in court to force federal compliance in relation to funding under the Act. This concern was raised and effectively ignored by the AFN in its push to have the bill pass into law — all while federal officials were assuring First Nations that funding would follow. As expected, funding did not follow and to make matters worse, it looks like the federal government used C-92 as an attempt to insulate itself from the orders of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT).</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The federal government has confirmed that it does not consider itself to be bound by CHRT orders to end racial discrimination in funding against First Nations children in foster care, once First Nations assume jurisdiction under C-92.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Since (Bill C-92) falls outside the scope of the CHRT orders, the CHRT orders will not apply to a First Nation that has assumed jurisdiction.”</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Federal officials further clarified that:</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“There is no funding stream for the long-term operationalization of an Indigenous governing body’s law once they begin exercising jurisdiction.”</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This confirmation comes from the federal government’s response to questions posed by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society in their ongoing litigation at the CHRT. Canada is effectively telling First Nations: Sure, you can assume jurisdiction over housing, education, health care and child and family services; but if you do, your funding will be cut or reduced. Oh, and by the way, you assume all the liability.</span></span></p><p><a href="https://fncaringsociety.com/publications/caring-society-submissions-re-non-compliance-motion-feb-3-2021" style="font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">https://fncaringsociety.com/publications/caring-society-submissions-re-non-compliance-motion-feb-3-2021</a><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The whole point of the CHRT’s original decision was for Canada to stop racially discriminating against First Nations children in foster care and their families. One of the primary reasons why First Nations children are apprehended and placed in foster care at such high rates is due to the purposeful, chronic and racially discriminatory underfunding of essential social services for First Nations — like child and family services. Ironically, one of the most striking pieces of evidence in the CHRT hearing came from the government’s own internal documents that confirmed that federal underfunding leads to higher rates of First Nation child apprehensions. Yet Canada continues to underfund child and family services and all services like housing, health care, education, water and mental health services like suicide prevention on reserve. It is no coincidence then, that First Nations have the worst socioeconomic conditions of all groups in Canada.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t5LvH3LY_20" width="320" youtube-src-id="t5LvH3LY_20"></iframe></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">TRANSFER OF FEDERAL LIABILITY</span></b><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This follows a similar pattern in federal legislative initiatives over the last few decades, where under the guise of addressing a breach of Indigenous rights, they instead use legislation to deflect from the matter and find ways to insulate itself from liability and/or transfer federal liability to First Nations. Bill C-3: </span><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gender Equity in Indian Registration</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (2011) was supposed to end sex discrimination against First Nations women and their descendants in Indian registration. Instead it created new discrimination and in s. 9 insulated itself from any legal claims by those Canada had discriminated against for decades. Similarly, in Bill S-3: </span><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur general) </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2017), Canada once again failed to address all forms of sex discrimination and via s. 10 purports to insulate itself from liability for the discrimination endured by First Nations women and their descendants.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gy9evq7a6hg" width="320" youtube-src-id="gy9evq7a6hg"></iframe></div><p><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In enacting legislation, even in relation to First Nations, the federal government should always be assumed to be acting in the best interests of the Crown first, despite its fiduciary and other legal obligations to First Nations. C-3 and S-3 are just two legislative examples of explicit insulation of liability from Canada’s own wrongdoing. Another example is the </span><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Ac</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t (2013), which has done little to remedy ongoing the lack of clean drinking water and sanitation on all First Nation reserves but helped deflect media attention away from the crisis. Yet the legislation creates more problems than it solves including the creation of new ways to imprison First Nations members who breach the water laws; ensure federal laws are paramount over First Nation laws; and the inclusion of s. 11 which purports to limit liability for both the provincial and federal governments.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>"DRAW DOWN" JURISDICTION?</b></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In this context, it becomes apparent that First Nations who “draw down” jurisdiction under C-92 may be assuming significant financial and legal liability without corresponding legal protections and guaranteed, long-term needs and rights-based financial supports. Take a scenario where a First Nation band member is receiving federal support for health needs for their children under Jordan’s Principle and then the band assumes jurisdiction. What happens to the funding support for this First Nation band member and their children if — as the federal government has confirmed — they will not be bound by CHRT orders to provide funding to First Nations for critical programs like Jordan’s Principle (a child-first policy that is meant to ensure First Nations children have access to the same government services that other children do)? Does the member seek funding from the First Nation and if so, how will the First Nation provide this funding if the federal government ends Jordan’s Principle funding to First Nations under C-92?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The AFN has a lot to answer for in its support of C-92 without ensuring the free, prior and informed consent of First Nations, and worse, for forging ahead when so many First Nations leaders and First Nation child welfare experts were against the legislation as it read. First Nations who have given notice or are contemplating giving notice that they want to “draw down” jurisdiction over child and family services under C-92 are likely shocked to hear these concerning revelations by the federal government. This is not something the government shared during review of the bill or has included in their information packages online.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vkcl0iF0Yic" width="320" youtube-src-id="vkcl0iF0Yic"></iframe></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">"TRUST US" MANTRA IS NOT ENOUGH</span></b><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Were it not for the ongoing legal actions by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society to hold the federal government to account to comply with CHRT orders, we might not know the gravity of the funding situation. Canada must now answer for this bad faith funding shell game to undermine the basic human rights of First Nations children. The “trust us” mantra is not enough when the issue is the ongoing genocide of First Nations. It is long past time for full transparency and to stop ducking its human rights obligations to First Nations children and families.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373739; font-family: LatoWeb, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily on Feb.8, 2021 (</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.thelawyersdaily.ca%252F%26data%3D04%257C01%257CRichard.Skinulis%2540lexisnexis.ca%257C81393d51b5504154c9fa08d8cdeeaa46%257C9274ee3f94254109a27f9fb15c10675d%257C0%257C0%257C637485772239092917%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3DRdkmT4TyHCkYpD1NYCxVKIsuuX9NdPrJwZVwy0CHfmc%253D%26reserved%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1613066908724000&usg=AFQjCNHXjrnlTnoTS0O2KYUdHuJGBqtIzA" href="https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelawyersdaily.ca%2F&data=04%7C01%7CRichard.Skinulis%40lexisnexis.ca%7C81393d51b5504154c9fa08d8cdeeaa46%7C9274ee3f94254109a27f9fb15c10675d%7C0%7C0%7C637485772239092917%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=RdkmT4TyHCkYpD1NYCxVKIsuuX9NdPrJwZVwy0CHfmc%3D&reserved=0" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">www.thelawyersdaily.ca</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc. Some edits have been made for style and to include references. Original link here:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/24451/canada-s-shell-game-on-c-92-funding-pamela-palmater">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/24451/canada-s-shell-game-on-c-92-funding-pamela-palmater</a></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br /></p>Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-3351608622455252252021-01-21T17:13:00.013-08:002021-01-21T17:55:11.148-08:00In Plain Sight: Widespread Racism in BC Healthcare<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhHwEi_0sY7giMK2N-BvSFtk1Uq7cTHpdA9p9VaRmqWqZzQieLwnNSQNkE_vx8qIEifvdC0uCmYB_ygrZad4PjRoxa4oev3Ci6MyhjzQRamg7idNS8g4ydcMinHAPy9AEgUg8AQh9mxFj/s255/In+plain+sight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhHwEi_0sY7giMK2N-BvSFtk1Uq7cTHpdA9p9VaRmqWqZzQieLwnNSQNkE_vx8qIEifvdC0uCmYB_ygrZad4PjRoxa4oev3Ci6MyhjzQRamg7idNS8g4ydcMinHAPy9AEgUg8AQh9mxFj/s0/In+plain+sight.jpg" /></a></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>RACISM IN BC HEALTHCARE</b></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I</span><span style="font-family: arial;">magine</span></span></b><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">living in a country, where hospitals refused to treat you for a stroke, because
the doctors and nurses assumed you were drunk? Imagine further, that the
emergency room doctor refused to treat your young child for epilepsy, because
they assumed she was on drugs? Well folks, that country is Canada.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It
doesn’t sound like the Canada you know. It doesn’t seem to reflect Canada’s
world-renowned medical experts and hospitals. Nor does it seem to jive with Canada’s
impressive array of human rights protections. Yet, if you are Indigenous in Canada,
you can expect this kind of treatment and worse - even in Canada’s best hospitals
in British Columbia (BC).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m5shSFBflxQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="m5shSFBflxQ"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Just
before the holidays, a report was released which confirmed what most Indigenous
peoples already knew – that racism against Indigenous peoples, especially First
Nations peoples - is widespread in BC’s healthcare system.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>IN PLAIN SIGHT</b></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The
report entitled -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>In Plain Sight:
Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care - </b>was
written by Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond who was the first, First Nations
judge appointed to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan; was the former Child
and Youth Advocate in BC; and now the independent investigator for this report.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">She
had been appointed by BC’s Minister of Health to conduct a review of racism
against Indigenous peoples in BC’s healthcare system. Dr. Turpel-Lafond and her
Indigenous-led team engaged in four months of investigations, which included:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">-<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>talking
to 9,000 people from BC;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">-<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>reviewing
185,000 data sets including more than 900 studies; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">-<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>logging
600 cases via their 1-800 number and website.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The
report – which includes both its core findings and recommendations - contains
numerous examples of Indigenous peoples given substandard medical treatment or
no treatment at all in hospitals and healthcare facilities of all kinds. In
some cases, individuals were treated so poorly, that they refused to go back
for treatment and this was especially true for Indigenous women.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/613/2020/11/In-Plain-Sight-Summary-Report.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In-Plain-Sight-Summary-Report.pdf</span></a></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>FINDINGS</b></span></h2><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There
were 11 main findings divided into (a) the problem of Indigenous-specific racism
and (b) the problem with current solutions – both of which provide significant
insight into the lack of accountability for racism and the harm it causes Indigenous peoples in BC’s
healthcare systems.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Her
main findings in relation to anti-Indigenous racism were as follows:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Widespread
Indigenous-specific stereotyping, racism and discrimination exist in the BC healthcare system;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Racism
limits access to medical treatment and negatively affects the health and
wellness of Indigenous peoples in BC;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Indigenous
women and girls are disproportionately impacted by Indigenous-specific racism
in the healthcare system;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(4)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Current
public health emergencies magnify racism and vulnerabilities, and
disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(5)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Indigenous
health care workers face racism and discrimination in their work environments.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">She also noted that talking about anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare can
be very triggering for Indigenous peoples who have experienced the physical and
mental harms associated with racist comments, substandard treatment or the
denial of treatment. At the same time, she also stressed that the issue must be
named, so that institutions can be held to account and the problems addressed.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rfshb-qqIVY" width="320" youtube-src-id="rfshb-qqIVY"></iframe></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>STEREOTYPES</b></span></h2><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dr. Turpel-Lafond shared the eight most common racist stereotypes held by BC healthcare workers
about Indigenous peoples (primarily First Nations, and include that belief
that they are:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Less
worthy of care;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Drinkers/alchoholics;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Drug-seekers;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(4)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Bad
parents;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(5)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Frequent
flyers – misuse health system;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(6)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Irresponsible
& wont do aftercare;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(7)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Less
capable; and<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(8)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Unfairly
advantaged.</span></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>RACISM CAUSES REAL HARM</b></span></h2><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">She also stressed that these racist stereotypes lead to real physical
harm, mental harm and even death for Indigenous peoples, in the following ways:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Unacceptable
personal interactions - like racist comments;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Long
wait times/denial of service – more so than non-Indigenous patients;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Lack
of communication/shunning Indigenous patients;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(4)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Not
believing or minimizing health concerns – Indigenous peoples accused of faking;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(5)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Inappropriate
or no pain management – assuming patients are drug seeking;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(6)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Rough
treatment – like man-handling or physical harm;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(7)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Medical
mistakes & misdiagnosis – assuming patients drunk and not addressing
underlying health issues; and<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(8)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Lack
of respect for cultural protocols – intolerance of families or ceremonies.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The significant harms experienced by Indigenous peoples on a regular basis are why the report's recommendations on how to move forward to address anti-Indigenous
racism in BC’s healthcare system are so important. At their core, the recommendations all work to confronting the legacy
of colonialism in healthcare head on:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">"A basic awareness
has grown that the current inequities and injustices faced by Indigenous
peoples in Canada – such as those examined in this Review – are deeply rooted
in an enduring legacy of colonialism, and that confronting that legacy requires
substantive, transformative change."</span></i></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>MOVING FORWARD</b></span></h2><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It
is important that Canadians read this report and then push governments,
hospitals, universities and all those working in the healthcare system, in any
capacity to embrace their role in reconciliation and ensuring that the human
rights of Indigenous peoples to healthcare are respected, protected and fully
implemented. To do this, Dr. Turpel-Lafond believes that our collective path
forward must be based on acknowledging and accepting three foundational
principles:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Racism
in healthcare reflects a lack of respect for Indigenous rights to health;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>Racism
in the healthcare system is integrated with racism in society; and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>While
Indigenous voices must be centered in developing solutions, the responsibility
to do this work rests with non-Indigenous people, communities, organizations
and governments.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Before
anyone breathes a sigh of relief that this is only a BC issue – it isn’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare is
rampant in other provinces as well. It was only weeks ago, that Quebec came
under fire when a video showed nurses saying racist and hateful comments to
Joyce Echaquan before she died in the hospital. This was not an isolated incident but reflects a long-standing pattern of
racism experience by Indigenous peoples in Quebec hospitals.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-h-elTRWo3s" width="320" youtube-src-id="-h-elTRWo3s"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Don’t
forget the Brian Sinclair inquiry in Manitoba, which documented how the hospital
staff ignored Brian – a double amputee confined to a wheel chair - for 34 hours
until he subsequently died of a treatable urinary tract infection. And sadly,
these are not exceptional cases. From the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
in 1996 to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report in 2015 and the National
Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report in 2019 –
racism in healthcare is a national crisis and has been for decades. </span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT</b></span></h2><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Racism
in healthcare is a matter of life and death for Indigenous peoples and forms part of the ongoing genocide that the National Inquiry talked about in their report.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It
was important for the BC government to undertake this investigation and accept
the findings. Every other province and territory should follow suit and conduct a similar investigation. While it is important that BC's Minister of Health Adrian Dix apologized and committed to take action - it is yet to be seen whether they will take the action
needed to hold themselves accountable, make the required changes and make
reparations to Indigenous peoples. Given the many reports sitting on government
shelves gathering dust – it is incumbent on Canadians to do their part to
ensure governments are held to account.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Healthcare
is a basic human right and we are all served when we take steps to make sure
that all peoples – including Indigenous peoples – can enjoy that right.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/pampalmater/mary-ellen-turpel-lafond-on-racism-in-healthcare" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Warrior Life Podcast Interview with Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond</span></a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial;">(Picture credit: Taken from the front over of the report In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Healthcare, 2020).</span></p>Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-2371416150038137932020-11-22T11:26:00.009-08:002020-11-22T11:53:51.755-08:00Explosive Report Finds RCMP Toxic Culture of Racism, Misogyny & Homophobia<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8zxTFH8hF8x4zxEdOj1-xUKTgod2BQLtxNYN6eV8FpYWnEL1GHBwIF8-qHTJC1myiMYSd2RKUODfyhEtQTblRhlqxPbhIIXXe2yiW1NuUFiInIB1SLmh-ri0OmrUbT80_h16xxTWPKM5/s1650/RCMP_Final-Report_Broken-Dreams.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8zxTFH8hF8x4zxEdOj1-xUKTgod2BQLtxNYN6eV8FpYWnEL1GHBwIF8-qHTJC1myiMYSd2RKUODfyhEtQTblRhlqxPbhIIXXe2yiW1NuUFiInIB1SLmh-ri0OmrUbT80_h16xxTWPKM5/s320/RCMP_Final-Report_Broken-Dreams.png" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> <span style="text-align: center;">"This process has forever tarnished the image of the RCMP as a Canadian icon." </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(The Honourable Michel Bastarache, Independent Assessor)</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">RCMP'S TOXIC CULTURE</span></b></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Racism, misogyny and homophobia - these are the characteristics of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) toxic culture according to a new report released this week. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">The
report: <a href="https://merlodavidson.ca/wp-content/uploads/RCMP_Final-Report_Broken-Dreams.pdf" target="_blank">Broken Dreams Broken Lives</a> was written by former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Michel Bastarache, who had been engaged as an independent assessor to review the more than 3,000
claims of sexual harassment experienced by women who worked for the RCMP. He found that the experiences of these women in the RCMP were nothing short of devastating.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In addition to those women who suffered from violent sexual assaults by their male RCMP colleagues, many women have been left with deep psychological injuries which range from major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder to substance dependence and even suicide. </span><span>Bastarache emphasized that </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“it is impossible to fully convey the depth of the pain that the Assessors witnessed” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and that “no amount of financial compensation can undo the harm” these women and their families experienced at the hands of the RCMP in all provinces and territories.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tlohad08ca0" width="320" youtube-src-id="Tlohad08ca0"></iframe></div><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span><div style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;">RCMP CULTURE EATS POLICY</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The real tragedy is that none of this is news - not to the RCMP or the federal and provincial governments. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">All
of them have known about this long-standing, widespread problem of racism,
misogyny, homophobia and violence within the RCMP for many decades - through
both internal and external reports and litigation. </span></span></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The RCMP are a male-dominated, para-military organization whose powerful, toxic culture has prevailed despite internal policy changes. They are impervious to change because "Culture eats Policy every time". The RCMP are invested in the status quo and will not change.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">“Indeed,
there are strong reasons to doubt that the RCMP has this capacity or the will
to make the changes necessary to address the toxic aspects of its culture.”</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3as6Gp7L7h49ihWwWNjiSIxZRRcX11zQsE92c0n1npPH1U6hJ5JbyCcjpptfYPLN3FGJNRYt3kQa3ZoW5Y2tVih7X_BoKT4hxcgQVSP5JA177CIVvhsUjCe5p1IR38yMNeDIjzp_2giby/s800/RCMP_military_weapons_800_531_90.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3as6Gp7L7h49ihWwWNjiSIxZRRcX11zQsE92c0n1npPH1U6hJ5JbyCcjpptfYPLN3FGJNRYt3kQa3ZoW5Y2tVih7X_BoKT4hxcgQVSP5JA177CIVvhsUjCe5p1IR38yMNeDIjzp_2giby/s320/RCMP_military_weapons_800_531_90.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/declassify-deconstruct-and-defund-the-rcmp" target="_blank">Canada Should Declassify, Deconstruct and Defund the RCMP</a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">SEXUALIZED VIOLENCE</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">One of the most disturbing aspects of the Broken Dreams report is how male RCMP members and leaders saw women as "fresh meat" to be used and abused as they saw fit. Th</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The stories told to the Assessors "shocked them to their core". In addition to "serious acts of penetrative sexual assaults", male RCMP from all over Canada engaged in horrific acts of sexual harassment and abuse including:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">unwelcome
sexual touching,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">men
exposing their penises,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">making
degrading comments about women’s bodies, <o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">humiliating
name-calling,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">spreading
violent & obscene pornography forcing women to watch it;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">being
handcuffed to men’s toilets and locked in cells,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">leaving dildos and used condoms on their desks;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">being
accused of selling sex;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">outing
their sexual orientation without their consent; and<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">stalking and bullying by male RCMP demanding </span>sexual favours from women.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCi_erfY7gTUPmHZqQPJv4nmDgFWh3HxXoHxQU24cWQEjbIi-uiWG6gb-butDCgWx9aSvYSWDHBfBxBJaADFihwL-5EfF8BVegg_UYqnUTog9B8faIzCCy1kmlHSnfcc0oj2PU-4L6c7F/s1052/MMIW-Inquiry-Report-cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCi_erfY7gTUPmHZqQPJv4nmDgFWh3HxXoHxQU24cWQEjbIi-uiWG6gb-butDCgWx9aSvYSWDHBfBxBJaADFihwL-5EfF8BVegg_UYqnUTog9B8faIzCCy1kmlHSnfcc0oj2PU-4L6c7F/s320/MMIW-Inquiry-Report-cover.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fafia-afai.org/en/press-release-mmiw-inquiry-report/" target="_blank">National Action Plan to End Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">RCMP TARGETED INDIGENOUS WOMEN</span></b></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The report details how the RCMP treated Indigenous women even more poorly than other women. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">In
addition to the humiliating and degrading behaviours experienced by other women in the RCMP, Indigenous women were also referred to as "squaw" and "smoked meat" and “were, at times, forced to watch RCMP members treat other Indigenous
people brutally.” </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">Their male RCMP colleagues took advantage of the fact that many of these Indigenous women were young and came from small or remote communities and were not accustomed to this type of toxic culture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">“Indigenous women, particularly those who had been
abused as children, were preyed upon by their male colleagues for sexual
favours.”</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB-ZlwKKO6WCGuI33lJvArzNRQaHFKapfIg-yKwywL6wPLU_JZ94ZgUNsf4lnjA4_g-B8MadCDxec1hM2dLyWVtVXglHx0uoOPKIxgHU7DJbhQVGIp0go-gKPYMXbJMqgqVqmy8uLYptH/s365/canada0213_reportcover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB-ZlwKKO6WCGuI33lJvArzNRQaHFKapfIg-yKwywL6wPLU_JZ94ZgUNsf4lnjA4_g-B8MadCDxec1hM2dLyWVtVXglHx0uoOPKIxgHU7DJbhQVGIp0go-gKPYMXbJMqgqVqmy8uLYptH/s320/canada0213_reportcover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/canada0213webwcover_0.pdf" target="_blank">Those Who Take Us Away: Human Rights Watch</a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">FEW BAD APPLES MYTH BUSTED</span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The RCMP has long relied on the "few bad apples" justification to protect their organization's status quo which has resulted in so much pain and suffering by women in the RCMP.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Despite the fact that RCMP members and leaders have long denied the systemic and cultural nature of their racism, misogyny and homophobia, this report found that sexual harassment in the RCMP exists "at every level of seniority and in every geographic area of Canada" and is "deeply embedded in its culture". Even those members and leaders who are well-intentioned make choices to accept this culture and stay silent on the injustices.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"The reality is, however, that even honourable members (and well-intentioned leaders) have been required to conform to (or at least accept) the underlying culture, which they have, for the most part, had to adopt in order to succeed in their career. Those who do not accept the culture are excluded."</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PnZ1BLWD_WToW9jAXPdIfL_GxVgDDyXJYZLhRYgyS0lVOm5rpTJ5nUJ7ti3YSn9cJocyKNjc_zDUUvtnOuQalsQ3tNnvHq0bIJ3NzJbCs3Hl4pJrY6KGWX7b8ZkAviGQW0ppHRxmm6Lx/s766/RCMP-BRENDA-LUCKI-RACISM-INDIGENOUS-PEOPLES-BLACK-PALMATER-JUN18-766x431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="766" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PnZ1BLWD_WToW9jAXPdIfL_GxVgDDyXJYZLhRYgyS0lVOm5rpTJ5nUJ7ti3YSn9cJocyKNjc_zDUUvtnOuQalsQ3tNnvHq0bIJ3NzJbCs3Hl4pJrY6KGWX7b8ZkAviGQW0ppHRxmm6Lx/s320/RCMP-BRENDA-LUCKI-RACISM-INDIGENOUS-PEOPLES-BLACK-PALMATER-JUN18-766x431.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/brenda-lucki-must-go/" target="_blank">Brenda Lucki Must Go: Maclean's</a><br /></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">RCMP CANNOT BE FIXED FROM WITHIN</span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This report makes it very clear that the RCMP cannot be fixed from within. They simply refuse to acknowledge that there are significant problems that are systemic and deeply rooted within their culture.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Their toxic culture of racism, misogyny and homophobia is "powerful and presents an obstacle to change". Furthermore, <span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Financial
settlements of class-action lawsuits will not change this culture”. The Assessors found that the RCMP "</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">are
invested in the status quo and will not likely want to make the necessary
changes to eradicate this toxic culture".</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">In
fact, many of the women that had been interviewed felt that there was no chance
for reform within the RCMP and some suggested it was time that it be replaced. This is what many Black and Indigenous peoples have been saying for decades and why the calls for the RCMP to be abolished have grown stronger in recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">And finally, the report concluded that the RCMP are not able to either investigate or remediate these problems.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt;">“These
men were often not held accountable for their actions. Indeed, the Assessors
were told that one tactic used by the RCMP to resolve complaints of sexual
harassment was to promote and transfer these men.”</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eOwsOvEy1xN069T1KIBZ9HjVNtpe9Ujsi8Ruq6zM1HSB_DUfx3jpqHdbvY_zPAkkAq56bX5lNijkSQuchrSzzYUKTN0ou5PLOomBukHkYcCsM7TXd19DOxcvtSKfWgBQMNXONONJve1W/s800/Winnipeg_Police_3_800_599_90.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eOwsOvEy1xN069T1KIBZ9HjVNtpe9Ujsi8Ruq6zM1HSB_DUfx3jpqHdbvY_zPAkkAq56bX5lNijkSQuchrSzzYUKTN0ou5PLOomBukHkYcCsM7TXd19DOxcvtSKfWgBQMNXONONJve1W/s320/Winnipeg_Police_3_800_599_90.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/inquiry-needed-into-police-violence-against-indigenous-peoples" target="_blank">Inquiry Needed into Police Violence against Indigenous Peoples</a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">WHAT'S NEXT?</span></b></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is clear from this report that the RCMP has neither the will nor the ability to address its toxic culture and its widespread sexualized violence within its ranks. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It must also be kept in mind that this is just one of many class actions against the RCMP. The RCMP's toxic culture of racism, misogyny and homophobia, together with widespread sexualized violence, represents a major public safety issue for women generally, and especially for Indigenous, Black and marginalized women and girls.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We need Canadians to call on Canada to:</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Open the books at the RCMP so we can hold those who preyed on women to account;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Conduct an independent investigation into the RCMP's similar actions towards Indigenous peoples; </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Make reparations to Indigenous peoples who have suffered from RCMP harassment, over-arrests, racism, brutality, sexualized violence and killings; and </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dismantle the RCMP once and for all.</span></li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://pampalmater.com/" target="_blank">Pamela Palmater: Educating the Resistance.</a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-9922218201550179452020-05-06T10:33:00.000-07:002020-06-07T08:37:52.809-07:00Transitional Justice Plan Urgently Needed to End Genocide in Canada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPMnoGQRU_6I8ThPHiYrT7c89lwLEcqChyphenhyphenW-9dL86s2qnQN66LBn_dysOpNc0S7F-BfyqT2eaYZv6Y-eiXRHDXEuXXIZ6AIZPBFif1OZlWYmMnN19LD6T2g4SOe-XuamnnItofEh-hMoV/s1600/Sharon+Shelagh+Pam.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPMnoGQRU_6I8ThPHiYrT7c89lwLEcqChyphenhyphenW-9dL86s2qnQN66LBn_dysOpNc0S7F-BfyqT2eaYZv6Y-eiXRHDXEuXXIZ6AIZPBFif1OZlWYmMnN19LD6T2g4SOe-XuamnnItofEh-hMoV/s320/Sharon+Shelagh+Pam.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
(Pam Palmater, Shelagh Day and Sharon McIvor testifying before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, DC - fall 2019).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">For
decades, the families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls and
their communities; together with Indigenous women leaders and experts and
allied human rights organizations, advocated for government action to end the
crisis. Many families had called for a national inquiry, which was supported by
various international human rights treaty bodies. After a tumultuous start and
numerous set-backs, the National Inquiry concluded its work and released its
final report at a ceremony on June 3, 2019, before hundreds of Indigenous
family members, leaders and advocates. They found Canada guilty of both
historic and ongoing genocide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Throughout
the National Inquiry’s proceedings, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn
Bennett committed that Canada would not sit idly by while the inquiry proceeded.
They committed to take action to end the violence, which was well documented in
numerous reports. Yet, they failed to act. Since the release of the final
report, very little, if any substantive action has been taken by PM Trudeau’s
Liberal government to end genocide against Indigenous women and girls in
Canada. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The abuse,
exploitation, violence, disappearances and murders of Indigenous women and
girls continues unabated and represents the largest human rights crisis ever
facing Canada. The National Inquiry confronted this reality head on when it
concluded that Canada is guilty of genocide that is both race-based and one
that has specifically targeted Indigenous women. They found that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 31.5pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">While the Canadian genocide targets all Indigenous peoples, Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people are particularly targeted.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
finding was based on an independent legal analysis and the extensive evidence
gathered during the inquiry. They further explained:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Canada’s colonial history provides ample evidence of the existence of a genocidal policy – a manifest pattern of similar conduct which reflects an intention to destroy Indigenous peoples.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">What resulted
from this finding was a media blitz of commentators engaging in debates as to whether
the inquiry went too far; whether they were using the word to strategically to
get attention; or whether anything other than the Holocaust could ever amount
to genocide. Very few of those commentators had specifically worked in, were educated
in, or conducted research on genocide; nor were most of them lawyers. Yet, these emotional or political reactions to the finding is what led the discussion
versus the very pressing need for governments to take urgent action. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Even the
United Nations High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet expressed great concern and
called on Canada to examine this finding. Similarly, Luis Almagro who heads the
Organization of American States, expressed his concern that Canada was too slow
to act on the national inquiry’s findings. Meanwhile, some commentators reacted
by saying that the inquiry’s finding should be investigated. There is no utility in reinvestigating this
finding. It is a legal finding based on fact and law. What was needed then and
what is needed now is action to end the genocide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">None of
this should come as a shock to government officials, Indigenous leaders,
scholars and activists have long been calling Canada’s historic and ongoing treatment
of Indigenous peoples genocide. Some have also highlighted the fact that
sexualized genocide towards Indigenous women and girls has been an integral
part of Canada’s violent colonization of Indigenous lands. While not a specific
focus of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) investigation into
residential schools, their final report also concluded that Canada’s actions
towards Indigenous peoples amounted to cultural, physical and biological
genocide: “part of a coherent policy to eliminate Aboriginal people as distinct
peoples and to assimilate them into the Canadian mainstream against their will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
crime of genocide is a crime under international law that developed over time –
even before the <i>UN Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide</i> adopted in 1948. A state
need only be guilty of one of the five ways to commit genocide against a racial
group like Indigenous peoples, which include: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(1) killing; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(2) physical/mental harm; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(3) conditions of life to bring about
destruction; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(4) preventing births; and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(5) the forced transfer of children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Canada
is guilty of all five.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The National inquiry, without
excluding the possibility that individuals could be held liable for genocide in
Canada, and duly noting that acts and omissions of provinces within Canada,
draws a conclusion on the responsibility of Canada as a state for genocide
under international law.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The inquiry
also found that pre- and post-colonial settler governments have created,
maintained and reinforced an infrastructure of violence towards Indigenous
women and girls. This infrastructure of violence is a complex set of
institutional laws, policies, practices, actions and omissions that treat
Indigenous women as lesser human beings, who are sexualized, racialized and
treated as disposable because of their sex and their race. This infrastructure
remains firmly in place today manifesting in high rates of violence towards
Indigenous women and girls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This genocide has been
empowered by colonial structures, evidenced notably by the Indian Act, the
Sixties scoop, residential schools and breaches of human and Indigenous rights,
leading directly to the current increased rates of violence death and suicide
in Indigenous populations.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
National Inquiry considered the following as examples of genocide:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Deaths of Indigenous women and girls in
police custody;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Failure to protect them from exploitation and
trafficking;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Failure to protect them from known killers;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Taking their children and placing in foster
care at high rates;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Physical, mental and sexual abuse in state
institutions (residential schools, hospitals, prisons, etc);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Denial of Indian status and band membership;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Forced and/or coerced sterilizations; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Purposeful chronic underfunding of essential
human services like food, water, health, housing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">These
modern day examples discussed in the inquiry’s report would be in addition to
earlier pre-meditated killings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- small pox blankets, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- scalping bounties, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">-mass murders of some native groups, like the
Beothuk; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">- starvation policies and ethnic cleansing on
the prairies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
considering the testimonies of thousands of families, Indigenous women leaders,
and advocates, as well as subject-matter experts, together with extensive
legal, historical and social science research; the inquiry could come to no
other conclusion but genocide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Canada has displayed a
continuous policy with shifting expressed motives but an ultimately steady
intention, to destroy Indigenous peoples physically biologically and as social
units.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">All
governments and state agencies are still active perpetrators and perpetuators
of genocidal violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Ending the
genocide which is embedded in state institutions and society as a whole, will
require immediate and urgent remedies that match the scope and character of
these grave human rights violations – i.e. a comprehensive national action plan
that is well-resourced and focusing on transitioning Canada out of genocide.
That is no small feat. This will require external oversight but international
human rights bodies or experts, with Indigenous women as core decision-makers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Organizations
like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) have access to
experts in genocide – experts who have worked with other countries to transition
out of genocide. It makes no sense to ask the perpetrator of genocide to be the
one to design the plan and implement the plan to get out of genocide.
Indigenous women and human rights experts must be the ones to lead this process,
together with international genocide experts to design this plan. Canadian
officials must then work directly with Indigenous women and their Indigenous
governments to oversee a fully- resourced transitional justice plan that is
national in scope, applies to all levels of government and related agencies,
and focuses on: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(1) ending ongoing genocide;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(2) reparations for harms done; and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(3) the prevention of future genocide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
will require an Indigenous and human rights framework and gender-based analysis
for</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">all stages of the plan. While
Canada promised the United Nations that it would come up with a national action
plan by June 2020, few expect more than their standard action plan framework
that tends to be overly general with no measurable outcomes. This is why
several Indigenous women and human rights advocates attended the IACHR in the
fall of 2019 to ask for international intervention and oversight. Canada’s
response at the time was that they were too busy with the election. Then, they
were too busy with holidays. June is several weeks away and in all likelihood, Indigenous
women and girls will be left behind again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Genocide
is the worst crime and human rights violation that can be committed against a
people. But you wouldn’t know it by looking at Canada’s lack of action on the
crisis. Pipelines get more money and attention than Indigenous women and girls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s
truly time for more international intervention before thousands more lives are
lost.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Video
of IACHR session </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQ4G5iEnAI&list=PLDnK0xT7aXRAGR7DszneZTPkBn0YJHfxB&index=11&t=292s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQ4G5iEnAI&list=PLDnK0xT7aXRAGR7DszneZTPkBn0YJHfxB&index=11&t=292s</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
Here is my latest Youtube video talking about the need for a gendered covid-19 plan to take into account that Indigenous women and girls face not only the pandemic, but also ongoing genocide:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM6OBq1fo10">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM6OBq1fo10</a><br />
<br /></div>
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-29200054299276139202020-04-12T09:53:00.001-07:002020-04-12T09:56:12.637-07:00Template Letter to Send to Federal Government re Prisoner Safety During Covid-19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp6tP9M39Q2uPEEQCrpme2WB3s61i4HcaHytYO81Qx8Kuh-suVxpGi1RF3Pn7fJtCd2FRgDvY1jxAMyTePZ5JYoj1qXFs0M7d-3dhUodXVt7VMgvJ0zIcqHIuD9EUq5dChUVkwoi6OvCo/s1600/CoronaVirusHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1600" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp6tP9M39Q2uPEEQCrpme2WB3s61i4HcaHytYO81Qx8Kuh-suVxpGi1RF3Pn7fJtCd2FRgDvY1jxAMyTePZ5JYoj1qXFs0M7d-3dhUodXVt7VMgvJ0zIcqHIuD9EUq5dChUVkwoi6OvCo/s320/CoronaVirusHeader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
(picture from United Nations 2020)<br />
<br />
Dear social justice allies,<br />
<br />
Several weeks ago, I wrote an article for APTN News about the need for all levels of government to work with Indigenous governments and prison justice experts to develop a decarceration plan for Indigenous peoples to avoid a massive covid19 outbreak in prisons which would disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples.<br />
<a href="https://aptnnews.ca/2020/03/23/covid-19-pandemic-plan-needed-for-canadas-jails-and-prisons/">https://aptnnews.ca/2020/03/23/covid-19-pandemic-plan-needed-for-canadas-jails-and-prisons/</a><br />
<br />
I then did a Youtube video providing more context on this issue and why a strategic, decarceration plan is needed for Indigenous peoples, especially Indigenous women who are the most over-represented prison population. Indigenous peoples are already in a high risk category for covid19 health issues and prisons would only make the matter worse.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3gx_skSDX8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3gx_skSDX8</a><br />
<br />
The Canadian Association for Elizabeth Fry Societies is also calling on governments to release some prisoners, including Indigenous women. pregnant women, and others.You can see their Open to Letter to Government here:<br />
<a href="https://www.caefs.ca/caefs-calls-for-release-of-prisoners-at-risk-due-to-covid-19/">https://www.caefs.ca/caefs-calls-for-release-of-prisoners-at-risk-due-to-covid-19/</a><br />
<br />
Many of you contacted me after seeing my video asking about a template letter they could use to Please see the below template letter that you can use and/or edit to your specific needs to send to the federal government regarding prisoner health and safety during the covid-19 pandemic.<br />
<br />
The below draft template letter was provided by Senator Kim Pate, who has been a life long prison justice advocate for women. She has long called on the government to find alternatives to prison for women, especially Indigenous women who are grossly over-represented in prisons and women with physical and mental health issues. She is advocating that prisons release all minimum security prisoners, elderly and ill prisoners, and Indigenous women.<br />
<br />
Many thanks for those of you who support prisoners at this time, especially the many thousands who have not even been convicted of their alleged crime.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: .6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">April , 2020</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The Right Honourable
Justin Trudeau<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Prime Minister of
Canada<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Office of the
Prime Minister<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">80 Wellington
Street<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Ottawa, ON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">K1A 0A2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Dear Prime Minister
and Members of the Cabinet:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; margin-left: .75pt; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
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<u><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Re</span></u><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;"> COVID-19 in Canadian Prisons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "garamond" , serif;">We
are gravely concerned that more people are going to die because current
preventive measures for some Canadians are inadequate. We are particularly
concerned about people living in poverty, people who are already isolated,
homeless people, precariously housed and employed people, and prisoners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "garamond" , serif;">There
are 40,000 Canadians in prisons and too many are at particular risk due to
COVID-19. In federal prisons, more than 1 in 4 prisoners are over 50, more than
1 in 7 have a respiratory illness or hypertension. Many have mental health
issues. Elderly, ill and low risk prisoners can and must be released
immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Locking
down prisoners and locking out visitors is wholly inadequate. Without
significantly reducing the number of prisoners, prisons are already becoming
incubated breeding grounds for COVID-19. Social distancing for prisoners is
being achieved via lockdowns, conditions of solitary confinement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The responses to
COVID-19 in prisons so far raises serious health and human rights concerns. Because
social distancing is not possible in crowded jails, the response to positive or
suspected cases of COVID-19 are institutional lockdowns. Inadequate cleansers
are being distributed to prisoners who often share kitchen and bathroom
facilities. It is not effective to distribute hygiene information to those with
dementia, learning, language or intellectual disabilities, not to mention those
with significant mental health issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Staff in federal
prisons are already testing positive in growing numbers and others are refusing
to go to work where prisoners are diagnosed with COVID-19. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Authorities
should be releasing all minimum security, elderly and ill prisoners from
federal prisons. As you know, such legislative provisions as sections 29, 81,
84, 116 and 121 of the <i>Corrections and Conditional Release Act </i>were
specifically created to move people out of prisons to address health issues,
for treatment, for other personal development, compassionate reasons, as well
as for work. Sections 81 and 84 provide options which could be easily expanded
to provide for the release of Indigenous and other prisoners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">As the Parole
Board of Canada has urged, temporary absence and work release options could be
broadened, whether by legislative changes or broader interpretation of current
policies and practices, to provide near immediate alleviation of current
conditions. Some families and communities could immediately accommodate their
loved ones. Community residential facilities and non-governmental organizations
could be funded (at a fraction of the cost of incarceration), to provide
additional community accommodation and support. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Many communities
need health clinics, testing centres and housing to alleviate current as well
as pre-existing crises. Given the opportunity, construction companies and
prisoners could volunteer to assist with the work needed to put this
infrastructure in place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Recognizing these
extraordinary times, the government could further support these goals through
amendments to legislation and/or policy. One option could be a “presumptive”
release on parole at one-sixth of a sentence for all first-time, non-schedule
convictions, that could function similarly to current statutory releases,
supervised by parole officers with the Parole Board of Canada setting any
necessary conditions. Alternatively, currently available measures, such as
section 116(6) of the CCRA which permits unescorted temporary absences for
renewable periods of 60 days for “specific personal development” programs,
could be made applicable to prisoners with vulnerable health issues. Existing
measures for release could likewise be expanded to permit individuals to be
released with other forms of distance monitoring, such as video reporting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The public safety
risk of releasing minimum security prisoners, those who are ill and those who
are elderly to receive treatment and contribute to their communities is
negligible. The public health risks—for all Canadians—of keeping these
individuals and correctional staff in overcrowded and under-prepared prisons
and allowing the virus to spread further is significant, irresponsible and
preventable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Provinces like Ontario
and Nova Scotia have taken steps: allowing those who serve sentences only on
the weekends to serve sentences at home. In the United States,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pamela%20Palmater/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/R6Z9UYVE/LTR%20to%20PMO-COVID19-April2020.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Europe,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pamela%20Palmater/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/R6Z9UYVE/LTR%20to%20PMO-COVID19-April2020.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
New Zealand<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pamela%20Palmater/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/R6Z9UYVE/LTR%20to%20PMO-COVID19-April2020.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
and beyond, legal advocates are working to post bail and encourage release of
prisoners. Canadian civil society organizations, medical and legal experts are
echoing these calls. Canadians are calling for bold and effective measures.
Protecting Canada from a healthcare crisis means protecting those most
marginalized, including those in prisons and other institutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pamela%20Palmater/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/R6Z9UYVE/LTR%20to%20PMO-COVID19-April2020.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 103%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">See e.g. Bill Quigley, <i>Six
points about Coronavirus and poverty in the US</i> (Louisiana Weekly): </span><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/six-points-about-coronavirus-and-poverty-in-the-us/">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/six-points-about-coronavirus-and-poverty-in-the-us/</a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">; Lisa Backus, <i>Advocates
Urge Prisoner Releases Before Virus Strikes </i>(CT News Junkie):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200316_advocates_urge_prisoner_releases_before_virus_strikes/?utm_source=CTNewsJunkie+Main+List+With+Publication+Groups&utm_campaign=2f91d903e6-MCP_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a493d2308d-2f91d903e6-95944325">https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200316_advocates_urge_prisoner_releases_before_virus_strikes/?utm_source=CTNewsJunkie+Main+List+With+Publication+Groups&utm_campaign=2f91d903e6-MCP_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a493d2308d-2f91d903e6-95944325</a>.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pamela%20Palmater/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/R6Z9UYVE/LTR%20to%20PMO-COVID19-April2020.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 103%;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Penal Reform International, <i>Coronavirus:
Healthcare and human rights of people in prison</i>: </span><a href="https://www.penalreform.org/resource/coronavirus-healthcare-and-human-rights-of-people-in/">https://www.penalreform.org/resource/coronavirus-healthcare-and-human-rights-of-people-in/</a>.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pamela%20Palmater/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/R6Z9UYVE/LTR%20to%20PMO-COVID19-April2020.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 103%;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Penal Reform International, <i>Coronavirus:
Healthcare and human rights of people in prison</i>: </span><a href="https://www.penalreform.org/resource/coronavirus-healthcare-and-human-rights-of-people-in/">https://www.penalreform.org/resource/coronavirus-healthcare-and-human-rights-of-people-in/</a>.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
Senator Kim Pate's office also provided the following information to help families advocating on behalf of their loved ones in prison. Here is her note:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">In
order to assist in the release of your loved one/family/community member, you
may wish to write to their parole officer, as well as the Warden of the prison
where they are currently incarcerated. You might also want to write or copy Anne
Kelly, Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, Jennifer Oades,
Chair of the Parole Board of Canada, Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and
Security, David Lametti, Minister of Justice, the Prime Minister, the leaders
of the other federal political parties, as well as MPs and Senators. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">In
your letter requesting release on compassionate grounds, or for personal
development, or perhaps a work release program in order to care for family
members, or a section 81 0r 84 release, you will want to identify why you think
they can be released safely in to the community at this time, as well as the
types of supports available to them. If you need some resources to assist with
community infrastructure, you can encourage the community to apply directly to
the Minister of Public Safety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Email
addresses for some of the individuals listed above are:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca">Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca</a><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca">David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:jennifer.oades@pbc-clcc.gc.ca">jennifer.oades@pbc-clcc.gc.ca</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:Anne.Kelly@csc-scc.gc.ca">Anne.Kelly@csc-scc.gc.ca</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:Justin.Trudeau@parl.gc.ca">Justin.Trudeau@parl.gc.ca</a><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:Andrew.Scheer@parl.gc.ca">Andrew.Scheer@parl.gc.ca</a><span style="color: #1f497d;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:Yves-Francois.Blnachet@parl.gc.ca">Yves-Francois.Blnachet@parl.gc.ca</a>
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca">Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">Many are copying our office on their
correspondence so that the recipients are aware that we are monitoring
developments in the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">Additionally, please see below the link
to an article by former Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Philpott and Senator Pate
published recently in Policy Options regarding releasing prisoners in light of
the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be of interest:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/march-2020/time-running-out-to-protect-prisoners-and-prison-staff-from-calami">https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/march-2020/time-running-out-to-protect-prisoners-and-prison-staff-from-calami</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">Thank you once again for writing and
take good care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">Senator Kim Pate's Office:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://sencanada.ca/en/senators/pate-kim/">https://sencanada.ca/en/senators/pate-kim/</a></span></div>
<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-14678388829764290152020-03-09T16:30:00.000-07:002020-03-09T16:30:19.260-07:00A Modern Treaty to Save Our Peoples and The Planet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
(Left to Right: Stephen Lewis, Pam Palmater, David Suzuki, photo by Ian Mauro Climate Tour 2019)<br />
<br />
This blog is an excerpt of the speech that I gave at the Climate Tour with David Suzuki and Stephen Lewis, on October 4, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the University of Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory. (Check against delivery).<br />
<br />
Kwe n’in telusi Pam Palmater. It is an honour to be here on Indigenous territory covered by Treaty one. Thanks to the elder for opening & to UofW for hosting us. Oct.4th important day to remember lives lost due to murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls.<br />
<br />
We have a hard truth to face. We are in the middle of two major crises: Canada is killing our people and the planet and we are here to stop it!<br />
<br />
The first crisis is that the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls found that Canada has and continues to commit genocide against Indigenous peoples – specifically targeting Indigenous Women and Girls.<br />
<br />
The second crisis is that Indigenous science and western science have both confirmed that we are headed for a massive climate disaster.<br />
<br />
To say that we are in a crisis of epic proportions would be an understatement. We need to act now to end the genocide of Indigenous peoples & stop the ecocide of the earth. Because we know that the pain of Indigenous peoples is the same pain felt by the planet. And the pain of this planet is felt first and foremost by Indigenous peoples.<br />
<br />
Settler governments in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and all over the world have colonized Indigenous territories with horrific acts of violence to peoples and the earth. The colonizing mentality pervades our governing systems and allows governments and corporations to treat people and the planet as resources to exploit - as though they were lifeless commodities. Extractive economies – now largely benefiting transnational corporations - have been authorized by governments land leave destruction in their wake.<br />
<br />
We’ve seen tears from Indigenous mothers whose daughters have been murdered by the thousands. We’ve also seen the heartbreak of killer whale mothers mourning the losses of their offspring who can’t survive in an oil tanker dominated eco-systems.<br />
<br />
And if we, as First Nations and Canadians, don’t act quickly - many more people, plants and animals will die. We no longer have the time to debate politics – the crisis in Canada is now a matter of life and death for all of us. It won’t be good enough in 50 years to look back and say we tried, we had the best intentions, or we gave it our best effort.<br />
<br />
We either do or die.<br />
<br />
And right now, Indigenous peoples are dying. Our planet is dying. But you all know this. We can no more deny the ecocide of climate change, than we can deny genocide of Indigenous peoples. The statistics, the research and the scientific evidence before our eyes is too overwhelming. Climate change is greatest threat to all life on earth – humans, plants and animals.<br />
<br />
Who bears the disproportionate burden of environmental destruction, water contamination and more pipelines? Indigenous peoples do. That is because genocide and ecocide go hand in hand. This earth has suffered a great assault, in part because of massive human rights violations to its caretakers – Indigenous peoples. Similarly, Indigenous peoples have suffered a great genocide in part because of the violence committed against our lands, waters, and ecosystems on which we depend.<br />
<br />
Our society’s economy has been constructed in a way which exploits ands abuses Indigenous women and the land with relative impunity. Well now, we all stand to pay the price of the impending climate disaster and corresponding the human disaster that will follow - all while large corporations reap the benefits.<br />
<br />
In the end – we will all suffer – if there is no drinkable water, farmable land or pollinators.<br />
<br />
What we need is a new treaty - a modern treaty that binds us all together - the people and the planet. A treaty that commits us to work together for the benefit of all Nations of peoples and living beings without discrimination, racism, sexism genocide or ecocide. A treaty that commits all people to heal our divisions so we can commit to protecting our collective futures.<br />
<br />
We must remember that our collective futures includes the plants, animals, birds ,fish, and insect Nations. They too have as much right to live on this planet as we do and if we have any hope of surviving, we’ll need every bee hive, every coral reef and every killer whale pod to maintain our precious eco-systems.<br />
<br />
This modern treaty can be a reality.<br />
<br />
It doesn’t matter what we call it, whose idea it was, where it originated or whether we agree on all aspects of it. This new treaty is about combining social justice and earth justice together to pave the way to a better future for all. The dual crises facing us requires that we do everything in our collective power to save our planet.<br />
<br />
This will require a societal revolution that goes beyond superficial changes and the glacial pace at which governments operate. It will require that we change everything and that will mean we need to get uncomfortable.<br />
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We don’t need everyone for a revolution to save the planet. We don't have time to wait around until the genocide and climate change deniers are convinced. If we wait, it will be too late for us all.<br />
<br />
Every single right we have ever gained – human rights, environmental protections or native rights – have been advanced by small numbers of people – sometimes only individuals pushing forward despite the odds. We can do this with all of you in this room. But we cant wait for all of you. We will forge ahead because we have to - its the only way to give Indigenous peoples and this planet a fighting chance.<br />
<br />
Other people will join when they see our successes. There will always be genocide deniers & climate change deniers, but we have an obligation to forge ahead anyway. If the lands are toxic from tar sands, and the water polluted from mining, none of our children will survive - whether they are Canadian or Indigenous. That’s why we need to work together.<br />
<br />
Together, we not only have the power to stop these abuses, but we can return Canada to its original treaty vision. Every single one of you has the power to stand up for what is right and save not only yourselves, but all those who can’t advocate on their own - for all of those whose voices that are not counted – the bees, the whales, the trees and the tiniest insects.<br />
<br />
None of you can do it alone and we don’t expect you to - the original treaty vision for Canada was premised on us working together to benefit from and protect the lands and waters which sustain us.<br />
Our advantage and our strength is in our collectives.<br />
<br />
Canada wouldn’t even exist without the treaty agreements between sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Crown. This original treaty vision was meant to protect the ecosystem on Turtle Island for as long as long as the grass grows, the rivers flow and sun shines.<br />
<br />
We are faced with two global crises – genocide and ecocide.<br />
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We must use the spirit and intent of our original treaties to forge a new future Canadians – get out and vote in your system – use your numbers, your wealth, your influence and your privilege to force the change. But don’t stop there – the pressure must continue in full force post election in all forums - in Parliamentary and Senate Committees, in where you spend you money (or don't), in the media, in the boardroom, in your advocacy and at the United Nations.<br />
<br />
Indigenous peoples will always be there on front lines, but we cant do it alone – we need you and you need us.<br />
<br />
Our very lives depend on it.<br />
<br />
We can protect the lands and waters and we can save lives. I believe in the power of the people to rise up and be the government of the people, by the people, for the people as it was intended. This generation was meant to lead our Nations back to balance. We were meant to protect this territory for our future generations. I believe in the power of our peoples to unite under a new treaty.<br />
<br />
Let’s end genocide against Indigenous peoples and ecocide against our planet.<br />
<br />
Lets work together for the radical changes we need to save our people and the planet.<br />
<br />
Wel'al'iog.<br />
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<br /></div>
Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-50541567425254584182020-02-14T16:30:00.000-08:002020-02-14T16:46:55.381-08:00Check your White Male Privilege Andrew Scheer<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB5W1D7SHSbAuv5QpsoSODbDl2NtWmBmMnRR529xPcScZ7jmJRb91xpcmhtUnulbnMRpnMBEEXdYVPlGRGw35qARLUbvuLYyF_FatdXl81HraCA2sg0nK9MeORIJL1ZqoTFWtBjx2dU9X/s1600/rcmp+gidimten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1020" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB5W1D7SHSbAuv5QpsoSODbDl2NtWmBmMnRR529xPcScZ7jmJRb91xpcmhtUnulbnMRpnMBEEXdYVPlGRGw35qARLUbvuLYyF_FatdXl81HraCA2sg0nK9MeORIJL1ZqoTFWtBjx2dU9X/s320/rcmp+gidimten.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(still image from video of RCMP aiming gun at Wet'suwet'en people from Gidimten Camp Facebook)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today,
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer made the shocking statement that protestors
and activists need to “check their privilege” and let people whose jobs depend
on the railway systems get to work. In this case, it is Scheer who needs to
check his own privilege. His comments appear to be racially motivated as the
people occupying the rails in Ontario are very obviously Indigenous peoples. Scheer’s comments
reflect worn out stereotypes about Indigenous peoples that are not worth
repeating, but are not based on facts. These kinds of comments serve only to
promote societal division and manufacture hatred towards a specific group - Indigenous
peoples. Scheer’s white male privilege as a top 1% income earner (according to
Statistics Canada) stand in stark contrast to the staggering socio-economic
conditions of the majority of First Nations peoples in Canada. First Nations
have the highest rates of poverty in the country, the lowest health indicators
and the highest rates of suicide in the world. Far from “privilege”, their
under-privilege is a direct result of the violent colonization of their
territories and the continued oppression of their peoples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2019, the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls
found, as a matter of fact and law, that Canada is guilty of both historic and
ongoing genocide. Both the Organization of American States and the United
Nations expressed deep concern about this finding and officials have offered to
assist Canada address this. So, far there has been no urgent action to address
ongoing acts of genocide against Indigenous peoples. The rates of Indigenous
over-incarceration continue to sky-rocket with Indigenous women (less than 2.5%
of the population) making of 42% of those in federal prisons. Why? Aside from
noting many areas of discrimination within the justice system, the Office of
the Correctional Investigator expressed concern that federal corrections seems
“impervious to change”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indigenous
children represent half of all children in foster care, which even federal
ministers called a “humanitarian crisis” – yet numbers continue to rise. The numbers
of abused, exploited, disappeared and murdered Indigenous women also continue
to rise, despite a National Inquiry drawing national attention to the crisis. Indigenous
women and girls are the primary targets of human traffickers who are able to
exploit them with relative impunity. It should come as no surprise to anyone at
this point that some First Nations in Canada have the highest suicide rates in
the world, even higher than post-conflict countries. Indigenous peoples make up
40-80% of homeless peoples in Canada depending on the region and we all know
about the lack of access to clean drinking water that has plagued some First
Nations for decades. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
United Nations has called on Canada many times to address its grave human
rights violations against Indigenous peoples to no avail. The Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights has made similar recommendations to Canada to end
the human rights violations. The former United Nations Special Rapporteur on
the Rights of Indigenous peoples James Anaya, wrote in his report on Canada
that the relationship with Indigenous peoples was getting worse over time and
that “It is difficult to reconcile Canada’s well-developed legal framework and
general prosperity with the human rights problems faced by Indigenous peoples”.
He went on to report that “The most jarring manifestation of those human rights
problems is the distressing socioeconomic conditions of Indigenous peoples in a
highly developed country.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada is
wealthy because it stole the lands and resources of Indigenous peoples, carried
out violent acts of genocide to reduce Indigenous populations and then
constructed a complex set of laws, policies, practices, actions and omissions
to oppress Indigenous peoples and clear the lands for settlement and extraction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
actions of solidarity across the country are about more than pipelines – they
are about the continued genocide of Indigenous peoples and the failure of
Canada to abide by the rule of law in respecting their land rights and their
right to say no to development. These solidarity actions with the Wet’suwet’en Nation
are about bringing attention to the ways in which Canada criminalizes
Indigenous peoples for peacefully living, asserting and defending our sovereignty
over our lands. While politicians make flowery speeches about reconciliation
and respecting our rights, when it comes to wanting our lands for development
or extraction, they will send in heavily armed RCMP or military to take what
they want. That is what these actions are about – the failure of federal and
provincial governments to abide by the rule of law – all the laws in Canada,
not just the ones that suit their political or economic needs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Scheer’s
ill-informed comments serve only to cause confusion and apprehension in the
public, instead of offering thoughtful solutions that would bring
everyone together. His words are shameful and thankfully, don't
represent those of most Canadians. Canadians continue to be our strongest
allies in seeking justice for our peoples as lawyers, teachers, academics,
social workers, labourers, unions and Canadians from all backgrounds continue
to stand with Indigenous peoples at solidarity actions all over Canada. That's
what the treaty relationship is all about. We need to work together to find a
way to harmonize all laws in Canada – Indigenous, Canadian and international
laws - and restore social justice for all peoples. We must urgently end genocide against Indigenous peoples which includes the ongoing theft of our lands and resources. It also means telling the RCMP to stand down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Reconciliation doesn't manifest at the end of a sniper rifle.</span></div>
<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-23144045046516515232020-02-05T06:47:00.000-08:002020-02-05T06:47:29.925-08:00RCMP Invasion of Wet'suwet'en Nation territory breaches Canada's "rule of law"<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro-n5, ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw-cond, sans-serif;">RCMP invades Wet’suwet’en territory. Photo by Amber Bracken; Jan. 7, 2019</span></div>
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While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes flowery public speeches about respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and reassures the international community that there is no relationship more important that the one with Indigenous peoples, Canada invaded sovereign Wet’suwet’en Nation territory. When questioned about this aggressive move at a Liberal fundraiser in Kamloops, British Columbia, he responded: “No, obviously, it’s not an ideal situation… But at the same time, we’re also a country of the rule of law.” Canada’s invasion of Wet’suwet’en territory through its national police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), is an example of the blatant violation of the rule of law in favour of corporate interests. Canada has consistently failed to follow the rule of law when it comes to Indigenous peoples, and the violent arrests of the Wet’suwet’en people at the Gidimt’en checkpoint, set up in support of the Unist’ot’en homestead, is a glaring example of Canada’s lawlessness.</div>
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The people of Wet’suwet’en Nation, as represented by their traditional government, have long asserted their sovereign jurisdiction over their Nation’s lands which span about 22,000 square kilometres in northwest British Columbia. These lands have never been ceded, nor have their rights to use, manage, protect or govern these lands been extinguished in any way. The Nation has never signed any treaty or constitutional agreement that has specifically surrendered their sovereignty as a Nation. While there have been many federal and provincial laws that have interfered with First Nation laws in general, there has never been an explicit extinguishment of Wet’suwet’en laws and jurisdiction over their Nation’s sovereign territory. Their land rights are not only recognized in Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982, but they are also protected in numerous international treaties and declarations, like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In other words, there was no legal basis for Canada to invade their territory.</div>
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The Wet’suwet’en Nation is a governing Nation that has existed since time immemorial. They are made up of five clans: Gil_seyhu (Big Frog), Laksilyu (Small Frog), Gitdumden (Wolf/Bear), Laksamshu (Fireweed), and Tsayu (Beaver). The Wet’suwet’en are organized through a system of hereditary leaders and have a complex system of governance. While Canada did force the chief and council system on First Nations through the Indian Act, it was not successful in extinguishing or displacing the Nation’s traditional government. This is evidenced in the fact that when the Wet’suwet’en Nation decided to assert their land rights in Canada’s courts, they did so as a Nation, through their traditional government as represented by their hereditary leaders.</div>
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In <em>Delgamuuwk v. British Columbia</em> (1997), the Wet’suwet’en, together with the Gitksan, asserted title to their lands. While the issue was ordered back to trial, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) made significant findings about the nature of Aboriginal title being a right to the land itself. The SCC found that the land is held communally, by all members of the Aboriginal Nation for their “exclusive use and occupation,” and that this right to land was protected in “pre-existing systems of aboriginal law” and Canada’s common law, even before the protection of Aboriginal rights in section 35 of the 1982 Constitution Act. No laws have since extinguished Wet’suwet’en rights with regards to their territory. Also significant is the fact that according to SCC jurisprudence, Aboriginal title contains an inherent limitation, in that title lands can’t be used in a way that is “irreconcilable” with the nature of the Nation’s attachment to those lands. The SCC explained it this way: “Implicit in the protection of historic patterns of occupation is a recognition of the importance of continuity of the relationship of an aboriginal community to its land over time.”</div>
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<span style="font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro-n5, ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, serif;">What can we take from this case? Well, according to Canadian law, we know that it is the “Aboriginal Nation,” in this instance the Wet’suwet’en Nation, that has the legal ownership of their traditional territories, not an individual band. So it matters little that some of the bands may have signed an agreement with the pipeline company, especially if they did so in relation to territory off the reserve and without the free, prior and informed consent of the people. We also know that the lands are not held by individuals, but by the whole Nation. Thus any decisions in relation to those lands rest with the Nation. We also know that the purpose of section 35 is to protect the many ways in which Aboriginal Nations enjoy their title lands and these Nations can’t use them in ways which are inconsistent with those uses. The SCC specifically stated that if Aboriginal title lands are used as hunting grounds, then the land can’t be used in a way that destroys its value – as in strip mining.</span></div>
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In the present case, not only were the Wet’suwet’en people using and occupying their lands, they were also protecting their lands from destruction by the Coastal GasLink pipeline slated to go through their territory. If Aboriginal Nations can’t risk destroying their title lands for extractive projects, certainly corporations should not be permitted to do so. It’s also clear that despite the media reports, this was never about a protest. This was always about occupying and protecting their lands – something they have the legal right to do. This is where the so-called “rule of law” comes into play. The rule of law is touted by Canada every time it actually wants to break the law; according to the United Security Council, rule of law means:</div>
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All persons, institutions and entities, public and private … are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards.</blockquote>
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<br />It becomes very clear then, that Canada has a long history of breaching the rule of law when it comes to First Nations. In the Wet’suwet’en case, Canada has prioritized the extraction interests of a corporation over the constitutionally protected rights of a sovereign Aboriginal Nation. This is a clear violation of the law. The Wet’suwet’en right to occupy and protect their territory is an internationally recognized human rights norm, now reflected in UNDRIP. Article 8 provides the right of Indigenous peoples not to be subjected to the destruction of their culture – something that would naturally come from destruction of their lands and waters with a pipeline.</div>
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<span style="font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro-n5, ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, serif;">Article 10 provides that Indigenous peoples will not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories – as was done by the RCMP who arrested and removed Wet’suwet’en people from their own lands. Articles 25 and 26 specifically protect the rights of Indigenous peoples to own, use and control their traditional lands, waters, coastal seas and resources and further protects their rights to “uphold their responsibilities to their future generations in this regard.”</span></div>
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Not only has Canada committed to implement UNDRIP into law, it is legally bound by many other international human rights treaties that it has ratified. While UNDRIP may not yet be law in Canada, it represents the minimum international legal norms for recognizing the core human rights of Indigenous peoples – something that Canada’s rule of law requires. Canada has also issued a directive on how it should engage with Indigenous peoples on litigation relating to their rights, which Canada claims is based on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and respect for their legal rights. Former Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould made the bold claim that although she was just releasing this directive in January 2019, Canada has been using these rules for the last two years. It is important to note that this directive states that: “Aboriginal rights do not require a court declaration or an agreement in order to be recognized.” This is something the SCC has confirmed many times in its jurisprudence on the duty to consult, accommodate and get consent.</div>
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Yet, we know that Canada has not only failed to abide by its own litigation directive, but it has blatantly violated Wet’suwet’en laws, Canadian laws, international laws and its own purported commitment to the rule of law.</div>
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When Canada sent the RCMP into sovereign Wet’suwet’en Nation territory to destroy their check points and violently arrest and remove Wet’suwet’en people from their own lands, it became lawless – an outlaw state. It also violated its own litigation directive when the RCMP issued a statement saying that since there has been no court case declaring Aboriginal title, the RCMP were justified in their actions. In denying the Wet’suwet’en their constitutionally protected legal right to enjoy their title lands, Canada has prioritized the private, economic interests of a corporation – Coastal GasLink Pipeline – over the rule of law. As explained by the Wet’suwet’en:</div>
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The Unist’ot’en homestead is not a protest or demonstration. Our clan is occupying and using our traditional territory as it has for centuries…. Our homestead is a peaceful expression of our connection to our territory. It is also an example of the continuous use and occupation of our territory by our clan.</blockquote>
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<br />In this case, the laws of Canada were neither equally enforced, nor compliant with international human rights standards. Canada is not a country that follows the rule of law. Canada makes and breaks laws to suit its own economic and political interests, which run counter to those of Indigenous peoples. It is time to be honest about it, and call out Canada as an outlaw, and take action to support the Wet’suwet’en Nation, who have occupied their lands since time immemorial.</div>
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This article was originally published in Canadian Dimension Magazine on April 24, 2019:</div>
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<a href="https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/rcmp-invasion-of-wetsuweten-nation-territory-breaches-canadas-rule-of-law" style="background-color: transparent;">https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/rcmp-invasion-of-wetsuweten-nation-territory-breaches-canadas-rule-of-law</a></div>
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Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-55927426988601501072020-02-01T14:14:00.000-08:002020-02-01T14:18:22.343-08:00Overincarceration of Indigenous peoples nothing short of genocide<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (Public domain image)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Canada’s
colonial objectives have always been to clear the lands for settlement and
development by whatever means necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
signing peace treaties in the 1700s, clearing the lands meant laws offering
bounties on the heads of Mi’kmaw men, women and children. In the 1800s,
clearing the lands meant ethnic cleansing on the Prairies - laws, policies and
practices that confined native peoples to reserves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and
gave them insufficient rations to survive. In the 1900s, clearing the lands
meant the theft of thousands of native children to be forced into residential
schools where thousands died from abuse, torture and starvation. In the 2000s
clearing the lands means the mass incarceration of Indigenous peoples in
prisons paving the way for the extractive industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
overincarceration of Indigenous peoples in federal, provincial and territorial
prisons in Canada today is nothing short of genocide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Jan. 21, 2020, Dr. Ivan Zinger, who heads the Office of the Correctional
Investigator, issued an urgent statement about the rates of Indigenous peoples
in federal prisons being at historic highs. While Indigenous peoples only make
up five per cent of the Canadian population, they represent more than 30 per
cent of those in federal prisons. Those statistics are even worse for
Indigenous women who now make up 42 per cent of the prison population. A
Statistics Canada report released in 2018 shows that almost half of all youth
in corrections are Indigenous as well. This is all happening at a time when
incarceration rates for the rest of Canada continue to decline. Why is this
happening? Zinger states that federal corrections is “impervious to change” - a
well-founded conclusion given the decades of commissions, inquiries and reports
highlighting both racism in the justice system and the devastating impact it
has on Indigenous peoples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
1989, Chief Justice Thomas Hickman issued the final report of the Royal
Commission on the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Donald
Marshall, Jr., Prosecution (Marshall Inquiry). Donald Marshall was a Mi’kmaw
man from Nova Scotia who had been wrongly targeted by police and convicted of murder,
spending 11 years in prison. The Marshall Inquiry found that the criminal
justice system had failed Marshall “at virtually every turn” due “to the fact
that Donald Marshall Jr., is a Native.” The report provided numerous recommendations to ensure more equitable treatment of native peoples in the
future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
decade later, the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba released its report in
relation to the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">murder
of Helen Betty Osborne whose assailants had not been brought to justice; and
John </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Joseph
Harper, an unarmed native politician shot dead by Winnipeg police. Murray
Sinclair, co-commissioner for the justice inquiry and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, made similar findings to the Marshall Inquiry: “[t]he justice
system has failed Manitoba’s Aboriginal people on a massive scale.” His report
also made numerous recommendations in relation to addressing racism and
discrimination against Indigenous peoples in the justice system and beyond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2004, the Saskatchewan Commission on First Nations and Metis Peoples and
Justice Reform </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">found
that racism was a major issue in police forces in their dealings with native
peoples. This came on the heels of the Commission of Inquiry into Matters
Relating to the Death of Neil </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Stonechild,
also in 2004. This was an inquiry that investigated “Starlight Tours,” the
arbitrary </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">detention
of native peoples by police who are driven out of town to freeze to death at
night. Both </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">reports
offered recommendations, but like the other reports, most were largely ignored.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2007 came the Ipperwash Inquiry in Ontario and most recently, in 2019 came the
Final Report </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">of
the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls,
which found </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Canada guilty of both historic and ongoing genocide. Racism in the justice system is a
common </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">theme
in all of these reports and the Office of the Correctional Investigator has
been raising the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">alarm
for the overincarceration of Indigenous people for two decades.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
statistics clearly show a steady rise in Indigenous incarceration from 17.5 per
cent in 2000 to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">30 per cent in 2020. But these represent the national statistics and, like rates
of murdered and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">missing
Indigenous women and girls, and Indigenous children in foster care, the
provincial rates </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">can
be double the national rates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
Manitoba, more than 80 per cent of prisoners are Indigenous — the same province
where 50 </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">per cent of all women murdered and missing are Indigenous and 90 per cent of all
children in </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">foster
care are Indigenous. In Saskatchewan, 76 per cent of prisoners were Indigenous,
the same </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">province
which has more than 55 per cent of women murdered and missing as Indigenous and
85 </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">per
cent of children in foster care are Indigenous. We also know that more than
two-thirds of </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Indigenous
prisoners have been impacted by the foster care system. This is exactly the
kind of </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">colonial
legacy that the Supreme Court of Canada in<i> R. v. Gladue</i> [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688 and
<i>R. v. </i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Ipeelee
</i>2012 SCC 13 cases meant to address when they instructed judges to find
alternatives to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">prison
for Indigenous peoples. Is no one listening?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the evidence, it is clear we have a direct pipeline from foster care to prison
that seems to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">clear
the way for pipelines on native territories. What the statistics don’t show is
the history of thenRCMP and other police forces as an integral part of colonial
settlement and development policies that have created this current crisis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the RCMP’s Project Sitka to its massive military-style operation on
Wet’suwet’en territory </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">right
now, native lands continue to be cleared by Canada’s laws, policies, practices,
actions and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">omissions.
The overincarceration rates will continue to increase unless we address these
genocidal policies once and for all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
I agree with Zinger’s call for “bold and urgent action,” cultural programming
and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Indigenizing
the prison will not get us there. We must confront racism against Indigenous
peoples head on and prevent incarceration in the first place. This means
addressing racism in federal and provincial laws and policies, as well as
rampant racism in policing. In the meantime, we must begin the urgent process
of decarceration for Indigenous women and children; Indigenous peoples with
mental health issues; and Indigenous men languishing in prisons for little more
than navigating poverty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily
(www.thelawyersdaily.ca), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc on January 30, 2020. </span><a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/17658" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/17658</a></div>
<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-67171688479246643842019-12-11T14:51:00.000-08:002019-12-14T14:29:46.670-08:00Buy Native and Give Native All Year Long<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4GSbR6S2HW445x8zBNzbweKHrtpENGtu9Wb035RrMmf8w8rfiaLbcRaGFzr3JEl-mTWr7kTwjI2DOb3GWwiK35vILkC3Xi2ULG_Uvb9HiFq3oESoVrBqf4irA8dM4gfUGKCpcsL_UDw9/s1600/buy+and+give.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4GSbR6S2HW445x8zBNzbweKHrtpENGtu9Wb035RrMmf8w8rfiaLbcRaGFzr3JEl-mTWr7kTwjI2DOb3GWwiK35vILkC3Xi2ULG_Uvb9HiFq3oESoVrBqf4irA8dM4gfUGKCpcsL_UDw9/s320/buy+and+give.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Treaty Truckhouse fundraiser [top left], Rez Famous Clothing [top right], Warrior Life Clothing [bottom left], Unist'ot'en fundraiser [bottom right])</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you are anything like me, I need multiple lists to keep myself organized this
time of year. With the holidays speeding towards us faster than we can keep up,
I need a list for tasks to complete at work before we break for the holidays; a
grocery list to prepare for multiple family feasts; and, of course, the holiday
gift-giving list. Without these lists, I would certainly be doomed to rely on
my brain, which is already overloaded with the 2019 work I have to complete and
the giant to-do list for 2020. I find lists extremely helpful, as they keep me
from impulse shopping and overspending. I also have another list, which is my
giving list – a list that reminds me to share my privilege with others. The one
thing these lists all have in common is that they are all focused on buying
native and giving native all year long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Recently,
Niigaan Sinclair, the award-winning Anishinabe columnist for the Winnipeg Free
Press, wrote an article urging Manitobans and Canadians to buy Indigenous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/buy-indigenous-this-holiday-season-565799362.html">https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/buy-indigenous-this-holiday-season-565799362.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
argues that it makes more sense to invest in Indigenous businesses that
contribute to local economies, rather than the large US-owned box stores where
billions of dollars flow to US corporate owners. This makes a great deal of
sense. When you invest in First Nation businesses for example, you help First
Nation economies, which in turn, help regional Canadian economies through their
own spending and employment. Niigaan provided a list of various Indigenous
businesses that offer everything from food, music and books; to clothing and jewellery.
Who could ask for a better list of gift-giving options, than this list of Indigenous
goods that are handmade and steeped in the rich cultures and traditions of
local First Nations?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
past summer, Sarain Fox, an Anishinabe television host, actress, model and
activist shared with the Globe and Mail how she assembles her wardrobe from
Indigenous-made products. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/article-activist-sarain-fox-assembles-a-wardrobe-of-indigenous-made-products/">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/article-activist-sarain-fox-assembles-a-wardrobe-of-indigenous-made-products/</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sarain has always made lifting up others part of
everything she does and giving a nod to her curated list of Indigenous artists
and businesses is part of helping to promote them. She highlighted some of the
Indigenous clothing, boots and purses she wears every day. Her goal is to
celebrate Indigenous peoples every day – not just on holidays like Indigenous
Peoples Day. A shout-out from someone with Sarain’s public profile helps promote
Indigenous businesses and boost the Indigenous economy referenced by Niigaan. You can also find other curated lists of native owned businesses in Canada and the USA on websites like Beyond Buckskin:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.beyondbuckskin.com/p/buy-native.html">http://www.beyondbuckskin.com/p/buy-native.html</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
agree with them both. Buying native helps support local First Nation and
Canadian economies and should be a focus all year round – not just during the
holidays. I would also add that it is usually this time of year that we see public
calls to support various groups and causes with donations. The holidays evoke
in many people a moral obligation and desire to share their good fortune – big
or small – with others to help address urgent individual needs and/or advance
social justice more broadly. To my mind, this should never be about “charity” or
holiday-based “good will”; but instead be about fulfilling our legal
obligations to one another under the various treaties we signed to share the
lands, resources and wealth. It is also about real reconciliation, which is
about more than a celebration of native cultures, but also about individual
responsibility to address past and ongoing injustices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
this end, there are various native groups and organizations to which you could
direct your giving this holiday and throughout the new year ahead. There are
small organizations working hard to advocate for the basic human rights of
First Nations children in foster care or the safety of Indigenous women and
girls. Similarly, there are smaller, more informal groups in need of supplies
and/or legal assistance as they occupy First Nation territories to protect the
lands, waters, plants and animals from the devastating environmental destruction
of the extractive industry. In protecting water sources, forests and ecosystems
from contamination, First Nations warriors are protecting the health and
well-being of both Indigenous peoples and Canadians. We all have treaty and
other obligations to contribute in some way to the protection of Turtle Island
for future generations – and giving to native causes can be part of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are far too many native businesses and causes to note here, so what follows is
a list of some of the ways that I buy native and give native all year round. While
some of those on the Buy Native list are larger businesses, there are hundreds
of individuals who sell their goods at pow wows and cultural events, as well as
through social media outlets. I have purchased some of the best beaded earrings
from artists who I spotted on Instagram. Similarly, while larger native
organizations on the Give Native list are easier to find through their
websites, don’t forget to scan your social media for smaller groups making call
outs for urgently needed donations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">BUY NATIVE:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Online: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cheekbone Beauty</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> was founded by
Jennifer Harper and is an Indigenous owned, cruelty free cosmetic company. They
offer high quality cosmetics and donate part of their profits to help fund
education for Indigenous peoples. Their Warrior Women line of lipsticks include
shades named after native women warriors – like Sarain Fox, Cindy Blackstock
and me! I bought their most recent holiday collection, which includes my shade
of lipstick - true warm red!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://cheekbonebeauty.ca/">https://cheekbonebeauty.ca/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She Native</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is an Indigenous
owned company that offers leather handbags and clothing that share Indigenous teachings
and positive messaging. I have bought their t-shirts and hoodies and just love
them! I really appreciate the positive messaging and celebration of Indigenous
women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.shenative.com/">https://www.shenative.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tammy Beauvais
Designs</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
is another company that is 100% Indigenous owned and Tammy can be seen selling
purses, ribbon skirts and native designed clothing for men and women all over
Canada. One of my favorite things about pow wows is racing to find her stall to
buy something new. One of my favorites is a beautiful white bomber jacket with native-inspired
flowers all over it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://tammybeauvais.com/">https://tammybeauvais.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nishiin Designs </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">is a business I
just recently found through social media. They are an Indigenous company that
offers Anishinabe designed purses, clothing and accessories. I saw one of their
purses on Instagram, fell in love with it and insta-ordered it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.nishiin.ca/">https://www.nishiin.ca/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shop in Store:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cedar Basket Gift
Shop</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
is located inside the Native Canadian Centre in downtown Toronto. They have a
huge collection of artwork, crafts, household items, jewellery and moccasins
handcrafted by Indigenous peoples. I especially love their baskets and
beadwork. I have never been able to visit that store and leave without a gift
for someone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://ncct.on.ca/gift-shop/">https://ncct.on.ca/gift-shop/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Teekca’s
Aboriginal Boutique</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
is a native-owned store at The Forks in Winnipeg that is well-known for its
custom work. I had shirts and blazers specially tailored for my son who loves
wearing his one-of-a-kind beaded suits to work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.teekcasboutique.ca/en/home">http://www.teekcasboutique.ca/en/home</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rez Famous</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is a Mi’kmaw
clothing company from back home in the Maritimes. I have their tees, hoodies,
caps and everything I can get my hands on! You can find them at pow wows as
well as on Facebook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rezfamousbrand/">https://www.facebook.com/rezfamousbrand/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Warrior Life</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> clothing is one
of my own latest initiatives to help raise funds to keep my media completely independent.
I use the proceeds to help pay for the costs of my Youtube channel, my Warrior
Life podcast and my Indigenous Nationhood blog. It will also (hopefully) defray
some of the costs for my second podcast set to be released in the new year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://teespring.com/stores/warrior-life-2">https://teespring.com/stores/warrior-life-2</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">GIVE NATIVE:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">First Nations Child
and Family Caring Society</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">, headed by Dr. Cindy Blackstock, advocates
strenuously for First Nations children, youth and families so they can grow up
happy, healthy, safe and proud of who they are as First Nations. They brought a
human rights complaint against Canada for historic and ongoing racial
discrimination against First Nations children in foster care – and won. They
continue their battle at the Tribunal and in the courts to force Canada to
comply with the orders and finally end discrimination. There are so many ways
you can help them: including “7 Free Ways to Help”; purchasing children’s
educational books and calendars; and/or making donations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://fncaringsociety.com/welcome">https://fncaringsociety.com/welcome</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gitdimt'en Yintah
Access</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
is a group of First Nation peoples from the Wet’suwet’en Nation from Gitdimt’en
clan who are governing their territory and protecting it from pipelines. They
are true warriors who risk their safety and freedom by protecting lands and
waters from the devastation of pipelines. They need our support in terms of
supplies and donations for their legal fees. You can give one-time donations or
ongoing monthly support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.yintahaccess.com/">https://www.yintahaccess.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Unist’ot’en Camp</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is another clan
from the Wet’suwet’en Nation governing their territory to protect it from pipelines.
You can support them through buying their merchandise, making a one time
donation to their legal fund or offering monthly support for supplies for those
protecting the lands and waters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://unistoten.camp/support-us/donate/">http://unistoten.camp/support-us/donate/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Treaty Truckhouse
Legal Fund</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
is a group of grassroots peoples including Mi’kmaw treaty rights holders,
grandmothers and local allies who are standing united as water protectors of
the Shubenacadie River in the Sipekne'katik District of Mi'kma'ki. They have
been trying to protect the river for years and as a result need donations for
legal expenses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://ca.gofundme.com/f/720lt7c">https://ca.gofundme.com/f/720lt7c</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tiny House
Warriors</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
is an initiative from the Secwepemc peoples whose mission is to: “stop the
Trans Mountain pipeline from crossing unceded Secwepemc Territory.” The Secwepemc
peoples are asserting their law and jurisdiction on their territory by building
tiny houses all along the pipeline route in order to block access to this pipeline.
Kanahus Manuel is one of the native women warriors who has placed her safety
and freedom on the line to protect our collective futures. You can donate
through their official Tiny House Warriors or Secwepemc Nation Youth Network Go
Fund Me pages on their website.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://tinyhousewarriors.com/">http://tinyhousewarriors.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday with family and friends and I look forward to joining forces with you all in the New Year to advocate for justice on Turtle Island.<br />
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<b>PODCAST:</b><br />
Here is my extended Warrior Life podcast episode on this same issue:<br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/pampalmater/buy-native-give-native-all-year-long">https://soundcloud.com/pampalmater/buy-native-give-native-all-year-long</a><br />
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-63567111655471622712019-10-16T14:34:00.001-07:002019-10-16T14:36:11.057-07:00Indigenous issues slowly disappear from election 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcDs7W-NUgdWaxBWDh-LjWTPTQsGm2wMEP1fj6d_m8kJHdfh3s1FfVqaniaEHmDtkhm3Vkgmcb7lcrS_p6xUJMCq-T0IcB-tHyVLO4o8E53yAEfDgF6625hadvY4Tgm3Xryytea5S7ebb/s1600/OPINION.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcDs7W-NUgdWaxBWDh-LjWTPTQsGm2wMEP1fj6d_m8kJHdfh3s1FfVqaniaEHmDtkhm3Vkgmcb7lcrS_p6xUJMCq-T0IcB-tHyVLO4o8E53yAEfDgF6625hadvY4Tgm3Xryytea5S7ebb/s320/OPINION.png" width="320" /></a></div>
*This picture was taken by Michelle Girouard and the logo is from from The Lawyer's Daily). This article was originally published in The Lawyer's Daily on Oct.15, 2019 (see link below).<br />
<br />
The unofficial slogan for the 2015 Liberal election campaign was “there is no relationship more important to Canada than the one with Indigenous peoples.” It was a mantra shared repeatedly by Justin Trudeau pre- and post-election and stood in stark contrast to former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s adversarial relationship with First Nations. In fact, it was Trudeau’s election promise to make Indigenous issues a political priority, together with his commitment to a nation-to-nation relationship grounded in respect for Indigenous rights, that helped his party win the Indigenous vote.<br />
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While not all Indigenous people voted for the Liberals, record numbers of them voted — largely to help the Liberals unseat the Conservatives. Fast forward to this election and Trudeau started his campaign with a speech that focused on the middle class and ignored Indigenous peoples entirely. Indigenous issues then seemed to slowly disappear.<br />
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In addition to not mentioning Indigenous peoples in his first campaign speech, Trudeau also didn’t show up for the first leaders’ debate hosted by Maclean’s and Citytv, which is, in essence also failing to show up on Indigenous issues. While the Maclean’s debate started out well, with strong interventions from Elizabeth May of the Green Party, the void left by Trudeau’s absence allowed the leader of the Conservatives, Andrew Scheer, to turn every question on Indigenous issues into a discussion on forcing approval of natural resource projects regardless of First Nation opposition. At one point, he spoke against Indigenous groups “holding hostage” resource projects — the same kind of aggressive stereotypes used by the former Harper government that paint First Nations as dangerous. While both May and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh called him on this disrespectful language, Trudeau was missing in action and not there to provide the kind of response Canadians expect of a leader who claimed to be committed to respectful nation-to-nation relations with Indigenous peoples.<br />
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Trudeau’s absence also allowed the candidates the extra time to turn questions about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the dire need for safe drinking water on reserves into a debate over Trudeau’s handling of the SNC Lavalin case. While the host, with the exception of one attempt at redirection, allowed the Indigenous issues segment to devolve into pipelines and SNC Lavalin, the candidates also used their precious time to take digs at Trudeau and neglected to focus on Indigenous issues.<br />
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Given that the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls concluded that Canada is guilty of both historic and ongoing race-based genocide against Indigenous peoples, which specifically targets Indigenous women and girls; it is unfathomable that this was not even a question by the moderator or debated by the candidates. Early on Indigenous families feared that the urgent action required to end genocide against Indigenous women and girls would be lost to talk of pipelines and elections. Sadly, and shamefully, this has become a reality.<br />
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The first leaders debate which included Trudeau, focused more on pipelines, climate change and taxes for the middle class than on Indigenous questions asked or the multiple, overlapping crises brought about by ongoing genocide which is literally killing Indigenous peoples. While this is in part the fault of the host for framing the first question around Scheer’s proposed pipeline corridor and inviting debate about pipelines instead of focusing on Indigenous priorities, the candidates also had a responsibility to refocus the debate.<br />
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Trudeau, May, and Singh have platforms with significant commitments on Indigenous issues, yet all failed to promote these commitments during the debate or force discussion on the bigger issues like murdered and missing Indigenous women; the crisis of Indigenous kids in foster care; the over-representation of Indigenous peoples in prison; or the extreme poverty on many reserves. Neither Maxime Bernier, leader of the Peoples Party of Canada, nor Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet made much of contribution to the debate on Indigenous issues at all.<br />
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At this stage, it doesn’t look like Indigenous issues will feature prominently in the rest of the campaign and are at risk of disappearing entirely from focus. This development is in no way benign or the natural ebb and flow of election campaigns. This appears to be a purposeful strategy to take focus away from the national inquiry’s finding of genocide in relation to murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls; the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) finding of willful and reckless racial discrimination against First Nations children; the many interventions of the United Nations treaty bodies about Canada’s grave human rights violations of Indigenous peoples; and the failure to address water issues on reserve.<br />
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Moreover, Trudeau’s long list of promises, like the promise to repeal former Prime Minister Harper’s legislative suite imposed on First Nations; the amendment of Bill C-51 (Anti-Terrorism Act) legislation to address its negative impacts on First Nations; the promise to review federal laws to ensure compliance with s. 35 of the Constitution Act (Aboriginal and treaty rights); and the promise to implement UNDRIP in an unqualified way, all remain unfulfilled.<br />
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The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is not without fault here. They are a major barrier to the development of an actual nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations and have failed to strenuously demand accountability for the deaths of Indigenous peoples from Canada’s own laws, policies and practices. Instead, the AFN has been so busy praising the Trudeau government and encouraging First Nations to vote, that they too have failed to really push the candidates to prioritize Indigenous issues.<br />
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Instead, the AFN issued a laundry list of so-called priorities that focus on meetings, processes, dialogue and more paternalistic federal laws and policies. All of which translates into millions of dollars for the AFN, but little substantive change at the local First Nation level — the actual rights-bearing governments. Any party platform that grounds reconciliation in a relationship exclusively through the AFN condemns us all to the status quo.<br />
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Trudeau has deflected the growing national crises in First Nations thus allowing the Conservatives to downplay their political commitments, if any, to Indigenous peoples. When the two governing parties set the agenda in this way, it has a ripple effect. If the prime minister is no longer considering Indigenous issues a priority, what kind of message does that send to doctors, teachers and social workers? How bad has it become that both the Liberals and the Conservatives agree that appealing the CHRT decision is better than ending racial discrimination against First Nation children in care? If the AFN praises Trudeau in the face of broken promises, why would the public demand more?<br />
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While the Green Party and NDP have made significant commitments in their platforms to address many of these urgent issues, practically speaking, neither will likely form the next government. So, while their attempts to elevate the urgency of these issues are commendable, their ability to raise the bar past the very low bar set by the two so-called governing parties, is limited. The ripple effect will then be felt in the mainstream media coverage and the opinions of everyday Canadians.<br />
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This reconciliation train is now headed in the opposite direction of what was intended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action or the National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice. How is it possible for Canada to be found guilty of genocide in June and then federal leaders focus their campaigns on middle class jobs and taxes in September? Indigenous peoples continue to die at alarming rates from Canada’s infrastructure of racist laws, policies and practices.<br />
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Reconciliation cannot be achieved if its lifespan is dictated by what carries political currency in each election. The leaders all have a legal and moral obligation — and historic opportunity — to do better. The question is whether Indigenous issues can be resurrected in a substantive and meaningful way before the election — but that doesn’t seem likely. <br />
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*This article was originally published in The Lawyer's Daily on October 15, 2019 at this link: <a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/15967/indigenous-issues-slowly-disappear-from-election-2019-pamela-palmater?category=opinion">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/15967/indigenous-issues-slowly-disappear-from-election-2019-pamela-palmater?category=opinion</a><br />
<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-80444810024776348362019-09-27T14:41:00.003-07:002019-09-27T14:41:48.744-07:00First Nations and the Business of Cannabis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPAGX_SHlBOHX1tGYnCYoTWTHyazicyt8eoNCG-_Q_HKCiqETqBvjclt557XkzcRQZIPLlUIoWwbC5TtfAzhSYmOH2FRL-B67ptGDohOnbROy061bo0pmL3XnXJRYXD2WTcVnqILX9-K4/s1600/CIG+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="350" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPAGX_SHlBOHX1tGYnCYoTWTHyazicyt8eoNCG-_Q_HKCiqETqBvjclt557XkzcRQZIPLlUIoWwbC5TtfAzhSYmOH2FRL-B67ptGDohOnbROy061bo0pmL3XnXJRYXD2WTcVnqILX9-K4/s320/CIG+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This article was originally published in The Lawyer's Daily on Sept.25, 2019 -(see link below)<br />
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Justin Trudeau’s 2015 election platform promise to immediately legalize marijuana if elected spurred a frenzy of activity behind the scenes. There were police officers, politicians and other former leaders, previously against the sale of the drug, making plans for their own cannabis boutiques. The very same people that had previously outlawed, arrested and jailed people for growing, possessing and/or selling cannabis would now have the unfair insider advantage about where to sell and to whom.<br />
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In the chaotic positioning that played out behind the scenes by those “in the know,” very little attention was given to the full legal implications of Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act.<br />
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The failure to properly engage First Nations about the legalization of cannabis was not only irresponsible policy making but was also a lost political opportunity to work on a nation to nation basis with First Nations — one of Trudeau’s other campaign promises. Trudeau, who had also pledged to respect Aboriginal and treaty rights and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), failed to sit down with First Nations and come up with a comprehensive cannabis legalization plan that would not only address legalization (manufacture and sale), but also the thousands of Indigenous peoples in jail or with criminal records for cannabis offences.<br />
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Further, in neglecting Canada’s legal obligation to enact laws which are consistent with the Aboriginal rights contained in s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, it missed the chance to harmonize federal, provincial and First Nations jurisdictions and laws in relation to cannabis. This void has created the potential for not only legal conflict, but for political and social tensions at the local level.<br />
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Take for example, the situation in Ontario. Premier Doug Ford’s Conservative government has decided to proceed to license cannabis sales by way of a lottery. Only a small number of licences are targeted for First Nations distributors on reserve and none for First Nations peoples and businesses located off reserve. In every way, Ontario’s cannabis lottery scheme offends Aboriginal and treaty rights, as well as First Nations’ inherent sovereignty and jurisdiction over their own lands, peoples and businesses.<br />
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Ontario’s plan presumes that provincial jurisdiction trumps First Nation jurisdiction — which is not the case. Both the 1997 Inherent Right Policy which confirmed that s. 35 includes and protects the right of First Nations to be self-determining, and Trudeau’s commitment to respect First Nation governance rights should have resulted in much more comprehensive legislation. UNDRIP, which is the standard by which United Nations treaty bodies will hold Canada to account, protects the Indigenous right of self-determination which includes governance, lawmaking and enforcement, as well as the management of Indigenous economies within their traditional territories (i.e. not limited to the reserves).<br />
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These unresolved spheres of jurisdiction between First Nations and the provinces have already created confusion on the ground with some First Nations enacting their own laws, some ignoring provincial laws and others choosing to allow or ban cannabis on reserve as a governance decision.<br />
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In still other First Nations, without any First Nation law in place, and according to the long-held legal and political position that provincial laws should not apply on reserve, many individuals have started their own cannabis businesses. This is putting a strain on some First Nations who felt not only excluded from cannabis policy development, but were not resourced to develop laws, policies and enforcement frameworks about First Nation-owned businesses versus individual businesses.<br />
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Much of the First Nation critique also included concerns about the lack of time and resources to develop health and safety plans for each First Nation. While there are some exceptions, in general, much of this legal, economic and social co-ordination remains outstanding.<br />
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What is worse is that Trudeau’s failure to work collaboratively with federal, provincial and First Nations jurisdictions created a political gap in which non-government entities, like the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), could step in and start stirring the pot.<br />
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More than a year after the passing of the Cannabis Act, the AFN held a Cannabis Summit to talk about the implications of cannabis legalization. Their summit targeted federal and provincial government representatives and agencies, as well as First Nations. It was no surprise then that Day One of the summit saw the chief commissioner of the so-called First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC) on the agenda trying to persuade First Nations to submit to federal tax regimes for cannabis.<br />
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The FNTC is a Crown agency, fully governed and staffed under federal laws and regulations. The inclusion of the word “First Nation” in the title is really misleading. The goal of the federal government, through the FNTC, has always been to get First Nations to tax themselves and give up their reserve lands and turn the lands into individual fee simple parcels (i.e. provincial jurisdiction).<br />
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This brings us full circle back to the legal and political confusion at the local level which, on the one hand, is clearly the result of Trudeau’s failure to harmonize all legal systems and jurisdictions in Canada, but also the fault of the AFN.<br />
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The AFN waited nearly four years to have this summit — which appears conveniently timed so as not to make any waves for the Trudeau government before the legislation was passed. We saw very little public advocacy for First Nation governments to be part of the policy development around legalization and thus, in the eyes of many, the AFN failed its job as an advocacy organization. The result? The AFN shares responsibility for this legal void as well as the thousands of First Nations peoples who are languishing in jail, on parole and subject to conditions and/or unemployable due to past cannabis offences which have not been pardoned or fully expunged from their records.<br />
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Once again, First Nations peoples at the local level pay the price and receive few of the benefits.<br />
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Far from delivering on his promise to fully legalize cannabis, Trudeau controlled and commodified the cannabis trade which seemed to benefit insider entrepreneurs and left the full decriminalization of cannabis for another day. In the end, there were no political waves from the AFN with regards to federal legalization.<br />
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On the positive side, more and more First Nations leaders have engaged with their citizens and are in the process of enacting or have already enacted their own rules and regulations related to cannabis. Many have realized that they are on their own in terms of defending their jurisdiction to govern their own economies. They are in fact the rights holders and waiting around for the AFN to encourage Trudeau to harmonize laws is clearly not on the agenda. As with every other right ever proven by First Nations and reaffirmed in court decisions, the right to govern the cannabis business will have to be lived, asserted and defended by First Nations on the ground.<br />
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This article was originally published in The Lawyer's Daily on Sept.25, 2019:<br />
<a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/15506/first-nations-and-the-business-of-cannabis-pamela-palmater?spotlight">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/15506/first-nations-and-the-business-of-cannabis-pamela-palmater?spotlight</a><br />
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-45714390382314084392019-05-28T11:17:00.000-07:002019-05-28T11:20:19.298-07:00Justice system still not protecting Indigenous women and girls<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(Picture by Pam Palmater, Rally for Justice for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls in Winnipeg)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>This article was originally published in The Lawyer's Daily on May, 28, 2019.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Her life
mattered. She was valued. She was important. She was loved.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">R. v.
Barton</i> [2019] S.C.J. No. 33.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cindy
Gladue was an Indigenous woman originally from Alberta, where she grew up with
her four siblings and extended family. She was also the mother to three
daughters and her family described her as both a loving mother and caring
auntie. She had close friends and always dreamed about being the first in her
family to go to university. Cindy Gladue loved and was loved. She did not
deserve her violent death in 2011 nor the indignity done to her body
after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
is now one of the many thousands of murdered and missing Indigenous women and
girls in Canada — a growing crisis that represents grave human rights
violations. The trial of the man who admittedly committed this act of violence
against Cindy is an example of how defective Canada’s justice system is when it
comes to Indigenous women victims and how negligent Canada has been in ensuring
the basic human rights of Indigenous women and girls are met.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
this column, there will be no details about Cindy’s appearance, what she wore
the night she was killed, where she was killed, whether she knew her killer,
her level of education, her health status, or what she did for a living —
because none of the facts is relevant to her death. Cindy is not to blame for
her death. Cindy did not kill herself. Cindy did not engage in a dangerous
knife fight or try to kill someone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Regardless
of which version of the story is accepted by the next trial judge — that she was
killed by a male trucker who violently cut an 11-cm gash in her vagina, or that
she died from a tear from his violent, but unarmed interaction with her — she
still died as a result. According to the SCC quoting from evidence at trial,
the trucker then tried to hide evidence, change the crime scene and lie about
his involvement. His name doesn’t deserve to be said aloud, nor does he get to
hide behind any of the racist or sexist excuses he used at trial to defend
himself. None of the evidence referred to at trial or the SCC indicates that he
should be believed. Cindy’s life story does not get to be narrated by the man
who admits to committing this violence against her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sexualized
violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada has been allowed to continue
in plain sight by government officials, police officers, lawyers and judges who
have treated Indigenous women and girls as though they are less worthy of life.
In fact, were it not for the lengthy and persistent advocacy of Indigenous
women and their allies, Canadians would still be unaware of the crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
awareness of the crisis only gets us so far. The court proceedings which
followed Cindy’s death show just how deeply engrained racism and sexism against
Indigenous women still is in Canadian society, especially the justice system.
In R. v. Barton [2019] S.C.J. No. 33, Justice Michael Moldaver, writing for the
majority, allowed the accused’s appeal in part and sent the matter back to
trial, but only on the charge of the unlawful act of manslaughter. The dissent
would have dismissed the accused’s appeal entirely. Justices Rosalie Silberman
Abella and Andromache Karakatsanis writing for the dissent (Chief Justice
Richard Wagner concurring) agreed with the Alberta Court of Appeal that the matter
be ordered back for retrial on both charges of first-degree murder and
manslaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
majority made some important points about the extent to which racism is still
widespread in the justice system. At para.199, the majority explained:
“Furthermore, this Court has acknowledged on several occasions the detrimental
effects of widespread racism against Indigenous people within our criminal
justice system. For example, in Williams, this Court recognized that Indigenous
people are the target of hurtful biases, stereotypes, and assumptions,
including stereotypes about credibility, worthiness, and criminal propensity,
to name just a few. … In short, when it comes to truth and reconciliation from
a criminal justice system perspective, much-needed work remains to be done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
went on to say that the criminal justice system and all of its participants
must take reasonable steps to address these biases — especially against
Indigenous women. To this end, they directed that, on a go forward basis, trial
judges ought to provide express instruction to juries to counter the well-known
prejudice against Indigenous women. While there is no set text, trial judges
should instruct juries about Indigenous women and girls having been subjected
to a long history of colonization and systemic racism and then dispel myths
about Indigenous women and those who are exploited for sex. These stereotypes
were outlined in para. 202:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Are
not entitled to legal protections;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Not
deserving of respect, humanity and dignity;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Are
sexual objects for male gratification;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Are
available for the taking and no consent needed;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Assume
any risks associated with “sex work”;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Are
less credible than other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
majority further stressed that, as a matter of respect, both the Crown and the
defence counsel should have referred to her as Ms. Gladue instead of “Native
girl” during the trial. These are important points and the SCC made many
important clarifications in the case in relation to the many problems
surrounding sexual assault cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
there is a downside to the majority’s decision. Their logic and reasoning
around the impact of racism and bias in this case did not follow through to
their ultimate finding. The majority allowed the accused’s appeal in part, by
limiting the charge for which the killer could be retried — manslaughter only.
The dissent pointed out that racism doesn’t work that way and can’t be so
easily compartmentalized. They explained that there was no “filter” on the
victim’s prior sexual history and no warning by the judge to the jury to avoid
making stereotypical assumptions about Indigenous women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
also argued that this created an image of Cindy “that was unfair and would have
permeated the whole trial and the jury’s deliberations on both murder and
manslaughter” (para. 214). The dissent further emphasized, “He [trial judge]
provided no specific instructions crafted to confront the operative social and
racial biases potentially at work. This rendered the whole trial unfair” (para.
215). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
the dissent did go further than the majority, they too missed an important
opportunity to speak to the indignity committed against Cindy’s body after her
death when segments of her vagina were brought into court as an exhibit. Cindy
was a life-giving mother of three girls. Her body and her life-giving parts had
already suffered a gross violation which led to her death. There was no
necessity — in an effort to prosecute her killer — to remove her life-giving
parts and put them on display in a courtroom. They could have used the
coroner’s testimony, animated illustrations of the extent of the cut or tear,
and worst-case scenario, pictures. Putting her life-giving parts on display
served to further dehumanize her before the judge and jury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
though the SCC made some important findings in this case, their caution that
the justice system has a lot more work to do applies equally to them. We need
more than the “important step forward” they commended themselves for — we need
a wholescale change. That won’t happen if the highest court in the land cannot
call out and end the kind of indignity committed against Cindy — which
represents the many indignities committed against Indigenous women and girls
since contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">This article was originally published in The Lawyer's Daily on May, 28, 2019 - link below:</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/12605/justice-system-still-not-protecting-indigenous-women-and-girls-pamela-palmater-?category=opinion">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/12605/justice-system-still-not-protecting-indigenous-women-and-girls-pamela-palmater-?category=opinion</a></div>
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-5989284160912768022019-03-28T04:35:00.000-07:002019-05-04T10:32:16.163-07:00Bill C-92’s Indigenous Child Welfare Act: More Pan-Indigenous Legislation that Risks Continuing the Status Quo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bill C-92 An Act
respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> has
been heralded as a “historic turning point”, an “important first step”, a “major
milestone” and other similarly over-used and under-impressive political phrases
to describe yet another top-down initiative from the federal government. While the Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde (AFN) claimed
that this legislation was “co-drafted” by the AFN and the federal government,
that was not the case. In fact, Dr. Cindy Blackstock confirmed that First
Nations did not co-draft the legislation and First Nations were not even
permitted to see the second draft before it was tabled. This should be no surprise as Justice Canada does not
co-draft legislation with anyone other than the French and English legislative
drafters at Justice Canada – this is their long-standing practice. <i>Bill C-92</i> content is glaring evidence
that First Nation experts in child welfare did not hold the pen on this bill.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are many problems with this bill, but the main
problem is it does not deliver any of what was promised by the federal
government. Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberal government promised to address the
“humanitarian crisis” through federal legislation that fully recognized First
Nation jurisdiction in relation to child welfare; that would provide statutory funding;
and would eliminate the over-representation of First Nation children in care. If
this bill is not substantially amended before it is passed, it will not
accomplish any of those important goals. Ultimately, it will be our children and
our families on the ground - in our communities - that will pay the biggest
price. The fact that the AFN is promoting this bill so strenuously, without
regard for the numerous and serious concerns raised by First Nation leaders,
lawyers, academics and child welfare experts, shows how disconnected they are
to the crisis at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Despite the many issues raised by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and others, the AFN supports this bill as do the Metis National
Council (MNC) and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK). While I also have numerous,
detailed concerns with the wording, structure and content of
this bill, they are too many to include in this blog. What follows is a general
overview of my concerns from a First Nation perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pan-Indigenous
Legislation<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">First of all, pan-Indian legislation has always been
difficult to work with because of the differences between the 50-60 traditional
Indigenous Nations in Canada that are now separated into 634+/- individual
First Nations (Indian bands), across various provinces and within different
treaty areas (some without treaties). However, pan-First Nation legislation,
with opt-in clauses and flexible provisions to deal with legal, political and
cultural variances, would be far superior to what is offered in this bill. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bill C-92</i> purports to cram First
Nations, Inuit and Metis into one act that offers the same legislative options
to all three groups – despite their vastly different histories, socio-economic
conditions and rights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are vast differences between the legal rights and specific needs of First Nations, Inuit and the
Metis. For example, the Metis have much better socio-economic conditions than First Nations and Inuit. Geographic differences between the Inuit and First
Nations and Metis, also require solutions tailored to their unique situation. Failure to do so can create inequalities between the groups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Substantive
Inequality<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This bill also misses the mark in its purported goal
to support Nation-to-Nation (First Nations), government-to-government (Metis)
and Inuit-Crown relations by treating us all the same. Here’s the problem –
when Canada treats all three groups formally the same, it prejudices the
rights, needs and interests of those with more acute conditions. In other
words, by treating all three groups as formally equally, those with the most
acute needs will be treated substantively unequal. While disadvantage should never be about a "race to the bottom", formal equality will embed
discrimination into the very structure of this legislation and will operate to
disadvantage First Nations in particular. First Nations are larger in
population, have higher rates of child apprehensions and higher rates of
underlying poverty, caused by the kinds of land dispossession and breach of
treaty rights not experienced by Metis (with some exceptions). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">That is not to say that the Metis should not have their own framework- that is for them to decide what works best for them with the needs of their own constituency. First
Nation, Metis and Inuit options should not be limited to the same generic
legislative framework, from the same budget line, which assumes the same
socio-economic needs, legal rights and interests. This pan-Indigenous template
is not in line with the federal government’s promised “distinctions-based”
approach and serves to embed substantive inequality into the act.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">First
Nation Jurisdiction<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">First Nation jurisdiction should be the heart of this
bill. At best, what is offered is a delegated authority under federal
jurisdiction, which is conditional on agreement with the provinces. At worst,
this bill increases federal Ministerial control, while leaving provincial laws,
policies and practices virtually in tact. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bill
C-92</i> creates new powers for an unnamed federal Minister to carry out the
provisions of the legislation, make regulations, possibly collect data and
provide a report to Parliament after five years. What is missing is the original purpose of the bill: to recognize First Nation jurisdiction. While it purports to recognize First Nation jurisdiction, it does so with several
substantive conditions. First Nation jurisdiction and laws in relation to child
welfare appear to be directly or indirectly subject to the following limits:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Canadian
Human Rights Act</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section 35 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Constitution Act, 1982</i> jurisprudence and limits in relation to
constitutionally protected rights;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Inherent right to self-government” which
indirectly incorporates the impoverished definition of self-determination
outlined in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inherent Right Policy</i>;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Constitution
Act, 1867</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
section 92 provincial jurisdiction, i.e. provincial laws are the minimum
standard;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Successful negotiation of a tri-lateral coordination
agreement between the First Nation, province and federal government (or proof
they made good faith effort to negotiate);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pre-existing definitions of “best
interests of the child” from legal precedents;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sections 10-15 of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bill C-92,</i> which outlines specific limitations in relation to the
best interests of the child, parental representation, notice of apprehensions, preventative
care as the priority, and no apprehensions due to poverty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If a First Nation manages to ensure their laws meet
all of these conditions, then they could be recognized as a “federal law”, but not
a law in their own right – based on First Nation jurisdiction. It seems very
clear that what is being offered is a delegated authority under federal
jurisdiction, which is also limited by the constitutional division of powers.
Nothing in this bill binds a provincial government or requires them to even
come to the table - let alone contribute any funding. Some First Nations may be
okay with exercising their powers this way in order to address the urgent crisis, but
the federal government should just be honest about it and stop trying to
package it as First Nation jurisdiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There is also no specific recognition for pre-existing First Nation
laws – oral or written – except in the case of self-government agreements, and
these laws would only be paramount to the extent of any conflict with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bill C-92</i>. What of First Nations that
choose not to make agreements with the province? What if a First Nation chooses
to negotiate only with the federal government? There are far more questions
than answers in this bill – all of which need to be addressed in order to avoid
legal chaos and uncertainty around jurisdiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Funding
& Socio-Economic Conditions<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My last major concern about this bill is the failure
to include clear, directive language that would provide a statutory guarantee for
annual funding, that is based on equal access to holistic, wrap- around social programs
and services, that take into account specific needs, population increases,
inflation, geographic location, and actual costs. Without this statutory
guarantee, any recognition or First Nation jurisdiction is entirely hollow. Substantial
funds are required for the development and enforcement of First Nation laws, policies
and regulations in relation to child and family services; staffing and
training; infrastructure; legal and technical research and advisory services;
data collection and analysis; and monitoring, compliance, reporting and enforcement. The core issue has always been the long-standing chronic
and discriminatory under-funding of social services for First Nations, like food, water, housing,
health and education. This racist under-funding is what created the crisis and serves to maintain. Legislation is not needed to end discriminatory funding, but if legislation is to be enacted, a firm commitment for funding needs to be included.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is noteworthy that there is no mention of First
Nation Aboriginal rights or treaty rights in relation to the funding that attaches to child welfare. While it may be politically expedient to create an act that is
neutral on “rights” for all parties, this must be in exchange for a
substantive, enforceable legal funding commitment. Long gone are the days where First
Nations can reasonably or responsibly rely on the word of Ministers to hope
that they fulfill their political promises. Ministers change, governments
change and the law changes – which is why, if there is to be legislation, that it include a statutory guarantee of funding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without it, this legislation is empty of any
real intention or ability to end the status quo – a price that will continue to
be paid by our children and their children. First Nation cannot afford to lose
any more children to a racist and sexually violent system that decreases their
life chances and limits their ability to enjoy life with their families,
communities, and Nations. The increasing foster care rates, incarceration rates and murdered and missing rates compel us to act urgently and with purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">All that is required is for Parliament to sit down
with First Nation child welfare experts and make the required amendments.
Without substantive amendments, this bill may end up causing more harm than
good and inject legal chaos into an already broken system and risk the lives of more of our
children. Canada has apologized for the trauma caused by residential schools,
while at the same time admitting that child welfare has continued the trauma. Canada
has stated that this is a humanitarian crisis and as such is legally and
morally bound to do better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s time to sit at the table and urgently work this
out for the sake of the children.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Video of my recent testimony to Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples pre-study on C-92:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkcl0iF0Yic">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkcl0iF0Yic</a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To listen to my 3-part extended interview with Dr. Cindy Blackstock on my podcast show: Warrior Life, here is the link:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/pampalmater/cindy-blackstock-on-justice-and-equality-for-first-nation-children">https://soundcloud.com/pampalmater/cindy-blackstock-on-justice-and-equality-for-first-nation-children</a></span><br />
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If you prefer video instead of podcast, you can listen and watch on my YouTube channel here:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5LvH3LY_20&t=2s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5LvH3LY_20&t=2s</a></div>
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-65245139929490522052019-03-20T17:06:00.002-07:002019-03-20T17:10:36.793-07:00Federal Budget 2019: Indigenous Women and Children Left Behind - Again<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOc80I5d261xeeqhBe8dMU7OVGrdBeRbFSclQWd4pn4fPMMmBZcopuLcZxzUF49UI-h_4DqwWSy2uAosGgz_0wmcVpJzlgtLHgUAymq9ts922NQnRwtX26gluRyc3I1IB7QDaRQ0aCFYZ/s1600/afnpampalmater+-+ben+powless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOc80I5d261xeeqhBe8dMU7OVGrdBeRbFSclQWd4pn4fPMMmBZcopuLcZxzUF49UI-h_4DqwWSy2uAosGgz_0wmcVpJzlgtLHgUAymq9ts922NQnRwtX26gluRyc3I1IB7QDaRQ0aCFYZ/s320/afnpampalmater+-+ben+powless.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (Pam Palmater, photo by Ben Powless)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
expected, the Assembly of First Nations was first out of the gate offering
glowing praise for this Liberal government’s federal budget, followed shortly
thereafter by the Metis National Council and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami – the
three male-dominated national Aboriginal organizations. Their organizations
have seen substantial increases in funding for their political organizations in recent years. Meanwhile, the Native Women’s Association of Canada – the only
political organization representing Indigenous women at the national level - issued
its own press release criticizing the government for failing Indigenous women.
They accused the federal government of, once again, ignoring the pressing needs
of Indigenous women and in so doing, not only hampering reconciliation but breaching their core human rights. NWAC is especially aggrieved about this lack of
funding for Indigenous women and families, given the urgent need to address murdered and
missing Indigenous women and girls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
exclusion of Indigenous women and girls as a priority in this federal budget is
a glaring example of the ongoing racism and sexism that is so deeply embedded in
Canada’s laws, policies, practices and institutions – the very same racism and
sexism the Liberal government claims to be against. When the federal government
announced the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and
Girls in 2016, former Liberal Minister for the Status of Women, Patty Hadju,
spoke of the urgent need to address the longstanding racism and sexism embedded
in Canada’s institutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, this
urgent policy objective is not reflected in any substantive way in federal budget
2019. In fact, there are no funds allocated for a comprehensive plan to address
violence against women generally, and no funds for a targeted comprehensive of
plan of action to address violence against Indigenous women and girls
specifically. Indigenous and women's organizations have called on Canada to take comprehensive action now to implement recommendations from the United Nations treaty bodies to reduce murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls before the national inquiry's report is released. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://fafia-afai.org/en/press-release-coalition-calls-for-urgent-action-to-stop-violence-against-indigenous-women-and-girls-%EF%BB%BF/">http://fafia-afai.org/en/press-release-coalition-calls-for-urgent-action-to-stop-violence-against-indigenous-women-and-girls-%EF%BB%BF/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The National Inquiry's report is due out in less than a month and there is no budget set aside to implement whatever recommendations come from that report either. The limited funds for commemoration seems not only inadequate,
but also premature given that the crisis has not abated. Where is the urgent and
sustained help for the many families deeply impacted by the abuse,
exploitation, trafficking, disappearances and murders of thousands of
Indigenous women and girls?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
particularly shocking exclusion from the budget is the lack funding for First
Nations child and family services to address the crisis of First Nations
children in foster care. Former Minister of Indigenous Services, Jane Philpott
called the staggering statistics related to First Nation kids in care a “humanitarian crisis” - comparing it to the
residential school system. She pledged to work with First Nations to address
the critical need for funding to prevent apprehensions and address the root
causes of over-representation, which include conditions of poverty. This glaring omission from the budget is
confounding given the fact that Parliament had previously committed to targeted
funding to accompany <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bill C-92 An Act
respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families, </i>which already been introduced in Parliament. Although the federal government
promised significant funding to support <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bill
C-92</i> – there is no specified funding either in the bill or the budget. Not a
single dollar has been allocated to support First Nations develop their own
laws and institutions specific to child and family services, hire and train staff, as well as provide the much-needed wrap around social, educational and health services to
families in need as advocated in the Spirit Bear Plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/Spirit%20Bear%20Plan%20%28EN%29.pdf">https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/Spirit%20Bear%20Plan%20%28EN%29.pdf</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr.
Cindy Blackstock, the head of the First Nation Child and Family Caring Society
welcomed the additional funding for Jordan’s Principle, however explained that
it does not go far enough and many children – like non-status Indian children
are still excluded. Jordan’s Principle is a child-first principle which aims to
ensure First Nation children can access all public services in a
culturally-appropriate way, without any delays or hurdles because they are
First Nations. The federal budget pledges $1.2 billion over three years. However, the flat funding does not take into account population growth over
the funded years, or the rising cost of inflation. There
are also no additional funds to address the thousands of First Nation children
who will be newly entitled to Indian status as a result of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bill S-3 An Act to Amend the Indian Act (elimination of sex-based
inequities in registration)</i> or from the revised unstated paternity policy
in relation to registration. Both of these issues are the result of the federal
government losing two court cases (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Descheneaux
</i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gehl</i>) on discrimination
against First Nations women and children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet, despite the legal obligation to
provide funding, none has been identified in this budget. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">This limited funding is not an act of reconciliation. The federal has been dragged to this point - kicking and screaming - by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, with no less than five non-compliance orders for failing to end discrimination in funding of First Nation children in care. So, while the extra funding is welcome, it is not a “gift”.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p>A particularly disturbing omission is the lack of targeted funding for First Nation women and their descendants who would newly entitled to Indian status under <i>Bill S-3.</i> The bill has been in place for a year and will add thousands to the registration list, yet no new funds have been identified for education, health or housing for individuals or First Nations. This is despite the fact that the United Nations just agreed with Sharon McIvor that the <i>Indian Act</i> still discriminates against the descendants of First Nations women who married-out, and directed Canada to provide full reparation. This means registering them and providing much-needed social programs. Similarly, there is no targeted funding to address the increase in registration due to Lynn Gehl's successful court case against Canada for it's discriminatory unstated paternity policy. At every turn, First Nations women and children are forced to wait for justice and are denied their basic human rights and access to the same programs and services available to their fathers, brothers and uncles. </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of the most under-served categories of First Nations are those living
off-reserve. Approximately 33% of First Nations live off-reserve in Canada, and
a disproportionate number of families are headed by single Indigenous mothers.
Metis and Inuit don’t live on reserves at all – therefore the majority of
Indigenous peoples live off-reserve. The amount allocated in the budget is a
mere $60 million over 5 years to help fund off-reserve organizations like
native friendship centres. That is barely $10 million a year –
nowhere near what is needed to address urgent housing, education, and health
needs for more than 800,000 Indigenous peoples living off-reserve – let alone
the growing homelessness crisis plaguing Indigenous peoples. Niigaan
Sinclair reports in the Winnipeg Free Press that the chronic under-funding is made worse by the fact that federal
bureaucrats and other consultants and contractors, suck up nearly 50% of all funding
appropriated by Parliament for First Nations. With three departments now directly
responsible for Indigenous and Northern Affairs, who is to say whether
First Nations will see much of this funding at all, let alone Indigenous women
and children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/new-dollars-sure-but-same-political-game-507393892.html?fbclid=IwAR3jyFhBNuvatzHwVlW-JLWn28sw4MWAdhaGPfD2_strkkdgeiRGRJ0nQsU">https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/new-dollars-sure-but-same-political-game-507393892.html?fbclid=IwAR3jyFhBNuvatzHwVlW-JLWn28sw4MWAdhaGPfD2_strkkdgeiRGRJ0nQsU</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
there are many other problems with federal budget 2019, the most glaring
omission is the exclusion of Indigenous women and children. Back in 2016, the
Liberal government promised a gender based analysis for future budgets. Yet, this
budget lacks a gender-based, human rights-based and Indigenous rights-based analysis that focuses
on not just policy objectives like reconciliation, but concrete domestic and
international legal obligations. There is no mention of returning lands and
resources back to First Nations, no mention of a financial plan in relation to
treaty implementation or how the federal government will ensure Indigenous
women’s voices are at the many negotiating tables they fund. This budget is a
disgrace and does little to address any of the pressing Indigenous issues
impacting Indigenous women and children like kids in care, murdered and missing Indigenous women, over-incarceration, homelessness, unequal access to Indian status, poverty and poor health outcomes. Trudeau makes good use of flowery
speeches and tearful apologies to Indigenous peoples, but has left Indigenous
women and children far behind - again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps Prime Minister Trudeau should
give some Indigenous women a call and figure out how to amend the budget so it
better reflects the law in this country. At least, that's what a feminist Prime Minister would do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">APTN Panel discussion on Federal Budget 2019 and what it means for Indigenous Peoples:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: segoe ui, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/y689zmyh">https://tinyurl.com/y689zmyh</a></span></span></div>
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-17622088192486571922019-02-27T17:41:00.000-08:002019-02-27T17:49:50.041-08:00Bill C-91 An Act Respecting Indigenous Languages: More Hollow Reconciliation<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qXZ0gJPCzjWdfpw2nvXM1RrUvB2no-L942hH1ybqNaGL0x1T4iJQ57Uj55-mHsjlJfGeIjEslOBNbzhrghh8tf1mmeE2WqOmuUIeIfe7DF3fAUDPykJCG86emgGyU6jFC3Suy02zDmDr/s1600/Year+of+Indig+languages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qXZ0gJPCzjWdfpw2nvXM1RrUvB2no-L942hH1ybqNaGL0x1T4iJQ57Uj55-mHsjlJfGeIjEslOBNbzhrghh8tf1mmeE2WqOmuUIeIfe7DF3fAUDPykJCG86emgGyU6jFC3Suy02zDmDr/s320/Year+of+Indig+languages.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">There
is no doubt that pre- and post-confederation governments in what is now known
as Canada have developed policies, enacted laws and regulations, and engaged in
practices that have had as their primary objectives: (1) to acquire First
Nation lands and resources and (2) to reduce financial obligations acquired
through treaties and other agreements with First Nations. Their primary methods
have been to eliminate and/or assimilate “Indians”. Elimination took the forms
of small pox blankets, scalping bounties, murders, starvation rations, and
forced sterilizations. Attempts at forced assimilation took place in the form
residential schools, forced adoptions (60’s scoop), and the </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Indian Act</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> which outlawed certain
cultural practices and created a legislative extinction date for First Nations.
The impact of these laws, policies and practices have been nothing short of
genocidal. The specific impact to First Nations languages have been
devastating. The majority of the 70 different First Nation languages are at
risk of extinction.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
federal government would have us all believe that have moved on from this
so-called legacy of the past and have transitioned into a period of
reconciliation. The former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper
apologized in Parliament for the harms of residential schools:</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Two primary
objectives of the Residential Schools system were to remove and isolate
children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures,
and to assimilate them into the dominant culture. These objectives were based on the assumption
Aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Indeed,
some sought, as it was infamously said, "to kill the Indian in the
child". Today, we recognize that
this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place
in our country. (PM Stephen Harper)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet,
following this apology, the Conservative government made staggering funding
cuts to First Nations and First Nation organizations; and reduced the funds
available for First Nation languages. Harper’s empty apology meant that the
majority of First Nation languages would continue to be at risk of extinction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
Harper’s decade of doom was followed by the welcome election promises of the
current Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who promised to undo all the
harms of the previous Harper government, including the repeal of legislation
imposed on First Nations during Harper’s era. Trudeau also promised to implement
all the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action and in
particular, committed to legislate the formal recognition of Indigenous
languages as an Aboriginal right and provide sufficient funding. Where he went
wrong was in partnering with an Aboriginal organization - the Assembly of First
Nations - to do this work, instead of working with the rights-holders: First
Nations and their language experts. What has resulted is <i>Bill C-91 An Act Respecting Indigenous Languages</i> – legislation bountiful in flowery wording and empty on substantive rights. Not the best way to start off 2019 –
the year of Indigenous Languages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bill C-91</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> was introduced
and had its first reading by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Multiculturalism Pablo Rodriguez, on February 5, 2019. The bill went to second
reading on February 20, 2019 and was referred to the Standing Committee on
Canadian Heritage on the same day. Therein lies the first problem – that this
bill is sponsored by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism and
being studied by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. First Nation
rights are not a matter of Canadian heritage or multi-culturalism. First
Nations are not comparable to minorities or ethnic groups. First Nations are
the original sovereign Nations of the territories on which Canada now sits with
their nation-based laws, customs, practices, governments, economies, trading
networks, and military alliances. Their status as sovereign Nations was
undisputed and is the reason why treaties were signed. Nations only sign
treaties with other Nations – not with subjects, citizens or cultural groups.
First Nations were not then, nor are they now mere cultural groups. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trudeau
had promised to work together with First Nations on a Nation-to-Nation basis in
a way that recognizes First Nation rights and work in partnership, instead of
the usual paternalistic, top-down approach. Yet, <i>Bill C-91</i> is exactly that – top-down legislation drafted with the
advice of the AFN, but not the First Nation rights-holders themselves. Worse
than that, the bill is not a recognition of the official status of First Nation
language rights or a guaranteed minimum level of funding. It reads more like a
carefully worded, overly broad, vague set of theoretical aspirations than any
legal commitment one could enforce. Even the Indigenous Languages Commissioner
as set out in the bill is appointed by, paid by, and can be removed by, Canada;
with powers limited to research and advocacy. This is a real missed opportunity
for Trudeau who could have worked with First Nations language experts and
designed legislation to truly protect First Nation languages and take real
steps to undo the devastation done by federal laws and policies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
there are many problems with the wording in every section of this bill, and
there are many legal problems raised with said wording, I have five core
concerns. First, there is no specific recognition of First Nation languages as
official languages, nor is there a specific First Nation language right that is
actually granted or recognized. The bill merely references rights “in relation
to” Indigenous languages, but this could mean one’s personal right to speak a
language versus the right to receive government services on one’s language, for
example. Secondly, there is no specific recognition of First Nation jurisdiction
or powers in relation to First Nation languages. The Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Multiculturalism retains all powers in relation to the bill and any future
regulations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
third concern is that there is no specific or firm commitment in relation to
funding. The bill provides that the Minister will “establish measures to
facilitate the provision” of funding. However, establishing “measures” is not a
direct commitment for a specific funding amount or a commitment to whom this
funding will flow. This relates to my fourth concern, that the bill promotes a
pan-Aboriginal approach that is not First Nation-specific and appears to put
other broadly-defined “Indigenous groups” on the same level as First Nations.
Under this bill, funds could flow to anyone who incorporated an organization
and claimed to be Indigenous – despite their lack of status as actual
rights-holders within a specific First Nation territory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally,
this bill appears to utilize the same federally-controlled legislative framework
concept for rights definition, limitation and scoping. Trudeau already had to
back away from the federal rights recognition framework already rejected by
numerous First Nations and First Nation organizations. Of particular concern is
the federal government’s intention to establish a “framework” that is intended
to define, limit and determine the scope of the language rights to be
exercised, how and by whom, by way of negotiated agreements. While the AFN and
the Metis National Council have come out in support of the bill, the Inuit
Tapariit Kanatami have been very critical of it, explaining that they feel
Canada acted in bad faith, that is not Inuit-specific, and does not protect Inuit
language rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"The absence of any
Inuit-specific content suggests this bill is yet another legislative initiative
developed behind closed doors by a colonial system and then imposed on Inuit." (President Natan Obed)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is important to remember that legislation is not legally required for the
federal government to provide services in Indigenous languages or to provide funding
to First Nations for Indigenous languages. One should always be weary of a
government bearing gifts in the form of legislation, as it usually comes with
federal control, provisions which limit First Nation rights, and can ultimately
be amended or repealed at the will of government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
TRC Calls to Action, the <i>Royal Commission
on Aboriginal Peoples</i>, and the <i>United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples</i> all provide support
for legal recognition and financial support for First Nation languages. That
being said, for those First Nations who support federal legislation to enhance
the political and legal commitment to First Nation languages, the key moving
forward will be in the wording. To make this legislation more helpful than
harmful, substantive amendments will be required. Given the speed at which
Parliament is moving the study of this legislation, it is unlikely that the
majority of First Nations, their representative organizations, and language
experts will get their 10-minute opportunity to present to the Standing Committee
on much-needed amendments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps
once the bill reaches the Senate, they will embrace their role as the “sober
second thought” of government and slow down the process enough to hear from
First Nation experts and consider meaningful amendments - assuming there still
is a Liberal government after the SNC-Lavalin scandal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>* Image is official United Nations logo for the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages.</i></span></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>**A more detailed analysis to follow.</i></span></div>
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-2945744958725755872019-01-30T09:25:00.001-08:002019-01-30T09:29:14.577-08:00Cannabis legalization ignores First Nations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoOApjlMcvUQZeeGzNOPJxc3O9A_tgvDHMbCHEQa8Wvtg2W39VPyzg-JUbA5q3A8m991NMs0VbeG1TqLz2EpXo2Y5sQzdxf7OY5d0w0InnzybwrOnRaraG5Da3ufXIajG8MovJ7pmQWPY/s1600/cannabis-marijuana-green-royalty+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="728" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoOApjlMcvUQZeeGzNOPJxc3O9A_tgvDHMbCHEQa8Wvtg2W39VPyzg-JUbA5q3A8m991NMs0VbeG1TqLz2EpXo2Y5sQzdxf7OY5d0w0InnzybwrOnRaraG5Da3ufXIajG8MovJ7pmQWPY/s320/cannabis-marijuana-green-royalty+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
*This article was originally published in The Lawyer's Daily on Jan.30, 2019.<br />
<br />
For decades, federal and provincial governments, through their local, regional and national police agencies and court systems, have arrested, charged and imprisoned thousands of First Nations people for engaging in the cannabis trade. Many had hoped that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stated commitment to renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples and his desire to legalize cannabis would help address many issues, one of which being the crisis-level over-incarceration of Indigenous peoples.<br />
<br />
Despite legalization of cannabis in 2018, Trudeau’s Liberal government has not yet seen fit to provide relief for Indigenous peoples languishing in prisons for cannabis-related offences. This is disappointing on two fronts: the first being that Trudeau has not kept his promises to Indigenous peoples; and second, that the first ever female Indigenous Justice minister didn’t take steps to get Indigenous peoples out of prison.<br />
<br />
We know that the over-incarceration of Indigenous peoples is a real crisis — one that continues to grow without abatement. Despite being only five per cent of the population in Canada, they represent more than 27 per cent of those in federal prisons. Indigenous women make up a staggering 43 per cent and Indigenous youth are now over 46 per cent of admissions to youth corrections.<br />
<br />
Yet, even these statistics don’t show the whole picture. The provincial incarceration rates, especially in the Prairies, are astounding. Provincial prisons can be as high as 80 per cent Indigenous peoples and for Indigenous girls in Saskatchewan, that rate is an unbelievable 98 per cent. We also know that more than half of all drug offences in 2016 were cannabis-related (58 per cent) and the majority of the charges were for possession. To say that we have a real incarceration crisis is an understatement, but the limited cannabis legalization scheme, which does not substantively address over-incarceration of Indigenous peoples, is yet another broken promise.<br />
<br />
While a handful of First Nation businesses have been specifically “permitted” to engage in this new trade, the majority are under a very real risk of legal sanctions — both as individuals and as First Nations — who assert their jurisdiction in this area. It is a cruel colonial irony that the very same people who have been imprisoned for their role in the cannabis trade — First Nations peoples — are now largely prohibited from engaging in the trade without permission from provincial governments.<br />
<br />
Neither the federal nor provincial governments engaged in nation-to-nation dialogue with First Nations over how to best bring federal, provincial and First Nation laws into harmony in relation to cannabis. Despite the many calls from First Nations for collaboration, First Nations were left out of the legislative drafting process and any good faith attempt to provide a trilateral, good faith path forward.<br />
<br />
In May 2018, prior to the legalization of cannabis, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal peoples released a report on <i>Bill C-45 An Act Respecting Cannabis and to Amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and Other Acts</i>, which noted a real lack of “meaningful consultation” with Indigenous peoples and recommended that legalization be delayed for one year. The Standing Senate Committee recommended that Canada use the year to engage in negotiations with First Nations about tax collection and revenue sharing on reserves, recognition of the right of First Nations to enact their own legislation and funding for substance abuse and healing centres.<br />
<br />
They further recommended that no less than 20 per cent of all cannabis production licences be issued to First Nations. This would have provided sufficient time for First Nations to draft their own laws, rules and regulations and develop their own business policies and public safety protocols. While the Ministers of Health and Indigenous Services penned a letter to Senate claiming that their government “respects the jurisdiction of Indigenous communities”, Justice Canada officials previously clarified in Senate hearings that their position is that First Nations cannot enact by-laws in relation to cannabis on reserve and that provincial laws would apply. The federal government can’t have it both ways.<br />
<br />
Incredibly, Trudeau has missed yet another opportunity to engage with First Nations on a nation-to-nation basis and decided to forge ahead on cannabis legislation without properly engaging with First Nations or meaningfully considering their inherent Aboriginal and treaty rights to pass their own laws. Instead, the federal government assumes provincial jurisdiction setting the stage for the legislated exclusion of First Nations and conflict on the ground.<br />
<br />
This isn’t the first time the government of the day has blockaded First Nations from engaging in their own business and trade endeavours to support their communities. It wasn’t that long ago that the Conservative government under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper enacted <i>Bill C-10 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in contraband tobacco)</i> to create the new offence of trafficking in contraband tobacco and prescribed minimum mandatory sentences for repeat offenders.<br />
<br />
It was very clear that the bill was intended to target First Nations and their long practice of growing, manufacturing and trading in tobacco despite their inherent, Aboriginal and treaty rights to do so. The RCMP defined contraband tobacco as product that is primarily manufactured on First Nations reserves. This bill effectively acted as a legal blockade attempting to criminalize First Nations for engaging in their own traditional economies — an economy not even known to Europeans prior to contact.<br />
<br />
Settler governments have long engaged in the colonization of Turtle Island through the theft of First Nations lands and resources, but also through the appropriation of their lucrative trade practices, products and routes. The criminalization of the tobacco trade for First Nations went hand in hand with the transfer of control and benefit from tobacco to settler governments. It looks like Canada is doing the same thing to First Nations with regards to the cannabis trade.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://indigenousnationhood.blogspot.com/2018/04/canadas-criminalization-of-indigenous.html">https://indigenousnationhood.blogspot.com/2018/04/canadas-criminalization-of-indigenous.html</a><br />
<br />
While it may or may not have been grown, manufactured and traded traditionally, there is no doubt that this is the modern evolution of the right to trade as outlined in so many Supreme Court of Canada cases like the <i>Van der Peet </i>trilogy and the <i>Sappier and Gray</i> cases. First Nations are not limited to economic practices of pre-contact times or be “frozen in time.” Yet, that is exactly what seems to be happening with the cannabis trade.<br />
<br />
In fact, it looks like those that are first in line to profit from this new legal trade are the very politicians and police officers that once fought so hard to imprison First Nations for trading in tobacco and now cannabis. Those previously engaged in tobacco and drug enforcement have an unfair advantage of knowing all the confidential intelligence on the drug trade and its key players, as well as where and when to sell product and to whom. On top of this, former cops have connections all over the country, and that alone is an incredible form of advantage and means of intimidating the so-called competition.<br />
<br />
This gross injustice is now compounded by the fact that only certain businesses will be granted licences and the majority of those licences do not include First Nations or their businesses. According to the federal government’s report to Senate, there are only 5 Indigenous producers out of the 105 in Canada — a far cry from the minimum 20 per cent recommended by Senate.<br />
<br />
As the most impoverished communities in Canada, First Nations have incredible social pressures on them to find ways to provide for their communities in a legally and politically hostile context. Federal and provincial governments have created legal blockades around most First Nation traditional economies like hunting, fishing and gathering. They have left First Nations with few alternatives.<br />
<br />
If Trudeau thinks that First Nations will simply shrug their shoulders and move along to a different economic opportunity, he is sadly mistaken. Many First Nations are invested in this trade and will defend their legal right to do so with or without provincial approval. The ability of the police to enforce federal or provincial laws in this regard will be highly suspect given their former colleagues’ involvement in the trade. Would the police be upholding the law or protecting the thin blue line’s new income stream?<br />
<br />
All of this pending conflict — and there will be conflict — could have been avoided had Trudeau practised what he promised and engaged with First Nations on a nation to nation basis and respected First Nation rights. It’s never too late to act, but with an election just around the corner — it is unlikely Trudeau will rock the boat for all those former cops and Liberal politicians who now stand to make millions from cannabis.<br />
<br />
*Link to the article as originally published in The Lawyer's Daily:<br />
<a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/9968/cannabis-legalization-ignores-first-nations-pamela-palmater?category=opinion">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/9968/cannabis-legalization-ignores-first-nations-pamela-palmater?category=opinion</a><br />
<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-44358371707271755632019-01-20T16:29:00.003-08:002019-04-11T13:48:56.926-07:00What You Need to Know About Sharon McIvor's Major UN Victory on Indian Status<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> (Picture of Sharon McIvor and I at the United Nations in Geneva)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Sharon
McIvor has won yet another landmark legal victory for First Nations women –
this time at the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC). On January 14,
2019, the UNHRC released their decision which found that Canada still discriminates against "Indian" women and their descendants in the registration provisions of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indian Act.</i> Despite the fact that Sharon
had already proven her discrimination case at trial and on appeal here in
Canada, the federal government refused to eliminate all the remaining sex
discrimination from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Act</i>. This
meant that Sharon and her descendants still have lesser or no Indian status as
compared to her brother and his descendants – simply based on sex. Sharon was
therefore forced to bring a human rights claim to the UNHRC under the Optional
Protocol to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights</i> (ICCPR). The UNHRC found Canada had violated
Sharon’s human rights and directed Canada to provide an effective remedy for
Sharon McIvor, her descendants, and others who have suffered the same
discrimination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It
is important to note that Canada is bound by this decision. The ICCPR came into
force for Canada on August 19, 1976 and Canada has agreed to be bound by the
jurisdiction of the UNHRC to make decisions on matters coming before it. This
means that Canada has chosen to be bound by the rights contained within this
Covenant for the benefits of all those in Canada. In this case, the UNHRC found
that Canada had violated Sharon’s human rights under articles 3 and 26, read in
conjunction with article 27 of the ICCPR. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Article
3 guarantees the equal right of men and women to enjoy the rights contained in
the ICCPR. Article 26 provides that all people are equal under the law and
specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, birth or other
status. These two articles were considered in conjunction with article 27 which
provides that ethnic minorities within States shall not be denied their right
to enjoy their culture in community with other members of their group. The
UNHRC found that Canada had violated Sharon’s rights under all three articles
and directed Canada to do make “full reparation” to Sharon, her descendants and
others in her position. Canada was directed to: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Register all those like
Sharon and her descendants, under section 6(1)(a) of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indian Act</i>;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Take steps to clean up
any residual discrimination within First Nation communities arising from sex
discrimination in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indian Act;</i> and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Take any additional
steps necessary to avoid similar violations in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
federal government has been given a 180 days to inform the UNHRC
about how it will implement this decision. The good news is that the federal
government has the capacity to comply with the first part of the decision this month. The
federal government already drafted amendments to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indian Act’s</i> registration provisions in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bill S-3</i> that would remove the remaining sex discrimination raised
by Sharon McIvor’s case. The problem is that Parliament didn’t enact those
provisions into force. While all the other amendments contained within <i>Bill S-3</i>
were brought into force in 2018, they purposely left our remedy for sex
equality for “someday” – a hypothetical right that we can only hope is
fulfilled someday. First Nations women deserve better than this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">While
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indian Act’s</i> registration
provisions have a long, complicated history, and the various amendments made
over time, including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bills C-31</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">C-3</i> and the most recent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">S-3</i> have created a complex mess of
criteria almost impossible to understand; the core issue is simple. Indian women
who married non-Indians and their descendants have lesser or no status compared
to Indian men who married non-Indians and their descendants. Sex discrimination
in federal legislation, like the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indian
Act</i>, is against Canadian law as well as international human rights laws to
which Canada has agreed to be bound. There is simply no legal justification for
continuing to deny the basic right of sex equality to First Nation women and
children. To do so makes the federal government an outlaw – both in Canada and
internationally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
question now is whether the self-professed “feminist” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
and his Liberal government will abide by the UNHRC decision or continue to
violate the core human rights of First Nations women and children. Reconciliation
with First Nations demands immediate implementation of this decision, but the
Liberal (and Conservative) record is very poor when it comes to respecting the
human rights of First Nations women. They have the power to do it – but it always
has been, and always will be, a matter of political will. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Sharon has sacrificed
more than 33 years to this battle to protect the rights of First Nation women
and our children. It is because of Sharon that I have a political voice as a
First Nations woman. Implementing this decision will not only mean that my
children will finally be able to be registered and included as members of my
First Nation, but Sharon and I, and thousands of others like us, will finally be
treated equally with our First Nation brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Canada cannot claim to stand as a champion of human rights in the global context while continuing to deny First Nations women and children basic human rights. Reconciliation requires shedding the hypocritical rhetoric and taking action to do what is morally right and legally required.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The world is watching Canada. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Here is our press conference calling on Canada to abide by UN decision and end sex discrimination:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/gy9evq7a6hg">https://youtu.be/gy9evq7a6hg</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Link to the UNHRC decision:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/CAN/CCPR_C_124_D_2020_2010_28073_E.pdf">https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/CAN/CCPR_C_124_D_2020_2010_28073_E.pdf</a></span><br />
<br />
Link to CBC article about the case:<br />
<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indian-act-sex-discrimination-un-committee-1.4982330">https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indian-act-sex-discrimination-un-committee-1.4982330</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-29130082260900112422019-01-10T19:18:00.000-08:002019-01-10T19:18:57.648-08:00True Test of Reconciliation: Respect the Indigenous Right to Say No<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6YL_3eWI2Xkk1BWbNiPg-OCS_RDWWD0AJbCN4FP4_aTZ5cu_svtCqR11x7p1GFrGCVLD8TOofea2bmKbmjirBXJ-9rOvvgNqFFv3_XoX7weLPd9YJgM-fag7raQ8WfvN65TkzHE6bIQQ/s1600/Unistoten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6YL_3eWI2Xkk1BWbNiPg-OCS_RDWWD0AJbCN4FP4_aTZ5cu_svtCqR11x7p1GFrGCVLD8TOofea2bmKbmjirBXJ-9rOvvgNqFFv3_XoX7weLPd9YJgM-fag7raQ8WfvN65TkzHE6bIQQ/s320/Unistoten.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(Image from Unistoten Camp)<br />
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*This article was originally published in Canadian Dimension Magazine on May 15, 2018.<br />
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Conflict is coming. There is no getting around that fact. Anyone who believes that reconciliation will be about blanket exercises, cultural awareness training, visiting a native exhibit at a museum or hanging native artwork in public office buildings doesn’t understand how we got here. Reconciliation between Canada and Indigenous peoples has never been about multiculturalism, diversity or inclusion. Reconciliation is not an affirmative-action program, nor is it about adding token Indigenous peoples to committees, advisory groups or board rooms. We cannot tokenize our way out of this mess that Canada created. Real reconciliation requires truth be exposed, justice be done to make amends and then Canada’s discriminatory laws, policies, practices and societal norms be reconciled with Indigenous rights, title, treaties, laws and jurisdiction. That process of truth, justice and reconciliation will be painful. It requires a radical change. Nothing less than the transfer of land, wealth and power to Indigenous peoples will set things right. The true test of reconciliation will be whether Canada respects the Indigenous right to say ‘no.’<br />
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Canadian courts have been issuing decisions about Aboriginal rights and title and treaty rights, sending the strong message to governments that they must obtain the consent of Indigenous peoples before taking actions or making decisions that will impact our lives. Governments have not listened. Canada’s failure to listen is one of the reasons why Indigenous peoples spent more than 25 years negotiating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which guarantees the right of Indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent. Article 19 of UNDRIP provides:<br />
<br />
<i>States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.</i><br />
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Consent is a legal concept which can be defined as the voluntary acquiescence of one person to the proposal of another. In general, it is the right to say yes or no to something and/or put conditions on an agreement. Consent must be free from misrepresentations, deceptions, fraud or duress. This is a very basic right, but one which has been denied to Indigenous peoples since contact. Take for example, the actions of Indian agents and police, who used food rations to extort sex from Indigenous women and girls. In the context of being forced to live on reserves, not being allowed to leave the reserve and being dependent on food rations, what real choice would a young girl have? Similarly, when police officers or judges detain Indigenous women and girls, drive them to secluded locations and force them to perform sexual acts — there is no real consent when the threat of lethal force or arrest on false charges is ever-present. This is especially so given our knowledge of the number of assaults and deaths of our people in police custody. There was no consent when they stole our children and put them into residential schools, nor was there any consent when priests, nuns and others raped those children. There was no consent when doctors forcibly sterilized Indigenous women and girls — sometimes without their knowledge.<br />
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Today, the right of Indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent has become the central issue in Canada’s reconciliation agenda. Justin Trudeau campaigned on the promise of implementing UNDRIP into law and respecting the right of Indigenous peoples to say no. When asked by APTN host Cheryl McKenzie whether no would mean no under his government, he responded “absolutely.” Another way of putting this is that Indigenous peoples could exercise their legal right to refuse to approve or authorize a project. This veto right stems from various sources, but primarily our inherent rights as Indigenous governments with our own laws and rules which govern our traditional territories. They may also come from specific Aboriginal rights, treaty rights and Aboriginal title. These rights are not only protected within our own Indigenous laws, but also section 35 of Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982 and various international human rights laws, including UNDRIP. Yet, after Trudeau announced his latest idea to create a legislative framework to recognize Indigenous rights and avoid litigation, Justice Minister Raybould stated clearly that “consent doesn’t mean a veto” for Indigenous peoples.<br />
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So, we are now back where we started. Canada has not yet reconciled its laws, policies or political positions to the fact that Indigenous peoples have the right to say no to development projects on our lands. This means that conflict will continue to grow over mining, forestry, hydraulic fracking and pipelines on Indigenous lands. The true test of reconciliation will inevitably play out on the ground, like it did in Oka, Ipperwash, Gustafsen Lake, Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church) and Elsipogtog. Will Canada force the Kinder Morgan pipeline to go ahead against the will of British Columbia and First Nations? Will Canada isolate and exclude First Nations who do not subscribe to the extinguishment requirements of Canada’s land-claims process? What will happen to First Nations who stop provincial social workers and police officers from entering their reserves to steal more children into foster care? This will be the real test of our inherent right to say no.<br />
<br />
Canada will only truly give effect to reconciliation when Indigenous peoples have the right to say no — no to discriminatory government laws and policies; no to federal and provincial control over our Nations; no to racism from society, industry and government; no to sexualized violence, abuse and trafficking; no to theft of our children into foster care and the imprisonment of our peoples; no to the ongoing theft of our lands and resources; and no to the contamination and destruction of our lands, waters, plants, animals, birds and fish. The right to say no is the core of any future relationship with the Canadian state and its citizens. It’s a basic right — one which is grounded in our sovereignty as individuals and Nations to decide for ourselves the life we wish to live. Canada has made it clear we have no right to say no, only an obligation to say yes. First Nations leaders and citizens should not wait to see how this plays out in court – they should assert and defend their right to say no now.<br />
<br />
*This article was originally published in Canadian Dimension Magazine on May 15, 2018 at this link:<br />
<a href="https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/true-test-of-reconciliation-respect-the-indigenous-right-to-say-no">https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/true-test-of-reconciliation-respect-the-indigenous-right-to-say-no</a>Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-5903080158572497542018-12-27T17:58:00.000-08:002018-12-27T18:25:48.377-08:00Trump's "Crazy Town" Represents a Clear and Present Danger to Canada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOGIbKg4OYamEUKuJh5VYunKJ4V8yT8f_EYG93NY5voriqbZ_j7O-FWtM22DSK7SrjrosAND6J1MLpuJHxCfcD09pRk1mPLYigUOUaa1fhIrp9ahT5pLCj2fy-C_znUxtYFS0OYmfSj8f/s1600/IMG_20161112_140948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOGIbKg4OYamEUKuJh5VYunKJ4V8yT8f_EYG93NY5voriqbZ_j7O-FWtM22DSK7SrjrosAND6J1MLpuJHxCfcD09pRk1mPLYigUOUaa1fhIrp9ahT5pLCj2fy-C_znUxtYFS0OYmfSj8f/s320/IMG_20161112_140948.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(Photo taken when I marched in Trump Protest in NYC)<br />
<br />
Donald Trump shocked countries around the world when he won the election for President of the United States of America (USA) on November 8, 2016. Trump was formally elected as the 58th US President, together with Mike Pence as his Vice-President, by the Electoral College on December 19, 2016. However, the official inauguration ceremony did not take place until January 20, 2017. While most of us were in a state of shock during the weeks between Trump's election and his inauguration; millions of Americans immediately took to the streets in nationwide protests under the collective chant “Not my President!”.<br />
<br />
Trump’s presidential welcome (or lack thereof) did not get any better at his inauguration. In fact, attendance at Trump’s formal inauguration ceremony was one of the lowest in modern history – the crowds were only a fraction of the size that attended former President Obama’s inauguration. Not only has the open wound of Trump’s election failed to heal, but Trump’s toxic team has infected the White House with such high levels of corruption and lies that no one knows who to trust anymore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPE26u7vY57bRk5x5pvNiy3TOba0kkapqbouOIUvBBndA96v2I_WOvNgvArXQCkGUMerXmi3SEcyU64MPcRWMNa9m-YvMhHHnx1HvwSt51DKji-Q8Dhx0Xngv7wH5Tagqxnyo6gD_rj1wF/s1600/IMG_20161112_114603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPE26u7vY57bRk5x5pvNiy3TOba0kkapqbouOIUvBBndA96v2I_WOvNgvArXQCkGUMerXmi3SEcyU64MPcRWMNa9m-YvMhHHnx1HvwSt51DKji-Q8Dhx0Xngv7wH5Tagqxnyo6gD_rj1wF/s320/IMG_20161112_114603.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(Photo I took just before the rest of the protest march arrived at Trump Tower in NYC)<br />
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Since taking office, Trump has tried to fulfill his campaign promises of enacting a Muslim travel ban; erecting a wall between the USA and Mexico; deporting undocumented immigrants, and nominating conservative judges to the Supreme Court with mixed results. While his Supreme Court appointment, Brett Cavanaugh went through despite multiple sexual assault allegations - it may go down as one of, if not the, most controversial appointments in US history. Trump's travel bans were overturned by the courts and his wall will likely never be built.<br />
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At the same time, he has engaged in an anti-media campaign to discredit any media outlet critical of his Presidency as “fake news”. His obsession with fake news is more of a reflection of his own lies and those of his reported Russian hacker friends, than any media-wide conspiracy to lie to the American people about the President.<br />
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He has also used social media to call out his perceived political enemies, name-call anyone who doesn’t agree with him and taunt world leaders. While his national security team has no doubt worked overtime to prevent World War III; Trump’s presidency has the added stress of one political scandal after another. From his reported relationship and subsequent pay-off to porn star Stormy Daniels; to his alleged collusion/collaboration with Russia; and the guilty pleas of former Trump aides to various criminal offences; Trump has no doubt set the record for the most tumultuous first 18 months in office.<br />
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Unlike our ability to change the channel when Trump’s former reality show "The Apprentice" would invade our TV screens, the very real “live reality” show of Trump’s presidency is the only channel available to Americans right now. While Trump’s crazy hair, weird hand gestures and remarkably bizarre and often incoherent rants might provide endless fodder for late night comedy shows; this President’s junior high school style diplomacy does more than just reflect poorly on Trump as an individual. The Office of the President is an institution that is supposed to represent the American people, but currently appears to only represent Donald Trump's every whim or vendetta in an embarrassing Twitter drama.<br />
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The now infamous anonymous op-ed allegedly written by an insider has described Trump as “impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective”. Excerpts from award-winning journalist, Bob Woodward’s new book:<i> Fear: Trump in the White House</i>, together with insights gleaned from other journalists with access to the White House, like Michael Wolff’s<i> Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House</i> expose the current turmoil within the White House. Taken together with Trump’s own public behavior and the insights gleaned from former senior officials, we all have cause to be worried; and when I say “we”, I mean Americans, Canadians and Indigenous Nations all over Turtle Island.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNPICc9q4w_27YAORd3ItdBIw5drU68MUxLP-1w-TdpnA-RopEZHF4-g89MSlUSh7AzGt017BeVpXEPk2zJkSD2S3ukkGc5t32kaNjHimYEwXRwTSt8291s61yIgT6UzG4i0axere__Sw/s1600/Fear+-+amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNPICc9q4w_27YAORd3ItdBIw5drU68MUxLP-1w-TdpnA-RopEZHF4-g89MSlUSh7AzGt017BeVpXEPk2zJkSD2S3ukkGc5t32kaNjHimYEwXRwTSt8291s61yIgT6UzG4i0axere__Sw/s320/Fear+-+amazon.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
(photo from Google images)<br />
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It’s not much of a stretch to assume that a White House in this much turmoil, being led by someone who thrives on conflict and chooses to align himself with autocrats and dictators over America's long-held allies; presents a clear a present danger for national security at a global level, but also public safety at the local level. Canada is America’s closest ally – politically and geographically. Any form of major or sustained attack on the USA, risks the safety of Canadians working in the US or inter-married with Americans.<br />
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Similarly, those Canadians living in border towns may suffer the consequences of attacks made in close proximity. As a known ally of the US, retaliatory attacks on the US might also be accompanied by direct attacks on Canada. It matters very much to our safety and security to know what is happening in the south. So, while Canadians, like many Americans, would also like to turn the channel when Trump appears on our news stations – our collective worry prevents us from doing so. It is far worse for sovereign Indigenous Nations who pay the price for decisions made without us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinQQL46w891IH8kXTIEM7FH9I09A_-BjucDAlUtLKm_AuitlP4_nEbhgxorGzgGN-gUHO98bQ0NBP8-s7cpQEwcXxvnkJKzUyzzHbBD3DL28TZpSimvuctIeTvp8Nnotjn9maBPGTI2KL/s1600/Sacred_Ecology_Standing_Rock_02-1200x800.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinQQL46w891IH8kXTIEM7FH9I09A_-BjucDAlUtLKm_AuitlP4_nEbhgxorGzgGN-gUHO98bQ0NBP8-s7cpQEwcXxvnkJKzUyzzHbBD3DL28TZpSimvuctIeTvp8Nnotjn9maBPGTI2KL/s320/Sacred_Ecology_Standing_Rock_02-1200x800.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
(photo about Standing Rock from Sacred Ecology)<br />
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It's no coincidence that Canada has been sucked into the trade dispute between the US and China. Recently, several Canadians were detained by the Chinese government, reportedly as a bargaining chip to force Canada to release an Executive from Huawei being held for extradition to the US. While Canada is not a party the US-China trade dispute, Canadians are collateral damage on Trump's toxic, combative presidency.<br />
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It is important to note, that these observations from the northern part of Turtle Island are not related to the divide between liberal and conservative ideologies or Republican and Democrat politics. These concerns are not about NAFTA, the trade tariffs Trump imposed on Canada or the fact that Trump called our Prime Minister “very dishonest and meek”. No, these concerns represent the very real concerns of Canadians and First Nations, who, like many Americans and Native American tribal governments, value the advances made in our societies in relation to Indigenous sovereignty and rights, civil rights, human rights and freedoms, and the push to address social injustices like racism, poverty and homelessness. It is also safe to say that the recent <i>United Nations Report on Climate Change</i> has Indigenous Nations all over Turtle Island deeply concerned about the health and well-being our lands, waters and future generations if “leaders” like Trump remain in power.<br />
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Trump may be able to brag about the American economy and the low unemployment rates, but this does little to quell the violence which stems from white supremacy and racists emboldened by Trump’s perceived alignment with these groups. His outright refusal to condemn Naziism and his claim there are good people within the white supremacist movement has made it even more difficult to keep the lid closed on Pandora’s box of hatred. Under the guise of “making America great again” the worst segments of society have come forth in more public ways to spread their hatred against racialized peoples under the guise free speech and diversity of thought. And why should northern Turtle Island be concerned? Because white supremacy, hatred and race-based violence is an infection that spreads when you give it oxygen. And given that Turtle Island is divided by an artificial border, there is little stop this rise in white supremacy from expanding its lethal infection north in Canada.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1RSHyg1WwHyWvzoXAiVhNpa1Wdod9peuSjNjWY4vbZewgtHgywdGtemuSfao2kBaM9EVsfxNuCEXB2DgNzJW7c5Tr9ZkOctt8tpyu4CT3gYkrGzT8eoc9JmMhmTuRj5WGYfU5v_5eahQ/s1600/PBS+Charlottesville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1RSHyg1WwHyWvzoXAiVhNpa1Wdod9peuSjNjWY4vbZewgtHgywdGtemuSfao2kBaM9EVsfxNuCEXB2DgNzJW7c5Tr9ZkOctt8tpyu4CT3gYkrGzT8eoc9JmMhmTuRj5WGYfU5v_5eahQ/s320/PBS+Charlottesville.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(photo of white supremacists in Charlottesville from PBS website)<br />
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And it is spreading north. Steve Bannon, Trump’s former strategist, whose far-right ideologies are praised by Neo-Nazis and the KKK, was invited to speak about populism at the Munk debate. However, while hatred is spreading, that doesn't mean it is new to Canada. One need only look at Canada's lethal genocidal policies against Indigenous peoples and it ongoing racism, violence and destruction of native lands to know - racism and white supremacy is alive and well in Canada. It is the recent rise in populism, fueled by Trump, that has encouraged it to spread to new generations in Canada in more public ways. The reported anti-black and anti-Indigenous actions of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and the hateful, anti-immigrant rants of Maxime Bernier are just the tip of the iceberg.<br />
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Formerly hidden or subversive hate groups in Canada and the US have been given very powerful signals from exceptionally powerful men (usually right-wing, ultra-conservative) that the coast is clear to more actively spread hatred. So, Trump’s impact on Canada presents a very real and present danger to Indigenous Nations and racialized Canadians.<br />
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So the question is: are Americans (and Canadians) truly condemned to two more years of Trump’s “Crazy town” or are there realistic alternatives? Early in his presidency, some political commentators offered their analyses on the chances of Trump being impeached. More recently, commentators and politicians alike have suggested the possibility of declaring him unfit under the 25th amendment. While some worry that this may cause a constitutional crisis, others like Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren – embroiled in her own controversy of white appropriation of Indigenous identity - feels that the US may already be in a constitutional crisis if Cabinet feels Trump can’t do the job.<br />
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What most political analysts do agree on is that there is a very remote chance that Trump will ever be removed from office. Could this be why there is reportedly a core group within the White House trying to protect country? Could this be why senior White House officials are taking huge personal risks to expose the potential danger within and protect the American people? While it is hard to know anyone’s personal motivations, it would be incredible to think that someone is watching out for the people.<br />
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Some believe that a true patriot – a real American – is one who votes and that true loyalty to the American flag and constitution means standing by your President no matter what. Sure there is some buyer’s remorse amongst some who voted for Trump, and some feelings of regret by those who didn’t vote at all having assumed that there was no way Trump could be elected. But what about the collective fear and worry by Americans and Native Americans – regardless of their voter status or their political leanings – about the very real and dark turn of events since Trump’s election? What of the confirmed Russian interference with the election, the risks of retaliation from other countries against Trump’s aggressive tactics, the thousands of children traumatized when they were separated from their migrant families, destruction of native lands, murdered and missing Native American women, or the very obvious rise in racist, white supremacist banter?<br />
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How does American loyalty to the institution of the Presidency jive with their loyalty to equality, democracy, freedom of the press, human rights, the right to life and their own constitution?<br />
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If this is the difficult issue facing Americans right now, imagine how those working in the White House feel? Worse, imagine how Native Americans feel that this is all taking place on their sovereign territories? While it may be easy to condemn the unnamed officials who are trying to keep the White House stable despite the Trump circus, what real choice do they have if they are committed to “the people” – which is supposed to be the real government anyway?<br />
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It may not follow the rules of democracy or the processes laid out in policies, but how long can good people use process, protocol or past practice as an excuse not to act? In his address to before the Canadian Parliament in 1961, America’s 35th President John F Kennedy said; “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. I am sure many Americans are hoping that more good people come forward and take concrete actions to protect the US and Canada both from the risks posed by Trump’s "Crazy town".<br />
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In the meantime, my money is on “the people” – the people who have risen up and taken a stand against this infection of hatred - those who shoulder the unfair burden of making sure it doesn’t turn into a plague. Our sovereign Indigenous Nations have something to say about the threat to public safety and national security in our territories. Our treaty partners have not only breached our treaties, but their self-interested, hateful actions pose real dangers to our peoples and our Canadian and American allies. The fight for our future is real. We better make 2019 the year of the revolution and Make America (and Canada) Native Again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8xVAQC3L8Q-jxZPZwpGdo1vpzes9zyRI2TP7s5vxvy5Uxqp-L9IpkYXmEjhq7VLvyPT83BUMrI7jk_9Pv6mDE4u3typFDDpn_IdI_udaFTF9LC_tUpObWrsawQH5BNY8SnlLRQ0rLT-H/s1600/IMG_20161112_135913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8xVAQC3L8Q-jxZPZwpGdo1vpzes9zyRI2TP7s5vxvy5Uxqp-L9IpkYXmEjhq7VLvyPT83BUMrI7jk_9Pv6mDE4u3typFDDpn_IdI_udaFTF9LC_tUpObWrsawQH5BNY8SnlLRQ0rLT-H/s320/IMG_20161112_135913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(I took this photo while marching in the anti-Trump protests in NYC shortly after his election).<br />
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For my Youtube video about this topic, please see the following link:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPFaniEbiOs&feature=share">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPFaniEbiOs&feature=share</a><br />
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-58373922263047396392018-10-28T18:33:00.000-07:002018-10-28T19:12:01.927-07:00Saskatchewan: The Land of Living Skies and Lethal Racism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADPktl0S9KRb2VK7JzNq_nU6ZfIuHaRHQWeUOekJb58c3fT-aiGygJ7jktObwg43_EWv-E3uql68fEy3iy1F85kMBZJwEUq-edMxtGKqg3a-QLp5v6Q2uSVMQKnwEl9Pf-hTAz_atHBTx/s1600/JFOSC+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADPktl0S9KRb2VK7JzNq_nU6ZfIuHaRHQWeUOekJb58c3fT-aiGygJ7jktObwg43_EWv-E3uql68fEy3iy1F85kMBZJwEUq-edMxtGKqg3a-QLp5v6Q2uSVMQKnwEl9Pf-hTAz_atHBTx/s320/JFOSC+camp.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
(Justice for Our Stolen Children Camp, Wascana, Saskatchewan, 2018)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saskatchewan is known as the “land of the living skies”
for its breathtakingly colourful northern lights. It is also one of the most
beautiful prairie-provinces in Canada, with stunning purple sand beaches and
the incredible Sahara-like Athabasca Sand Dunes that stretch for nearly 100
kilometres. The province also boasts over 100,000 lakes and rivers, making it
nearly 12% water. The diverse Indigenous Nations which have thrived on these
territories since time immemorial have tied their customs, practices and traditions,
and even their traditional Indigenous knowledge systems to the life-giving
resources from these rich lands, waters and eco-systems. The very land that has
sustained the Nehiyaw, Anishinabe and other Nations for thousands of years is
firmly rooted in their identity as individuals, families, and Nations. Sadly, Saskatchewan
is also well-known as one of the most racist provinces in Canada. With
colonization and the clearing of the plains, came brutal acts of genocide, land dispossession and violent
racism against First Nations – a legacy that has and continues to be a lethal
reality for First Nations.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Saskatchewan is the home to farmer Gerald Stanley, who
shot and killed an unarmed First Nation youth, Colten Boushie, in cold blood in 2016, but was
found not guilty by an all-white jury two years later – a result that shocked
the nation. But it’s not just white farmers killing Indigenous peoples – 62.5%
of people who died from police encounters in Saskatchewan were Indigenous,
despite being only 11% of the population. But this should not come as a shock
to anyone. It wasn’t that long ago in 2004 that the Neil Stonechild Inquiry
exposed the Saskatchewan police practice known as “Starlight Tours” to the
world. Starlight Tours occur when police officers detain Indigenous youth,
drive them out of town and leave them stranded in sub-zero temperatures causing
their deaths. While this racist practice was well-known by First Nations as
common practice, Canada had a hard time accepting the persistence, prevalence
and lethal nature of racism in this country. Meanwhile, the rate of murdered
and missing Indigenous women and girls continued to climb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2014, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
released a report on the “known” cases of murdered and missing Indigenous women
and girls in Canada which showed that Indigenous women and girls make up only
2.5% of the Canadian population, but 16% of the murder victims in Canada. However,
Saskatchewan had the highest provincial rates - 55% of all murders of women were
Indigenous. This unique intersection of racism and misogyny creates a situation
where sexualized violence is perpetrated against Indigenous women and girls at
alarming rates with relative impunity, and by all walks of society. While it is
true that domestic violence is part of the issue, many of the murders and acts of sexualized violence were committed by society – doctors, lawyers, teachers, judges,
social workers, foster parents and even police officers. Human Rights Watch
released a report about police officers in Saskatchewan who commit sexualized
violence against Indigenous women and girls in their custody, including sexual
harassment, assault, invasive strip searches by male officers, and groping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Racialized violence, abuse and neglect of First
Nations is so ingrained in Saskatchewan that it is not only reflected in societal
attitudes, but those of its governing bodies and agencies. Nowhere are the
socio-economic conditions worse for First Nations than in the sister provinces of Manitoba and
Saskatchewan. More than 80% of all children in care in
Saskatchewan are Indigenous – second only to Manitoba’s 90% - primarily due to discriminatory
agency practices or conditions of poverty from chronic and discriminatory government under-funding
of core social services. Racism has a multiplier effect where not only are
Indigenous children wrongly apprehended, but because of that race-based
apprehension, they are less likely to get a high school education, and more likely
to end up in youth corrections. More than 2/3 of all Indigenous peoples in
prison were in the child welfare system. It should be no surprise
then that Indigenous foster girls are also over-represented in murdered,
missing, and sex trafficked and those exploited in the child porn industry. Human traffickers know exactly where to get them - foster and group homes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">These multiple, over-lapping crises rooted in racism
and violence against Indigenous peoples is getting worse. The Supreme Court of Canada,
the federal Office of the Correctional Investigator, the Auditor General, child
welfare advocates, and numerous United Nations human rights bodies, together
with countless research findings, commissions, inquiries and coroner’s reports
all point to continued failures by federal and provincial governments to take
concrete action to stem or reverse these crises. This failure, which is
nothing less than colossal in Saskatchewan, sends the very toxic message to
society that Indigenous lives have less value. Despite all the symbolism in a
post-TRC report Canada, provinces like Saskatchewan have made very few
substantive changes that have addressed any of these issues. All the political
meetings, negotiation tables, and other so-called partnership initiatives
haven’t stopped the suffering of the people – instead conditions are getting
worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the reason that Idle No More was born. Not
only did this organic social movement grew from Indigenous grassroots community members –
it was inspired by federal and provincial government inaction on these social
issues and their constant breach of our Aboriginal and treaty rights. Omnibus
bills to remove protections for the many lakes and rivers which make up
Saskatchewan, together with provincial leases, permits and other authorities
for corporations to continue to steal from Indigenous lands helped inspire a
Saskatchewan born, nationwide movement to demand action. Idle No More wasn’t
the first public show of protest over racial injustice, and it won’t be the
last. First Nation family members of lost loved ones organized the Justice for
Our Stolen Children Camp to again raise awareness and demand action. Their
message was simple - the gross injustices committed against First Nations
peoples in the name of racism and misogyny, like poverty, homelessness,
over-incarceration, over-representation of our children in foster care and
murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls – are all getting worse, not
better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It would appear that Saskatchewan’s Premier is wholly
detached from the problem. His focus seems to be on maximizing extraction of
resources from First Nation lands; ignoring Aboriginal, treaty and lands
rights; and clearing the legal playing field for more violence. In his recent
Throne Speech, Moe announced that he will pass “trespass” legislation to allow
more policing in “rural” areas. His focus is on the property rights of rural farmers
without any mention for the safety of rural First Nation communities. We all
know what this means. More laws to protect farmers who may hurt or kill other
First Nations youth. His plan is eerily similar in nature to the bills proposed
in the United States by certain states, to protect those (white people) who run
over protesters with their cars, for example. Then add to Moe’s trespassing
legislation, the fact that he is planning to arm conservation officers with
AR-15 type carbine rifles! The very same conservation officers, who have recently been authorized
to enter reserves through an MOU with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous
Nations (FSIN). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There is a political storm brewing in Saskatchewan
that further risks the lives of First Nations people. Trespass legislation and
semi-automatic weapons are the not answer. Land and resource transfers back to First Nations, ending discriminatory practices, implementing treaty rights - all of those would contribute to justice for First Nations. Pumping more weapons into First Nation territory will only lead to more deaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is long past the time that the province of
Saskatchewan take real steps to stem the race-based violence and deaths of
First Nations from whose lands and waters every single resident of Saskatchewan
benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-34935965075862699522018-10-12T09:15:00.000-07:002018-11-15T07:00:55.730-08:00The Indigenous right to say no<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WSPjSP_uD88nYr7gjDpSp7db83LnHPJ3jjDkhtvXGgQaMEI3s-SwyG0o18otUSdvxlTnJXSR0VLlOx2dFJLlGZXw48EMXAOMK6dGZCpQrJK0Fdwo-XuPXsriy98Uscpa-mBMzbLr2lZ3/s1600/pam+-+photo+by+michelle+girouard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WSPjSP_uD88nYr7gjDpSp7db83LnHPJ3jjDkhtvXGgQaMEI3s-SwyG0o18otUSdvxlTnJXSR0VLlOx2dFJLlGZXw48EMXAOMK6dGZCpQrJK0Fdwo-XuPXsriy98Uscpa-mBMzbLr2lZ3/s320/pam+-+photo+by+michelle+girouard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i> (photo by Michelle Girouard)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>This
article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily on October 12, 2018. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
federal government recently announced that it will not appeal the court
decision which quashed Canada’s approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline
expansion. Instead, Canada will engage with the 117 impacted First Nations in a
consultation process led by former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
ever there was a sign that the government was going to force this pipeline
expansion through the review process, this is it. After all, federal elections
are just around the corner and Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become
the face of the Trans Mountain pipeline dispute and all the broken promises
that it entails.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Being
criticized from all sides — the provinces, industry, Canadians and Indigenous
peoples, and now the Federal Court of Appeal — Trudeau decided to bring out the
big guns: Iacobucci.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is little doubt that he was engaged to lead this process to ensure that the
technical aspects of consultations are met, thus insulating the government from
an appeal of its decision. Even the most trusting person would be hard pressed
to believe that the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) would hear an appeal about
Iacobucci’s consultation process let alone consider it in a truly neutral
fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
if I am wrong about this, what kind of message does this send to First Nations
who have been taking their cases to the SCC in the hopes of fair and impartial
consideration for decades? Will they now wonder if their cases will be heard by
justices who, after they retire will work with governments against their
interests?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Remember
that conflict of interest is not only the presence of an actual conflict, but
also reflects the appearance of conflict. Justice Canada describes judicial
independence as the “cornerstone of the Canadian judicial system” and refers to
the clear separation of government and the courts. While some might argue he is
no longer a sitting justice and may be perfectly legal and ethical according to
the rules of ethics of the federal government and even law societies — it still
doesn’t feel right. In law school, we learned that lawyers are duty bound to
uphold the honour of the legal profession while at work and in our personal
lives — even after retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
my mind, Iacobucci carries with him the honour of Canada’s highest court in all
his actions, even after retirement. While this may not be a legal ethic issue,
it is certainly a moral one. With all due respect, joining the federal side of
this pipeline dispute feels a lot like taking sides against First Nations. It
feels like a betrayal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is a similar story of betrayal that many First Nations feel when the RCMP takes
the side of government in every single conflict between government laws and
Aboriginal rights. The mandate of the RCMP is to not only prevent crimes and
maintain peace and order, but also enforce laws.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">According
to Canadian law, the Constitution is the highest law in the land. In theory,
First Nations should be able to seek the assistance of the RCMP to protect
their constitutional rights from being breached by governments or industry.
Instead, the RCMP seems to always abide by the will of government and stop us
from exercising our rights and/or provide physical protection and security for
the extractive industry to allow them to breach our rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
government is using these national institutions, the RCMP and the courts,
against us to force the expansion of this pipeline. The RCMP arrested land and
water defenders in B.C. and now a former SCC justice will be used to insulate
Trudeau’s future approval of the pipeline expansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Therein
lies the real injustice of this process. Regardless of whether the new
consultations are led by a former SCC justice or Trudeau himself, Canada has
already decided that the pipeline will be built, before ever talking to any of
the impacted First Nations, including those that have asserted Aboriginal
title. This renders our constitutionally protected Aboriginal rights
meaningless. What legal value is the federal government’s constitutional
obligation to consult, accommodate and obtain the consent of First Nations
before taking actions that would impact our rights and title, if “consent” is
interpreted as the right to say yes but excludes the right to say no? It makes
no logical sense to interpret the law in such a way, especially to a
constitutionally protected right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Imagine
if consent was interpreted this way in both the ordinary and legal
understanding of the word consent. When a school sends home a permission form
seeking a parent’s consent to allow their child to take a field trip, if the
parent does not give consent, the school cannot allow the child to participate.
Similarly, if a patient refuses to give consent to an operation to have their
hip replaced, then the doctor cannot perform the operation. The absence of
consent means no — in other words, a veto that has real legal power and
meaning. Imagine if consent was interpreted in this illogical and diminished
manner for sexual relations as it is for Aboriginal rights. Imagine if sexual
consent in law meant that a man could consult with the woman on whether she
wanted sexual relations, and was even willing to accommodate (“where
appropriate”) her wishes about how to have sexual relations, but she had no
right to say no — no veto over whether or not sexual relations occurred? That
is called sexual assault and it is a crime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
greatest injustices that have ever been committed against First Nations in
Canada have resulted from denying the sovereign right of our Nations to say no.
The right to have a real veto over infecting our blankets with smallpox; from
scalping our people; from stealing our children and raping, murdering and
torturing them in residential schools; sterilizing our women and girls; from
the forced adoptions of our children into white families during the Sixties
Scoop; to the murders and disappearances of our women and girls; to forced
human trafficking and now the destruction of our lands and waters for profit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
right to say no is an inherent part of the legal concept of consent. To
interpret this concept otherwise is racist, discriminatory and self-serving,
not unlike the doctrines of discovery and terra nullius. Surely, even the SCC
would not interpret their own decisions in such an impoverished manner. To do
so would render s. 35 an empty shell of a constitutional promise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No
former SCC justice should take part in such an exercise as between Canada and
First Nations. I think the honourable thing for the former justice to do would
be to withdraw from the process. It might just help even the playing field in a
game which is already skewed by a major imbalance of power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
The link to the original article published by The Lawyer's Daily on October 12, 2018<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/7537/the-indigenous-right-to-say-no-pamela-palmater?category=opinion">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/7537/the-indigenous-right-to-say-no-pamela-palmater?category=opinion</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We should also be able to exercise our right to say no to Trudeau's proposed legislative framework that will impact our rights:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Z3579b20c&t=2s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Z3579b20c&t=2s</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-12765495270403699652018-09-17T16:31:00.004-07:002018-09-17T16:32:03.531-07:00It's up to Indigenous, environmental groups to protect the public interest<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN_jhiL_1hnScn8PUIA9NnY8TYxtVe20nOe94fiZmy2SWpPUkTTmB-OBEpVagoiR_Mgghnjp50LJDVDJWdRNTMyu9WcV7PJcYDmeSJiH-fIIMGTujHyp7DI2109RNsMGnJqH103mDhL_1/s1600/Tahlequah+-+Washington+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN_jhiL_1hnScn8PUIA9NnY8TYxtVe20nOe94fiZmy2SWpPUkTTmB-OBEpVagoiR_Mgghnjp50LJDVDJWdRNTMyu9WcV7PJcYDmeSJiH-fIIMGTujHyp7DI2109RNsMGnJqH103mDhL_1/s320/Tahlequah+-+Washington+post.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(Photo by Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research, pic from Washington Post)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This article is
Part 2 of a 2-part series which was originally published in The Lawyer's Daily
on September 17, 2018. The link to Part 1 which was published Sept.11, 2018 is
provided below.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Despite
objections from some of the Indigenous groups about the consultation process,
the Federal Court of Appeal (in </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tsleil-Waututh
Nation et al. v. Canada (Attorney General)</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 2018 FCA 153) held that Canada
acted in good faith and that the consultation framework it used was
appropriate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
was a four-phase process which was to include (1) early engagement, (2) NEB
hearing, (3) governor-in-council consideration and (4) regulatory authorization
processes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where
Canada fell down was in Phase III of the consultation process in that it did
not meaningfully consider the concerns of the Indigenous groups or attempt to
accommodate or mitigate those concerns. There was no substantive discussion
about Indigenous rights and the FCA found that federal officials did little
more than act as “note-takers”. The court agreed with the Indigenous groups
that Canada’s notes, referred to as the Consultation Chronologies, “should be
approached with caution” for failing to accurately present the facts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
pressed by Indigenous groups for a response, federal officials merely repeated
the line that they would deliver their concerns to the decision makers. When it
finally did come time for a response, Canada informed the groups that it was
bound by the recommendations of the NEB and that it was in effect, powerless to
add any more conditions on the project. A surprising response given the fact
that the FCA had already decided in the Gitxaala Nation case (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gitxaala Nation v. Canada </i>2016 FCA 187)
that under the current legislative scheme, the only decision maker was in fact
the governor-in-council and not the NEB.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Department of Justice is the largest law firm in Canada, working exclusively on
behalf of the federal government — it had no excuse for its “erroneous
position.” The FCA held that the duty to consult is not met by the mere
exchange or discussing of information. Consultation has to focus on
constitutionally protected rights and in so doing Canada is obligated to
“substantially address the concerns of the First Nation” (from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mikisew Cree First Nation v. Canada
(Minister of Canadian Heritage</i>) 2005 SCC 69. This coupled with the fact of
Canada’s late disclosures, lack of responses, failure to provide more time and
“closed-mindedness” frustrated the consultation process. It is Canada’s actions
or lack thereof which is why the Federal Court of Appeal overturned its
decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
what now? Well, this is far from over. The FCA has ordered that the decision is
quashed and the approval must go back to the governor-in-council for
reconsideration. As part of that reconsideration, the GIC must refer the NEB’s
recommendations back to the NEB. Canada must also redo its Phase III
consultations and accommodations before the GIC can reconsider the approval for
the pipeline expansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
great concern is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments that Canada is
considering the possibility of an appeal of this decision or legislation to
force the pipeline project through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether
Canada chooses to abide by the decision or not, what we know for sure is that
Canada will forge ahead with the pipeline despite the fact that the impact of a
tanker spill on the southern resident killer whales would be “catastrophic” and
“there were no direct mitigation measures that Trans Mountain could apply to
reduce or eliminate potential adverse effects from Project-related tankers”.
Perhaps Tahlequah (the female southern resident killer whale who recently
carried her deceased calf for 17 days) was mourning for all us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
there is a new complication to Canada’s pipeline plans. Six conservation
groups, including the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Ecojustice, David
Suzuki Foundation, Georgia Strait Alliance, Natural Resources Defence Council
and the World Wildlife Fund have filed a lawsuit in Federal Court seeking an
emergency order to protect the southern resident killer whales.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indigenous
peoples will also have to decide how to proceed to protect their lands, waters
and the other life within their territories which depends on a healthy
eco-system — including killer whales.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
we know for sure is that we cannot count on either federal or provincial
governments to put the health of peoples, lands, waters, plants or animals
ahead of the money to be made from the extractive industry. As the FCA held,
the public interest and the duty to consult with Indigenous peoples are not in
conflict. To the contrary, the violation of the “constitutionally protected
rights of Indigenous peoples cannot serve the public interest”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Looks
like it is up to Indigenous peoples and environmental allies to protect the
public interest and our collective futures — including Tahlequah’s and the
future of her pod.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>This
article is Part 2 of a 2-part series that was originally published in The
Lawyer's Daily on September 17, 2018. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/7326/it-s-up-to-indigenous-environmental-groups-to-protect-public-interest-pamela-palmater?category=opinion." style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/7326/it-s-up-to-indigenous-environmental-groups-to-protect-public-interest-pamela-palmater?category=opinion.</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>The
link to Part 1 which was published Sept.11, 2018 is at this link:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/7294/killer-whales-trans-mountain-pipeline-and-the-public-interest-pamela-palmater?category=opinion">https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/7294/killer-whales-trans-mountain-pipeline-and-the-public-interest-pamela-palmater?category=opinion</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>My
Youtube video on this issue provides more detailed information about the case.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HQfOctnT7o">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HQfOctnT7o</a></span></div>
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<br />Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com0