Indigenous Opinions
By Indigenous, For Indigenous
Welcome to Indigenous Opinions!
We’re helping connect Indigenous communities and Ideas across Canada. Please forward this email to as many Indigenous Canadians as possible. We are stronger together.
Why this, why now?
For over 150 years our lives have been governed by those outside of our communities, our treaty rights are not subject to the court of public opinion. Today Indigenous children account for 7% of children under 18 but 54% of children in foster care. Our children commit suicide at 3X the rate of their non-indigenous counterparts and all the while assimilation chips away at our cultures and languages. What can we predict to be left of our communities and our cultures in another 20,50 or 100 years on our current course. What can we do? Where do we go from here? All change starts with communication, so let us pass the virtual talking stick and share our stories, opinions, trials and tribulations and see what common ground we can find. For over 150 years they’ve tried to end their Indian problem, and we are still here. Let’s open the conversation towards a better tomorrow.
DUTY TO CONSULT Section 35 Canadian Constitution
The duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous peoples, requires that federal and provincial governments have a dialogue with Indigenous groups about contemplated government actions or decisions that might have a negative impact on Aboriginal and treaty rights. The goal is to listen to the views and concerns of affected Indigenous groups and, where necessary and possible, modify the action or decision to avoid unlawful infringement of those rights.
Examples of government actions or decisions that may engage the duty to consult include the issuance of permits, licences and regulatory project approvals. More specifically, the duty to consult may arise in the context of environmental assessments, regulatory processes and natural resources; examples include a decision regarding a pipeline that may affect Indigenous groups’ access to and supply of an animal population, or a change in policy or regulation that restricts land use.
Historically, the federal and provincial/territorial governments did not routinely consider the impacts of certain actions or decisions on Indigenous communities. As a result, the duty to consult can be viewed as a response to imbalances of power between governments and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada.
Today we have the tools for decentralized publication, distribution and communication without the oversight, funding or permission of the Federal Government. Our goal is to collect and redistribute news, opinions, legal battles and whatever else the community (you) decide is relevant for Indigenous Canadians. Expect a post a week or so containing a collection of information and opinions from every Nation across Canada as well as relevant news and politics affecting Indigenous communities. Get in on the conversation by replying to any of our emails and we will consider publication in the next issue. Chief and Council emails will take priority.
A Canadian Shame - The Indian Act and Residential Schools
A Canadian Shame is a disturbing collection of information that forces every reader to meditate on the atrocities of government and institutions. Grimes's heritage and personal experience make him the perfect author for this book, but the superior documentation is what makes it as credible as it is fascinating. Although a light is being shined into a very dark corner of our society, one still walks away with a knowledge that truth and love will bring all of humanity together. An uncomfortable story can be a powerful catalyst for unity. Find out all about the Indian Act, Residential Schools, Indigenous child welfare, unmarked graves and more in the comprehensive, extremely well sourced, overview of the last 150 years of Canada and the Indian Act. Starlight tours, missing and murdered indigenous women, and the charge of genocide are all explored in an informative and concise way
FREE Ebook - https://acanadianshame.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CanadianShamefinishedbooktest7806.pdf
FREE Audiobook/video - A Canadian Shame. The Indian Act and the Residential Schools.
In Their Own Words - Testimony from the Students of Canada's Indigenous Residential School Program
What is the cost of an education?
Is education an additive process or a reductive one?
How does one weigh the benefits of tradition against the threat of being at odds with the future?
How does one refuse the offer of a better life for their children?
What if the offer is compulsory?
What happens when the tree of knowledge bares rotten fruit?
While the history of Canada's Residential School program is only just beginning
to be unearthed, there are already enough first hand accounts to begin asking
some of these questions. The words of the individuals included in this book
offer just a glimpse of the results of the effort of one group of people to
educate people who were in many cases not seeking the knowledge being
offered. These are tales of lessons learned, languages lost, traditions
replaced, & charity corrupted.
Free Ebook - https://acanadianshame.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/INOW2.pdf
Free Audiobook/video - IN THEIR OWN WORDS - Testimony from the Students of Canada’s Indigenous Residential School Program
Thanks for reading, please share with your respective communities. Next week we will feature an audio interview remembering the OKA Crisis.
Darren Grimes (Kaminawaish)
Mishkeegogamang
Thank you for reading Indigenous Opinions. This post is public so feel free to share it.