Canada's Native discrimination worse than America against its Blacks
The “Indian” or native problem in Canada
changed names and is now apparently the Aboriginal Canadian problem. But is the
name problem true regardless of designation? Yes it is because Canadians with
our perchance for pride as a tolerant and inclusive democracy is in effect
racist according to a series of recent media articles.
Let’s begin with at least two reader letters to Canada’s Macleans magazine, a premier source for Canadian news. One letter writer is from Calgary and the other Winnipeg so the racist remarks are not from a single province. However both refer to the Indian or First Nation “problem” apparently plaguing Canadians. The first writer claims the white men are not responsible for the hundreds of missing and murdered native women. The killers according to the writer are predominantly their own cult and usually family members. The writer also claims white people are at fault for the problems because of providing the funds causing graft and corruption on reserves. The writer also claims change would cause a lot of kicking and whining before those Natives presumably give up the life of crime the reserves are famous for producing.
The second writer was much more direct. He claims a lot of people reading the magazine’s letters to the editor from all provinces are really fed up with the term “white man he devil attitude”. All of which proves a major point that Canada and Canadians from almost every walk of life are racist and intolerant and self centered.
In an earlier edition of Macleans Editorialist Scott Gilmore made accusations that prove the point that Canadians are more racist about aboriginal citizens than Americans are towards the black culture in the U.S.A. Gilmore references Ottawa Citizen columnist Terry Galvin recently mocking the idea American could learn about race relations from Canada comparing African-American communities in the U.S. to the impoverished reserves in parts of Canada. Gilmore suggests maybe the reason Canada’s political leaders are not dealing with the problem because it is deep in the bush out of sight and accessible only by float plane to both the lawmakers and media. The claim appears especially true for the mind set of most Canadians. Instead of demanding politicians set the situation as a major priority many if not most Canadians simply use the same method as Americans to deal with race problems. The solution is to blame the people affected for the failure of Canada to deal with the problem.
Gilmore also points out that with 49% of First Nation Canadians living on remote reserves and only 40,000 living in Toronto with a population of well over one million racial problems are a stark reality. MY CANADA feels dealing with the problem is far behind the governments blind sighted legislation initiatives about fighting a war with militants in the Mid East, dealing with the alleged corruption of several government appointed senators, fighting an election using every partisan means possible while trashing opposition to any government initiative. Another government issue has been challenging the Supreme Courts of Canada’s interpretation of the cherished laws enacted by our forefathers to protect Canadians.
The worrisome part of the issues relating to native discrimination and the current direction of the elected majority government is the fact over 30% of the public strongly supports these government actions strengthening the ability of people to increase the negative racism Canada has successfully hidden from the world.
The words in MY CANADA are not wrong when Statistics Canada rates are considered. Numbers such as the 14% aboriginal Canadian unemployment rate which is 2.1 times the rate of average citizens reek of discrimination, although from some reports claim the rate is on par with youth unemployment including the aboriginal youth numbers. Median income for the native population is only 60% of the Canadian average despite accusations that some chiefs and aboriginal leaders are defrauding the government and their own people. Native incarceration rates are 10 times higher and homicides 6.1 times more frequent that on average in Canada. Infant mortality is 2.3% higher among aboriginals as is the dropout rate for high school students scoring 23% higher.
Although Maclean magazine articles claim Canada’s race problems with Aboriginals is bigger than the US problem with black Americans some Canadian social networks are working to correct the problem according to the magazine article and other sources. The history of residential schools, missing and murdered aboriginal women and so many other injustices and inconsistencies when compared with other sectors of life in Canada should mean every Canadian led by political parties should be placing the problem as a top priority for the next session of parliament. The situation far outweighs most of the insignificant initiatives lead by political opportunism that Canada’s politicians are allowed to practice by the “core” supporters that have the power to enact change.
Let’s begin with at least two reader letters to Canada’s Macleans magazine, a premier source for Canadian news. One letter writer is from Calgary and the other Winnipeg so the racist remarks are not from a single province. However both refer to the Indian or First Nation “problem” apparently plaguing Canadians. The first writer claims the white men are not responsible for the hundreds of missing and murdered native women. The killers according to the writer are predominantly their own cult and usually family members. The writer also claims white people are at fault for the problems because of providing the funds causing graft and corruption on reserves. The writer also claims change would cause a lot of kicking and whining before those Natives presumably give up the life of crime the reserves are famous for producing.
The second writer was much more direct. He claims a lot of people reading the magazine’s letters to the editor from all provinces are really fed up with the term “white man he devil attitude”. All of which proves a major point that Canada and Canadians from almost every walk of life are racist and intolerant and self centered.
In an earlier edition of Macleans Editorialist Scott Gilmore made accusations that prove the point that Canadians are more racist about aboriginal citizens than Americans are towards the black culture in the U.S.A. Gilmore references Ottawa Citizen columnist Terry Galvin recently mocking the idea American could learn about race relations from Canada comparing African-American communities in the U.S. to the impoverished reserves in parts of Canada. Gilmore suggests maybe the reason Canada’s political leaders are not dealing with the problem because it is deep in the bush out of sight and accessible only by float plane to both the lawmakers and media. The claim appears especially true for the mind set of most Canadians. Instead of demanding politicians set the situation as a major priority many if not most Canadians simply use the same method as Americans to deal with race problems. The solution is to blame the people affected for the failure of Canada to deal with the problem.
Gilmore also points out that with 49% of First Nation Canadians living on remote reserves and only 40,000 living in Toronto with a population of well over one million racial problems are a stark reality. MY CANADA feels dealing with the problem is far behind the governments blind sighted legislation initiatives about fighting a war with militants in the Mid East, dealing with the alleged corruption of several government appointed senators, fighting an election using every partisan means possible while trashing opposition to any government initiative. Another government issue has been challenging the Supreme Courts of Canada’s interpretation of the cherished laws enacted by our forefathers to protect Canadians.
The worrisome part of the issues relating to native discrimination and the current direction of the elected majority government is the fact over 30% of the public strongly supports these government actions strengthening the ability of people to increase the negative racism Canada has successfully hidden from the world.
The words in MY CANADA are not wrong when Statistics Canada rates are considered. Numbers such as the 14% aboriginal Canadian unemployment rate which is 2.1 times the rate of average citizens reek of discrimination, although from some reports claim the rate is on par with youth unemployment including the aboriginal youth numbers. Median income for the native population is only 60% of the Canadian average despite accusations that some chiefs and aboriginal leaders are defrauding the government and their own people. Native incarceration rates are 10 times higher and homicides 6.1 times more frequent that on average in Canada. Infant mortality is 2.3% higher among aboriginals as is the dropout rate for high school students scoring 23% higher.
Although Maclean magazine articles claim Canada’s race problems with Aboriginals is bigger than the US problem with black Americans some Canadian social networks are working to correct the problem according to the magazine article and other sources. The history of residential schools, missing and murdered aboriginal women and so many other injustices and inconsistencies when compared with other sectors of life in Canada should mean every Canadian led by political parties should be placing the problem as a top priority for the next session of parliament. The situation far outweighs most of the insignificant initiatives lead by political opportunism that Canada’s politicians are allowed to practice by the “core” supporters that have the power to enact change.