THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO NATIVE YOUTH SUICIDE
As a rule “My Canada” commentaries try to present only balanced observations on subjects letting readers decide on the situation discussed. For that reason I will comment personally as webmaster of this site on the current situation relating to the continuing suicide threats by the Attawapiskat youth.
Without any doubt the Northern Ontario reserve situation and other similar issues across the country must be solved by educating both the youth involved and every other Canadian citizen. The problem is especially prevalent among those of the pre-baby boomer generation. Many if not a great majority of male and likely female seniors over 65 years of age often display a deep seated loathing for the indigenous population reflecting years of misunderstanding and accusations. The prejudice toward “Indians” or aboriginals is not usually revealed in public but is often overheard in private conversation. The situation in most instances results from misinformation or erroneous interpretations of the public money allocated to and by the traditional Indian Affairs administration. Another source is undoubtedly media reports of funding misuse by band elected political figures based on sometimes shallow research by political commentators and reporters. Another probably major reason for native distain is the treatment the country imposed on indigenous people living on reserves over the years.
The situation must be dealt with by all levels of government and the non-aboriginal population. Especially now that Supreme Court of Canada designated every Canadian with aboriginal ancestry as a member of the Indigenous population. The ongoing conflict between those of native blood and all other Canadians is a frightening issue since aboriginals are today’s fastest growing segment of the Canadian population.
More than a hundred and forty years of throwing money at the situation has only led to more discrimination and mistreatment of the segment of Canada’s population with least representation. A great deal of Indian Affairs funding was designated over the years to paying civil servants and others overseeing the “Indian” situation. The state can only be resolved by educating both the indigenous and non-aboriginal population about the need for a solution. Even more pressing is integrating every aboriginal from birth to death in the act of participating in every aspect of Canadian development and government since that is where the funding for solutions must originate.
The change will be a major challenge for current and future generations. There is also more than a strong likelihood many senior citizens and others interested in accumulating personal wealth rather than supporting spending for the good of everyone will strongly oppose changing the plight of the indigenous population living on isolated reserves.
The solution isn’t to move aboriginals to population centers. Mistreating the population by trying to educate the children with residential schools was tried in the past with humiliating and disastrous results. The real answer is to find a way to educate the youth at home while supporting all initiatives involving real progress for all affected people. The solution cannot be sending specialists to “teach” the way the non-native segment of the population lives. The real answer is to integrate the needs of the aboriginal communities into the lives of every Canadian. The result will undoubtedly make the nation an envy of every other country as Canada always was before the well kept secret of native discrimination and mistreatment surfaced.
Can Canada as a nation meet this challenge without a split in the pro and against factions? Are our elected representatives at every level interested enough to be non-partisan in the effort to initiate the needed change? You the reader, citizen and voter will have to decide.
Without any doubt the Northern Ontario reserve situation and other similar issues across the country must be solved by educating both the youth involved and every other Canadian citizen. The problem is especially prevalent among those of the pre-baby boomer generation. Many if not a great majority of male and likely female seniors over 65 years of age often display a deep seated loathing for the indigenous population reflecting years of misunderstanding and accusations. The prejudice toward “Indians” or aboriginals is not usually revealed in public but is often overheard in private conversation. The situation in most instances results from misinformation or erroneous interpretations of the public money allocated to and by the traditional Indian Affairs administration. Another source is undoubtedly media reports of funding misuse by band elected political figures based on sometimes shallow research by political commentators and reporters. Another probably major reason for native distain is the treatment the country imposed on indigenous people living on reserves over the years.
The situation must be dealt with by all levels of government and the non-aboriginal population. Especially now that Supreme Court of Canada designated every Canadian with aboriginal ancestry as a member of the Indigenous population. The ongoing conflict between those of native blood and all other Canadians is a frightening issue since aboriginals are today’s fastest growing segment of the Canadian population.
More than a hundred and forty years of throwing money at the situation has only led to more discrimination and mistreatment of the segment of Canada’s population with least representation. A great deal of Indian Affairs funding was designated over the years to paying civil servants and others overseeing the “Indian” situation. The state can only be resolved by educating both the indigenous and non-aboriginal population about the need for a solution. Even more pressing is integrating every aboriginal from birth to death in the act of participating in every aspect of Canadian development and government since that is where the funding for solutions must originate.
The change will be a major challenge for current and future generations. There is also more than a strong likelihood many senior citizens and others interested in accumulating personal wealth rather than supporting spending for the good of everyone will strongly oppose changing the plight of the indigenous population living on isolated reserves.
The solution isn’t to move aboriginals to population centers. Mistreating the population by trying to educate the children with residential schools was tried in the past with humiliating and disastrous results. The real answer is to find a way to educate the youth at home while supporting all initiatives involving real progress for all affected people. The solution cannot be sending specialists to “teach” the way the non-native segment of the population lives. The real answer is to integrate the needs of the aboriginal communities into the lives of every Canadian. The result will undoubtedly make the nation an envy of every other country as Canada always was before the well kept secret of native discrimination and mistreatment surfaced.
Can Canada as a nation meet this challenge without a split in the pro and against factions? Are our elected representatives at every level interested enough to be non-partisan in the effort to initiate the needed change? You the reader, citizen and voter will have to decide.
