It has come up again – the rights of the Canadian Indians, and the responsibilities the rest of us have toward them. And every time it does, I get irritated. So this time I am going to try to put my feelings in words.
A long time ago, a bunch of foreigners came to this land from Europe and signed treaties with the people who were born here – the “natives” – to allow them use of the land in return for certain payments.
Whether those treaties were fair or not doesn’t really concern me here. What happened in the past is done and can’t be changed.
So today, Indians do not pay taxes. When their houses fall down or their plumbing leaks they call on the government (my taxes) to pay for it. They get payments from oil and minerals found on the land, and can trade across the U.S. - Canada border without customs charges. They can run casinos, and do a number of things forbidden to other Canadians.
All of this, they say, because they are native to this land.
And that is where I feel the irritation start to boil up. Yes, no question, they are native to this land. But so am I. I have white skin, but I was born in Canada, and it is as much my country as it is that of any Indian. All people born in this country should have the same rights – and the same responsibilities – no matter their skin colour or the number of generations their ancestors lived here.
So get rid of the Indian Act, Prime Minister Harper. Throw it out. It is out-dated and racist. It is time to treat all Canadians as citizens of this country.
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2 comments:
You are a settler and since you're into genealogy you should know exactly how privileged you are. What happened in the past doesn't concern you, because your ancestor benefited greatly from these treaties... You are a dumb bitch
"And that is where I feel the irritation start to boil up. Yes, no question, they are native to this land. But so am I. I have white skin, but I was born in Canada, and it is as much my country as it is that of any Indian. All people born in this country should have the same rights – and the same responsibilities – no matter their skin colour or the number of generations their ancestors lived here."
You are absolutely NOT native to this land. You should be grateful that you don't suffer from intergenerational trauma. Your culture and history are celebrated, Indigenous history is ignored, minimized and forgotten.
Why does less then 5% of population cause you to feel so much "irritation"?
I agree we should get rid of the Indian act. Treaties however, are legal binding documents. Canada hasn't honored them for generations... Notice how Indigenous people keep winning in court?
You might think the treaties don't concern you, as a white Canadian you are the greatest beneficiary.
Karen be honest, you're irritated that Canada wasn't successful in the total genocide of Indigenous people.
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