Equality For All

There weren't any ammendments for the rights of women in the Indian Act until Trudeau's 1982 Constitution. It was Bill C-31 that wasn't enacted until 1985 that there was changes made. For instance women who married non-native men, became "enfranchised" and lost their treaty rights.Now native women had the opportunity to get their status rights back as well as their children's status , but the DIA was reluctant in doing so, and made women apply for the rights of their children and themselves through the long bureaucratic process.
I have a friend who is Metis. His mother was from my reserve, then she married a non-native and lost her rights. Ever since 1985 she has been fighting to get her rights back through this conspicuous manner. It wasn't until 2002 that she received her status back. Thanks to new developments in the Indian Act, her children, because they are metis, don't qualify for the same status, why is this? God only knows, but when I see, those smug looks on bureaucrats like Robert Nault, I know why. Racism, dare I say, is alive and well. Don't think for a moment people like him care about the rights of First Nations women and First Nations in general. The only time First Nations culture is reflected in the larger society and on the landscape is on tourism brochures and posters, everywhere else native rights are prevented from disclosure and when an issue does arrise it's parodied and mocked by media and governing officials of Canada. Brandon G.,Vancouver BC.

Well I think we have a long way to go on treating our First Nations people properly. Thanks Jim for the submission.

This Hour Has 22 minutes has a great skit, 'Joe Crow' is the character and they were making fun of Harper sending the letter to the First Nations to celebrate India's Independance Day. So Joe Crow was talking about the Governor General wanting to point out the First Nations contributions to Canada, the reply was, 'CANADA. Our biggest contribution to Canada was "Canada".' Too true!

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

Joe Crows's National Anthemn ...

Oh Canada
Our home on native land ...

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Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Sucks

Bill C-31 was created in a manner to cause division.

It created a second class of women and children. While the GOC decided to reinstate status that was wrongly taken away, it did not financially compensate FN's for the population increase. FN's can't readily accept C-31's back onto the REZ because it would strain finances for housing, infrastructure support, education, etc.

INAC is about manipulation through divisive policies, and as long as FN people are fighting amongst themselves, INAC maintains its control and dominance over them. IMO, INAC should be disbanded, like yesterday.

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Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Sucks

BTW CANADA is a Haudenausonee (Iroquois) word meaning 'my village' Presumably they invited Cartier for a meal to regret it ever since. Lots of Can place names have antive origins: Toronto (meeting place) Ontario (clear water), Manitoba (God lives here), Saskatchewan (?), Quebec (where the river narrows) are just a few examples. I know this is slightly off topic :)

Very good point, one I overlooked while writing my response.It comes as no surprise that INAC would appear to be the good guy by having Bill C-31, meanwhile having no intention of compensating or covering the cost of such an overhaul. these kinds of discrepencies are commonplace. Brandon G.

Way off topic and at the risk of sounding insensitive but wouldn't that make a great licence plate for Manitoba? Instead of Friendly Manitoba, licence plates could read, "Manitoba: God Lives Here."
But it would be incorrect. Everyone knows that God lives on the Blackfoot Confederacy nations.