One Step At A Time - Finally

It would represent a vastly understated good if the federal government and the First Nations could finally reach an understanding to produce an overdue and badly-needed framework to advance the well-being of Canada's First Nations communities. While a small proportion of First Nations on reserves across the country have demonstrated their capacity and ability to become self-sufficient in reaching their aspirations, the vast proportion of them languish in a state of anguished and largely self-imposed misery.

Self-imposed in the sense that, in insisting on their inalienable right as a distinct nation whose presence on this Continent pre-dated that of the Europeans who had no compunction - in reflection of the social mores of the times - in co-opting for themselves the land that aboriginals considered their own by right of inheritance, to honour their forefathers by living as they did, off the land. Few in fact, live 'off the land', preferring the convenience of relying wholly upon federal largesse.

In the process, doing little for themselves, to advance their self interests, to pave the way for their children's futures. With massive unemployment, boredom and resentment at their lot in life, too many turn to alcohol and drugs as a way of coping with disappointment and misery and lack of opportunities. Abandoning their children to become as abusive of themselves as they view their parents behaving. Resulting in a total breakdown of their society, through absolute dysfunction.

That their leaders do nothing to ameliorate the situation does them little credit. The few areas of interest appear to be excluding themselves from the influence of outsiders, and clamouring for larger federal tax-issued pay-outs. Forever in favour of the status quo, broadcasting for all to hear that they have been historically abused, insisting that native traditions and heritage be maintained and respected, a large part of which is cleaving to the land in a way that their ancestors did, they have left their people mired in a swamp of inactivity and self-destruction.

If nothing else arouses the indignation and fear of the Canadian public, it is the vision of First Nations children suffering such dreadful childhoods of deprivation, emotional, material and educational, that suicide appears preferable to them than life. That these children, at such a young and vulnerable age turn for relief from the tedium of their isolation and lack of opportunities to drugs and alcohol, resorting to violence and disinterest in life itself, appears the most obvious cry of desperation.

The fact that there are so many young aboriginals who have taken up the message of their leaders - that their traditions have been despoiled and the fault lies entirely with the white occupiers of their land, breeding resentment and contempt and a failure to wish to respect society, let alone advance their own interests is a blot both on Canada and on First Nations leaders.

If it is possible for the Assembly of First Nations to rise above their self-interest in consideration of the far deeper interests of the well-being of those they represent, to surrender the usual antagonism to reaching a possible series of solutions, would constitute a minor, modern-day miracle. But it could happen, and it should. The federal government under the Conservatives has come to the realization that shame and guilt leading to more generous funding accomplishing nothing of lasting value, must change.

Despite First Nations insisting that as a symbol of their sovereignty they have no need to be fiscally accountable to those who fund their dysfunctional attempts at leading their separate, presumably superior, but unfailingly disastrous lifestyles, that too must change. Audits must be undertaken, and guidance given and accepted when needed to turn the current situation around toward reasonable expectations of success.

First Nations have a stringent obligation to their young to stream them toward a far better future than is currently prevailing. Not only is a change in the reading of the historical record required, in recognition that the past it gone, and the present is imperative to answer to the future, endowing the young with their inspired need to succeed in an world utterly different than the one now present, but they must be encouraged to display their abilities to become educated and responsible.

So when Stephen Harper was asked during an interview whether he has expectations of the meeting between the Crown and the First Nations representatives to bear the real potential for movement toward meaningful and lasting change in their relationship to lead ultimately toward a solution, his response was an expected "yes". Signifying his determination as Prime Minister, to lead a final pathway toward useful collaboration and ultimate progress.

"The obvious answer is yes. Significant change needs to happen. Aboriginal people are not anywhere near where we want them, or need, those communities to be. that said, my own experience is that it will not be grand visions and declarations that achieve these things - it will be moving forward, one step at a time in areas like water and investment in education."

The obvious truth of the matter is that Canada has a distinct and obvious need for First Nations to finally become part of Canadian society in a way that benefits both Canada and its aboriginals who have much to offer. In a practical sense, they represent just about the only societal gathering that produces large numbers of offspring. Rather than continue to fail those offspring, they must begin to cherish and groom them toward a full and useful life, for themselves and for society at large.

This can only be done when they surrender themselves to the understanding of the harm they do themselves by defiantly refusing to adapt to life as it is in the 21st Century. They have up until now chosen the route that leads to despair and isolation and resentment and rejection, and the violence that accompanies it. It's past time for First Nations communities to proudly reject their status quo. They are capable of doing so.

Those young aboriginals who leave their communities in the greater interest of achieving higher education and demonstrating to themselves, their leaders and the greater Canadian community that they are capable and willing to elevate themselves and their futures are themselves leading the way. Perhaps their leaders should look a little more closely to their upward trajectory greeting the future, and emulate them.