[Newsbot]

Title: Native tribe will petition Ottawa to remove its Indian status
Category: Misc CDN
Posted By: snookums
Date: 2009-11-09 06:23:58
Canadian

[ridenrain]

Interesting problem. Sounds similar to Stockwell Day's Reform idea of simply buying their special native status.
I definately question the native government though. This would make the hereditary chiefs into millionares with no proof that they'd share.

[Bacardi4206]

ridenrain wrote:

Interesting problem. Sounds similar to Stockwell Day's Reform idea of simply buying their special native status.
I definately question the native government though. This would make the hereditary chiefs into millionares with no proof that they'd share.

Doubtfully, you got casino owners in America making millions a year. I am sure a couple casino owners share however never really saw the majority contribute much to there native communities across the states.

[uwish]

well, we have issue now. You know right away which house on a reserve is the chief, and the band counsel for the most part. They have the fancy houses while everyone else lives in decrepit housing.

[BionicBunny]

It's an interesting read but to me it's just a power struggle for money. It's a fight between the current chief and his band council and the hereditary chiefs. The hereditary chiefs say they are giving up the reserve but at the same time they are not giving up any land by still claiming traditional terrirtories. In fact, this mightbe a deal they are making for even a bigger land grab. Their "traditional territories" most likely will be larger than the reserve they live on now. They'll also be trading in their benefits as status Natives for a much more lucrative deal financially.

The funny thing is, it doesn't matter who serves as chief because it appears they want the same exclusive deal. A chief in either deal will get more money than his people because of his title.

There is not much difference between the two. One one hand, you could have a band council and chief who was elected fairly or got their power by fixing votes (because the government really doesn't interfere in such matters) or you could have some hereditary chiefs that are wise and strong or inbred and dumb as a post.

No matter who you are on the reserve, you still won't benefit.

[Donny_Brasco]

Seems to me that they want to relinquish their Indian Status for another form of recognition that is similar but perhaps better. It makes sense and I would advocate for the same, except the part where the person in charge is there only by hereditary purposes and not by appointment due to skill or election.