Coach85 Coach85:
So you want to play semantics?
They'd rather have the land? How do they intend to build houses on the land if they aren't able or willing to maintain the free ones they've been given?
If they have some rights and title over their traditional territories, then they can generate wealth from the land, both through hunting and fishing, as well as through royalties and taxes of economic activity on those lands. My bet is that the wealth of the land far outstrips that of housing.
Coach Coach:
What's changed? How has it made a difference? Have they become more personally accountable and self-sufficient? Has there been a drop in alcohol and drug abuse? Has there been a decline in those using social assistance?
Canada is signing agreements with First Nations to co-manage lands and seas and providing funding to enable this. I don't really keep track of social assistance or substance use, but I've seen improvements on the reserves around here, and I also know there have been improvements in health indicators (life expectancy, youth suicide, infant mortality, etc). So yes, there has been measurable benefits of reconciliation and co-management.
Zipperfish Zipperfish:
Basically, the natives were overrun and dispossessed of their land by Europeans, they were forced onto reserves, their children were taken from them, they were denied basic human rights time and again, and to this day they have to put up with this kind of racism from Canadians--that they're just a bunch of lazy ingrates. And they're supposed to say thank you? Give your head a shake. There's a reason Canada apologized to the First Nations people, and not the other way around.
$1:
Where did I ever say they need to thank me or Canada? You've put words in my mouth.
No I didn't...
$1:
Natives in Canada have the European settlers to thank for what Canada has turned into.
$1:
There is a large portion of our First Nations population that are lazy ingrates. That's not racist, that's just true.
Ingrates? And what do they have to be grateful for? Are they supposed to be thankful for racists like you who think they're lazy ingrates?
$1:
The longer people like you keep blaming all of the shortcomings of our FN people today on things that happened long ago, the longer they'll remain in this current state.
This is what reconciliation is supposed to address. Canada has been a legal entity since 1867. Canada can't just say "well that was a long time ago." It is answerable for its actions, and the courts have confirmed this again and again.
$1:
All of the problems within FN communities are not the fault of the white man. It's time for you and our FN communities to take some personal responsibility.
I do take personal responsibility. That's one of the reasons I take the time to respond to this endless invective of racism--I feel personally responsible to stand up to "lazy no-good Injuns" racism. It seems to me that your position of washing your hands of past injustices is the position that lacks responsibility.
CKA Uber 
CKA Moderator 
