JOHN STORM/Special to Bullet News
Janet Conway knows well the story of protest in the world. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the revolutions that took place recently in the Middle East. the Brock professor says the recent Idle No More protests by Canadian Natives is the latest in thousands of protests that have taken place in history.
The Canada Research Chair in Social Justice says no one should be surprised at the depth of the Idle No More Protests since Native groups have been struggling throughout Canadian history to achieve their goals. The hunger fast by Chief Theresa Spence and the march by thousands to Ottawa underline the authentic search for justice from a government which has failed to live up to promises, says Conway.
Native protests have taken on a different look recently, largely because there are many more youth involved as well as people who are well educated.
Conway says protests in Canada are around for a long time to come. In a world of high technology, people will still gather with others to make their case for their own perspective of justice.
John can be reached at st.catharines@oxfordlearning.com.
4 Comments on "Storm Watch: Why Idle No More protests continue"
Dear John,
Your guest Janet Conway, the Canada Research Chair in SOCIAL JUSTICE says ‘no one should be surprised at the depth of the Idle No More Protests since Native groups have been struggling throughout Canadian history to achieve their goals. The hunger fast by Chief Theresa Spence and the march by thousands to Ottawa underline the authentic search for justice from a government which has failed to live up to promises.
According to your article, your guest Janet Conway, the Canada Research Chair in SOCIAL JUSTICE says native protests have taken on a different look recently, largely because there are many more youth involved as well as people who are well educated.
What are the ‘Idle No More’ and the many more youth involved as well as people who are well educated protesting for or against?
Are they protesting FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE for the natives in CANADIAN places like Attawapiskat? Are they concerned that the Natives in CANADIAN places like Attawapiskat are living in poverty equal to the lowest standard in the world today.
Surely they can’t be demanding the continuance of just throwing more money at autocratic native leaders who selfishly misappropriate the funds thus depriving their people of their fare share.
Just which promise does Janet Conway think our government has not lived up too? Does this Chair in SOCIAL JUSTICE think lack of money is the problem or does she disagree with the government’s effort to see that the moneys and assistance rightly reaches those that are in the most desperate need?
What would the answer look like IF ‘Idle No More’, Chair in SOCIAL JUSTICE, youth, as well as people who are well educated actually achieved their goals?
P.S.
John, did you ask your guest Janet Conway, the Canada Research Chair in SOCIAL JUSTICE what she thinks the answer is?
People are tired of those who spout off primarily for the purpose of bolstering their own position.
Response to Preston Haskell,
I sensed frustration in your comments. I would like to respectfully suggest that this is a result of miseducation by the general Canadian public, both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal, about the role of Aboriginal people in Canada. I think it is somewhat common knowledge that the Canadian Federal Government attempted to assimilate Aboriginal people through various means included the Residential Schools. Racism today is not as blatant as it was in the past, but it is certainly alive and well. Unfortunately, those who perpetuate racism are often unaware they are doing so. We have a story we tell ourselves about reality. We believe reality is simply the story that we live but there is another story. Our story says that Aboriginal people get extra benefits and are given hand-outs from our pockets. The reality is that the media almost without fail provides us with reinforcement for this untruth. First Nations people pay taxes. This is contrary to popular belief. In exchange for these taxes that we all pay, the average Aboriginal person receives half the amount of money for Infrastructure, education and healthcare than does a non-aboriginal person. 8 percent of Aboriginal people have a University degree which is compared to the 23 percent enjoyed by non-Aboriginal people. This is not a result of laziness or any of the other stories we tell ourselves. The truth is, it makes sense. How do we expect people to succeed in a university setting when we provide a second rate primary and secondary education? When as a rule, an aboriginal person living on reserve must leave their community, paying up to $5,000 simply for a plane ticket if they live in the North, to be met by a society that resents them, and wrongly so. It is very easy to be frustrated when faced with stories about corruption and mispending of funds. But this is a monster we created. We closed the schools, but we have yet to begin repairing the damage we have done. It starts with ourselves. It starts by accepting that we Share this land, and it is a give take relationship. They made room for us hundreds of years ago. I think we can make room for them today.
I hope you understand.
DL,
You are quite right in your assessment of my frustration. In my comments I made my point with only concern for our native peoples.
I agree with you regarding your elucidation on native disadvantages historic and otherwise.
However, you did not find a single trace of ‘miss-education’ in my comments.
The whole world was abruptly stunned at the ghastly images of how the people live in Attawapiskat CANADA. Native peoples forced to live in plywood shacks without running water, sharing their electricity by extension cord, a bucket for a toilet.
We have been very well educated by the specter of the native band’s leaders capitalizing on the funds meant to be shared by all.
In my comments I asked; what would the answer look like IF ‘Idle No More’, Chair in SOCIAL JUSTICE, youth, as well as people who are well educated actually achieved their goals?
DL, what is your actual point?
Surely you’re not saying that you favour just throwing more money at autocratic native leaders who often misappropriate the funds thus depriving their people of their fare share?
Surely you are concerned over the fact that our Natives in CANADIAN places like Attawapiskat CANADA are living in poverty equal to the lowest standard in the world today.
Its okay to rise to the defense of those who have been treated unjustly but it is just as okay to propose what YOU truly believe are possible solutions to the current situation.
DL, I do understand. That is why I responded passionately and under my own name.