Probably no Worse; but Definitely no Better Than Other Politicians, ABORIGINAL Leaders??? Still Yelling Foul Ball.

A Tale From “Rory Borealis Land"

This guys a " Chief"; he drinks bottled water, of course.

For most Canadians, an unlimited supply of clean water flowing freely from a tap and imperceptibly whisking away their waste at the simple push of a lever is a given; yet many self-proclaimed First Nations, choosing to live on “reserves “also claim it's a luxury THEY AND/ OR their communities can't afford.

Nearly half of the houses on require major repairs, and Canadian reserves over crowding rates are six times greater on reserve than off.

Shacks and slop pails: infrastructure crisis on native reserves

Spending on housing and water in First Nations communities not keeping up with need 

Canadian governments and courts recognise that pre-contact Aboriginal societies possessed their own legal and political systems, and that to this day these nations have not surrendered the powers they fully exercised before colonial policies undercut their authority.

Unfortunately, however, because such ABORIGINAL societies no longer exist and because the existing, mongrel, hybrid peoples could not possibly have existed until at the very least; nine months AFTER the arrival of the first Europeans and the start of colonisation; the governments of Canada argue that it is not clear what this means – that is, what contemporary Aboriginal self-government rights look; or WOULD look like.

 Facts are: Taxpayers Have Been Overly Generous to ABORIGINAL First Nations Canadians over the decades, but that reality is not often the narrative one hears from selected ABORIGINAL leaders. Instead, the oft-stated opinion is that taxpayers should ante up ever more.

For instance, former Assembly of First Nations chief Phil Fontaine once wrote that any "argument that enough money is already being spent must be regarded as thoroughly uninformed, or worse, shockingly mean-spirited." Last year, at the Assembly of First Nations' special chiefs meeting, out of 47 approved policy resolutions, 22 resolutions asserted inadequate funding, called for additional funding and/or called for exemptions from payments and taxes normally due.

Overall, here is what the numbers reveal: The trend-line over the decades, whether in Aboriginal (formerly Indian) Affairs or by provincial governments is clear: spending on Aboriginal matters, and after inflation and population growth is accounted for, is up -- way up, and beyond growth in government program spending on all Canadians.

In addition, examples exist of how taxpayers, via governments, are generous to Aboriginal Canadians.

Here's one and it is a an example of spending not required by treaties or by the constitution: In 2012, Health Canada spent $1.1-billion on supplementary benefits such as dental care, vision care and pharmaceutical drugs for eligible First Nations and Inuit Canadians. Most other Canadians must spend out of pocket or buy insurance for such items.

The demand for more spending on Aboriginal matters is predictable as was Fontaine's career-long rhetorical assumption that analysis is inherently hostile. However, to move beyond mere opinion and conflicting ones at that, one must start with facts and analysis if one is to improve people's lives.

Aboriginal (aboriginal means primitive, and is very accurate, obviously) Self-Government helps to increase investor confidence, support economic partnerships and improve living conditions; or so these people would claim.

New ABORIGINAL self-government arrangements support the achievement of "good governance" – governance that is participatory, accountable, responsive, efficient and effective, transparent and that operates by the rule of law. Research, both domestic and international, points to good governance as being a critical component of achieving strong, healthy communities.

Self-government agreements establish ABORIGINAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE TO THEIR CITIZENS, AS WELL AS ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE ABORIGINAL, FEDERAL AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS. ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITMENTS ARE FEATURES OF ALL OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS.

For self-government agreements to be effective, they need to address, among other things, the structure of THE NEW GOVERNMENT and its relationship with other governments, new fiscal arrangements, the relationship of laws between jurisdictions, program and service delivery, and implementation planning.

WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT? They wanted self-government; they have it. They wanted an economic/financial return from gambling, natural resources: they got it. They wanted their own land, they now have ownership claim not only on a large part of "Rory Borealis Land" but other Canadian territory as well.

New Maple Casino in Carberry Creates Jobs.   Home to only 1669 people, Carberry in Manitoba, Canada has a new First Nation-owned casino in their town.

 What they didn't want was the RESPONSIBILITY; of ADMINISTRATING THEIR OWN AFFAIRS; but, they now have that too.

 Will the government finally decide what the rules are when it comes to online casinos being run by First Nations? Stay tuned to find out.

Housing: Nearly half of the houses on require major repairs, and Canadian reserves

overcrowding rates are six times greater on reserve than off.

Shacks and slop pails: infrastructure crisis on native reserves

Spending on housing and water in First Nations communities not keeping up with need.

 For most Canadians, an unlimited supply of clean water flowing freely from a tap and imperceptibly whisking away their waste at the simple push of a lever is a given; yet many self-proclaimed First Nations, choosing to live on “reserves “also claim it's a luxury THEY AND/ OR their communities can't afford.

First Nations are responsible for ONLY 20 per cent of the costs of maintaining water and sewer systems, and the federal government funds the rest. But in many instances, the federal allocations are not enough to ensure a fully functioning water and sewage system that provides clean, safe water to all homes on reserve.

Outhouses near the band office of the Wasagamack First Nation in Manitoba. The outhouses are used year-round, even in the winter. More than 60 per cent of residents in the Cree community 600 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg lack indoor plumbing.

Neskantaga Chief Wayne Moonias says 20 years is too long to wait to solve the drinking water problems in his northern Ontario First Nation.

The majority of First Nations in northern Ontario has experienced a boil water advisory in the last decade, a CBC News investigation revealed. The longest running water advisory is Neskantaga First Nation in Ontario, where residents have been boiling their water for 20 years. Ten other First Nations in northern Ontario have spent more than 10 years without safe drinking water.

Many chiefs are saying they cannot wait any longer for the problems to be fixed. "We need a commitment; we need action that's going to allow this issue to be resolved, so our people can enjoy getting water from their taps in their homes. That's what we're asking it's a basic human right," Neskantaga Chief Wayne Moonias told CBC News on Wednesday.

All this, with about 39% of First Nations water systems deemed 'high risk' and clean running water still a LUXURY on many native reserves.~~Al (Alex-Alexander) D Girvan. Tales from "Rory Borealis Land".