Yessica...
Well-Known Member
Why can't they just help people?
And why is my typing so tiny??
And why is my typing so tiny??
Calling all First Nations Canadians - I have an idea, and I need your help!
- Thread starter Yessica...
- Start date
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
Oh, whew this is better!
On the reserve is where the Native people need some help. It's broken, super broken. But with half the people not wanting to leave, and half of Canada not Wanting them to leave - it's just this big centrifugal force keeping people in a bad situation.
I know I can't change the world. But I've spent So LONG doing nothing, that now I feel like if I don't try to fix injustices that I see, then I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
First off, I'm going to talk to whoever I can at a reserve and see if they would let me talk to their doctor/ patients that often see the doctor/ nurse.
I know they would be at the very end of a very long list in applying for an LP - and it clearly isn't easy to get one. But it would be very nice, if in the future - LP's were on Native land/ reserves.
Fuck Native-run casinos - I want Native-grown pot!!!!
On the reserve is where the Native people need some help. It's broken, super broken. But with half the people not wanting to leave, and half of Canada not Wanting them to leave - it's just this big centrifugal force keeping people in a bad situation.
I know I can't change the world. But I've spent So LONG doing nothing, that now I feel like if I don't try to fix injustices that I see, then I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
First off, I'm going to talk to whoever I can at a reserve and see if they would let me talk to their doctor/ patients that often see the doctor/ nurse.
I know they would be at the very end of a very long list in applying for an LP - and it clearly isn't easy to get one. But it would be very nice, if in the future - LP's were on Native land/ reserves.
Fuck Native-run casinos - I want Native-grown pot!!!!
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
The idea of having the government fast-track LP's on Native land run by natives, is clearly a pipe-dream. I'm not in politics, nor do I have any say in how things in this country are run.
But it would be super nice, if everyone could help each other out.
Obviously, there are sooooooo many Canadians, not just natives, in a dire-situation. But none other are actually segregated the way the native people are. It's bad - but it also makes it very handy to reach a large number of people at once.
Bring a business that the Cheif, council, and people of the communities want - and I think it would go very well.
But it would be super nice, if everyone could help each other out.
Obviously, there are sooooooo many Canadians, not just natives, in a dire-situation. But none other are actually segregated the way the native people are. It's bad - but it also makes it very handy to reach a large number of people at once.
Bring a business that the Cheif, council, and people of the communities want - and I think it would go very well.
leaffan
Well-Known Member
Firstly, kudos to you Yessica for your passion and I believe your honest desire to do something good. Sunni, thank you for your input and thoughts.
It is a very very complex issue. I appreciate the we have the class of members here that it can be discussed without all the hatred and racist crap.
The statistics are deplorable. I can quote a number of stats that would make your jaw drop. Inuit life expectancy is 15 years shorter than the average Canadian. Newborn mortality rate is 1.5 times higher, 31 times more likely to contract TB, 3-5 times more likely to develop diabetes. Suicide and addiction rates are staggering.
I love my country, and am so proud to be Canadian. I do recognize that we have faults though. Non bigger than how we have dealt with our First Nations. I am so ashamed of our government in this regard.
The First Nations issues are unique. Their challenges are unlike any other that new immigrants or multi generational Canadians face.
As I see it, we have aboriginal groups ( 12,000 years ) that are faced with maintaining their culture within a rapidly changing country and world. A culture that has to adapt and accept to some degree that we live in a capitalist world.
I think what has to happen is that the opportunity for individual wealth has to be created within the First Nations communities. Individual wealth is what drives our society. This goal starts with home ownership for most Canadians. This is how most start to build their equity and wealth. Home ownership is not an option on a reserve. When you don't have the first step available as an option to wealth building, there is an obvious roadblock.
Health care, education, individual wealth...this is what has to be tackled. Easier said than done. It starts with dialogue. With caring. With action.
If you care about these issues I encourage you to read what Mr. Paul Martin (former PM) is working on with the education issue.
One of my heroes is Dr. Michael Dan. I can't say enough about Dr. Dan, a wonderful human being. He is addressing the individual wealth issue. He has created a program called Gemini Power.
“If you look at it in totality, it’s completely overwhelming,” Dr. Dan said. “But I think it’s possible, working on a community-by-community basis, to just make a little dent in some of these big issues. You’ll never achieve anything unless you sit down with a community and ask, ‘What are your health problems, how can we help you?’”
Thanks for the opportunity to express my thoughts...
leaf
It is a very very complex issue. I appreciate the we have the class of members here that it can be discussed without all the hatred and racist crap.
The statistics are deplorable. I can quote a number of stats that would make your jaw drop. Inuit life expectancy is 15 years shorter than the average Canadian. Newborn mortality rate is 1.5 times higher, 31 times more likely to contract TB, 3-5 times more likely to develop diabetes. Suicide and addiction rates are staggering.
I love my country, and am so proud to be Canadian. I do recognize that we have faults though. Non bigger than how we have dealt with our First Nations. I am so ashamed of our government in this regard.
The First Nations issues are unique. Their challenges are unlike any other that new immigrants or multi generational Canadians face.
As I see it, we have aboriginal groups ( 12,000 years ) that are faced with maintaining their culture within a rapidly changing country and world. A culture that has to adapt and accept to some degree that we live in a capitalist world.
I think what has to happen is that the opportunity for individual wealth has to be created within the First Nations communities. Individual wealth is what drives our society. This goal starts with home ownership for most Canadians. This is how most start to build their equity and wealth. Home ownership is not an option on a reserve. When you don't have the first step available as an option to wealth building, there is an obvious roadblock.
Health care, education, individual wealth...this is what has to be tackled. Easier said than done. It starts with dialogue. With caring. With action.
If you care about these issues I encourage you to read what Mr. Paul Martin (former PM) is working on with the education issue.
One of my heroes is Dr. Michael Dan. I can't say enough about Dr. Dan, a wonderful human being. He is addressing the individual wealth issue. He has created a program called Gemini Power.
“If you look at it in totality, it’s completely overwhelming,” Dr. Dan said. “But I think it’s possible, working on a community-by-community basis, to just make a little dent in some of these big issues. You’ll never achieve anything unless you sit down with a community and ask, ‘What are your health problems, how can we help you?’”
Thanks for the opportunity to express my thoughts...
leaf
Last edited:
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
I was not aware of that - but SWEET if they are. I know who I'll be getting my MMJ from in the future!
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
Thank you for that - I will definitely be google-boxing that Dr and PM. It's just hard to find information when there is soooooo much out there.
I have been working with a lot of people from the Martin Falls fly-in reserve over the last year. It's particularly hard for them, because they are so cut off from the rest of Canada.
It's 8 bucks for a litre of milk - that's just awful. They can get prescribed Oxy's at the drop of a hat - but buying healthy food isn't an option except for those who are rich. And none are...
leaffan
Well-Known Member
You're right. You bring up a good point.
Some reserves have "hit the jackpot", and haven't seen the social changes you would expect. There is severe mismanagement and corruption in some areas. The wealth has not been shared, and used properly.
I'm talking more about individual wealth as being the key to change.
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
From people I have talked to, the Chief and family have the only jobs, nice trucks, snowmobile's, the best housing, etc.
Everyone else, not so much.
So obviusly there would need to be many systems in play at once. It's not fair for only one family out of dozens or hundreds to get benefits...
It's a very broken system. The thing that shocks ME so much, is if I never worked with them, I would never have known.
This shit is rarely in the news, except when it's painting a Native Canadian in a negative light. Why aren't there stories about the reserves where many of the people don't have running water? Or power? Or can't afford food?
Why do I know how to spell Justin Beiber's last name, but I can't read any news article that I trust about Native Canadians.
Everyone else, not so much.
So obviusly there would need to be many systems in play at once. It's not fair for only one family out of dozens or hundreds to get benefits...
It's a very broken system. The thing that shocks ME so much, is if I never worked with them, I would never have known.
This shit is rarely in the news, except when it's painting a Native Canadian in a negative light. Why aren't there stories about the reserves where many of the people don't have running water? Or power? Or can't afford food?
Why do I know how to spell Justin Beiber's last name, but I can't read any news article that I trust about Native Canadians.
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
It's like the stories of freed slaves back in the day. That went home, and enslaved their people.
Why can't people just try, as hard as they can, to make things better for everyone. We all live on the same planet. We all breath the same air. We are all humans, and none of us will live forever...
Why can't people just try, as hard as they can, to make things better for everyone. We all live on the same planet. We all breath the same air. We are all humans, and none of us will live forever...
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
My mother was in public health in the 60's and 70's. She told me stories about the conditions on reserves, but I guess I just always thought it was in the PAST.
Flood victims get help from the government, hurricane victims, any disaster usually gets releif.
But why, when a fly-in community has 12 suicides in a year and then EVERYONE has PTSD - is that not front page news????
Flood victims get help from the government, hurricane victims, any disaster usually gets releif.
But why, when a fly-in community has 12 suicides in a year and then EVERYONE has PTSD - is that not front page news????
CalyxCrusher
Well-Known Member
I know you're just trying to help, and you seem like a genuinely well meaning kind hearted person. But IMO having grown up going to school with 2 different reserves straight through to adulthood( Thunder Bay region), I can say this won't fly with a majority of people.
The instances of substance abuse are already too high and to try to introduce something that may be beneficial yet holds such a heavy stigma won't likely even make it up for debate.
CalyxCrusher
Well-Known Member
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
I am new to the world of interweb posting - what is FFS?FFS
hahah. I totally hear ya about how hard it would be. Next to impossible I think.
But maybe...just maybe, someone might be interested.
Every native person I have met that grew up on a reserve has a tremendous "green thumb". I feel like with the proper guidance - it might great.
Yessica...
Well-Known Member
hahaha - for fuck's sake - got it! Thank you google-box!
CalyxCrusher
Well-Known Member
No worries, FFS=For Fuck Sakes. You certainly have the right attitude, I hope you can change at least one mind. Progress has to start somewhere.