Calling all First Nations Canadians - I have an idea, and I need your help!

[Yessica...]

I talked with some teachers who had been going around from res to res and presenting information on Mining. On one particular res, the school....the ONLY fucking school for 100's of miles - got burned down. 3 times!!!!

There's something wrong there.

It's not all who hate and fear the rest of Canada. But some do. And honestly, with good reason.

I have far too many stories for right now, because technically I'm at work. But talking to so many Native kids, adults, elders, etc, over the last decade - has changed me.

 

[sunni]

Whew - just read that! Alright, I do have some points, not speaking from all natives everywhere - but the ones I have worked/ lived with.

The First Nation Ranger program has been going on, since 2001 or something? Maybe before. There have been over 500 "graduates" of that program. To get in, they need funding, and the kids need to be attending/ succeeding in high school, with the plan to go to University or to get a full-time job.

The trouble that a lot of these youths (who apart from some troubled kids, and ones who like to misbehave - were GREAT and HARD working kids) is that many of their families do NOT want them to go to school, university, nothing.

Their elders remember residential schools. They remember the way they have been treated. And they don't want their kids to leave the res.

I was lucky, I had a good childhood. My parents encouraged me every step of the way, even when I went completely bat-shit crazy.

I just don't know what it have been like for me, if my parents didn't support my decisions to leave home and get an education. Would I have rebelled against them and still done it? I would like to say yes....but I don't know...

Natives can go to uni for anything, or college they can apply for scholorships , its very easy many native friends have done it they just have to be the first person in their family thats native to get it. thats it thats literally the only requirement and since most peoples parents in that age group never went to college or uni they can get in.
yes they need to attened highschool and pass but so should any kid going to uni or college.

If its simply the issue of the elders telling them not to leave the res and not to go to school thats honestly pretty sad, the world is different from the past in many ways educational wise. and they shouldnt stop their youth from getting a good life....like that is a pretty shitty thing to do , stopping their youth from getting into a good career field ,
thats pretty fucking selfish honestly.
i had a bad life so you have to have one too mentality isnt going to help their youth

 

[Yessica...]

Natives can go to uni for anything, or college they can apply for scholorships , its very easy many native friends have done it they just have to be the first person in their family thats native to get it. thats it thats literally the only requirement and since most peoples parents in that age group never went to college or uni they can get in.
yes they need to attened highschool and pass but so should any kid going to uni or college.

If its simply the issue of the elders telling them not to leave the res and not to go to school thats honestly pretty sad, the world is different from the past in many ways educational wise. and they shouldnt stop their youth from getting a good life....like that is a pretty shitty thing to do , stopping their youth from getting into a good career field ,
thats pretty fucking selfish honestly.
i had a bad life so you have to have one too mentality isnt going to help their youth

It IS terrible - and it's part of the big-ass broken problem. "They" don't trust the white people. The rest of Canada doesn't trust them....

Someone has got to trust someone eventually - or NOTHING will EVER get done.

It's Very hard to maneuver the government, the Chief and Band members, the community, the rest of Canada's perceptions, the fear.

It's just too much. And the gov'ment doesn't seem to be doing anything about it. I guess they don't care - because people in fly-in and remote reserves don't vote!

I actually don't know what the statistics are on Canadian-Natives voting %. That's one to look up!

 

[Yessica...]

Found something:
http://www.elections.ca/res/eim/article_search/article.asp?id=22&lang=e

I was right - it's low.

 

[CalyxCrusher]

The simple fact of the matter is given the economy of the rez;s even if you did put up more job locations, no one would buy from the businesses. Because technically white people arent allowed to buy from the natives. I go to the rez to buy my cigerettes.., so I drive there, they dont question me because I look native and can speak the native language in my area, but as soon as a white person comes into the store they refuse sale.

Sorry but I have never once heard of white people "not being allowed to buy from natives" That's utter BS. I have been a on a few Res' and gone to my fair share pow wow's on the Res. Hell one of my home towns main contracting companies is based on the Res as is the Internet Service Provider. Also, Canada's #1 voted National Park may as well be on the Res it's so close.

The elders do want them to leave the Res as they've seen what it leads to. They're afraid that they will lose their heritage and way of life, and that over time traditions may be lost. The Native community unfortunately also has high instances of substance abuse and suicide which can be attributed to living on the Res. They ARE however, hesitant to trust the Gov't (rightfully so) due to the residential school travesty. It's a nasty cycle of THINKING they're damned if they do leave, but most certainly damned if they don't leave in a majority, but not all cases.

Also, which native language do you speak? We were offered a few classes in HS and it's interesting to see perhaps others were as well. Or do you not mean official languages and more terminology?

 

[gb123]

Relax Crusher. What she means is that native get a tax break that white people are not entitled to. Gas, smokes, no tax.
If we buy on the reserve we are expected to pay more and sometimes the natives don't bother trying to figure out the difference.
Simple stuff really.
You can still buy cheaper smokes and gas off a friend eh

 

[Yessica...]

I bought a carton of players for 65 bucks on the res! Cost me over 90 if I go to Mac's.

Gas is hella cheap too. There is ALWAYS a line up of cars at the gas stations near the res.

Maybe not as cheap for me as it would be if I was Native-born. But fuckin cheaper than the ass-raping prices they are at now....ouch

 

[gb123]

But fuckin cheaper than the ass-raping prices they are at now....ouch

Tell us how you really feel yessica

 

[sunni]

Sorry but I have never once heard of white people "not being allowed to buy from natives" That's utter BS. I have been a on a few Res' and gone to my fair share pow wow's on the Res. Hell one of my home towns main contracting companies is based on the Res as is the Internet Service Provider. Also, Canada's #1 voted National Park may as well be on the Res it's so close.

The elders do want them to leave the Res as they've seen what it leads to. They're afraid that they will lose their heritage and way of life, and that over time traditions may be lost. The Native community unfortunately also has high instances of substance abuse and suicide which can be attributed to living on the Res. They ARE however, hesitant to trust the Gov't (rightfully so) due to the residential school travesty. It's a nasty cycle of THINKING they're damned if they do leave, but most certainly damned if they don't leave in a majority, but not all cases.

Also, which native language do you speak? We were offered a few classes in HS and it's interesting to see perhaps others were as well. Or do you not mean official languages and more terminology?

well im glad at whatever rez youre near they allow white people to buy from it
here they refuse sale. i should explain more clearly

i am from ontario different law.
but under the tabacco act
there are little tags or stickers on your cigarettes , if you dont live in ontario im not sure if they have them but they look like this (lovely photo of my smokes) pink means it from a rez for natives and white commonly found on other cigerettes is for everyone else, like when you buy canadian classics or demories from macs
if for whatever reason the cops stopped me outside the rez and i couldnt prove im native they will seize my cigarettes
and i will get a fine.
now whether or not this is the reason why the natives refuse point of sale to white people here on my rez is a different story.
so no its not bs its the tabacco act law.
and yes it does happen,

i speak Ojibwe , commonly found in northern ontario and I went to highschool for it for 2 years and also took college course on it. I can go to university for 3 years more to speak more so but I can hold a conversation in ojibwe so I didnt feel the need to have to pay to learn more.
I also had to fight to get into that class in highschool because they told me only natives could learn it.

I pay 32 dollars for a carton and i dont buy gas on rez cause it sucks

 

[Yessica...]

well im glad at whatever rez youre near they allow white people to buy from it
here they refuse sale. i should explain more clearly

i am from ontario different law.
but under the tabacco act
there are little tags or stickers on your cigarettes , if you dont live in ontario im not sure if they have them but they look like this View attachment 3197270 (lovely photo of my smokes) pink means it from a rez for natives and white commonly found on other cigerettes is for everyone else, like when you buy canadian classics or demories from macs
if for whatever reason the cops stopped me outside the rez and i couldnt prove im native they will seize my cigarettes
and i will get a fine.
now whether or not this is the reason why the natives refuse point of sale to white people here on my rez is a different story.
so no its not bs its the tabacco act law.
and yes it does happen,

i speak Ojibwe , commonly found in northern ontario and I went to highschool for it for 2 years and also took college course on it. I can go to university for 3 years more to speak more so but I can hold a conversation in ojibwe so I didnt feel the need to have to pay to learn more.
I also had to fight to get into that class in highschool because they told me only natives could learn it.

I pay 32 dollars for a carton and i dont buy gas on rez cause it sucks

You pay 32 bucks a carton? Fuck - I've been missing out, I'm sending someone else to buy me ciggies next time. I'm half ginga - they would NEVER buy that I could hold a tan!

 

[sunni]

"
He soon found a bag in my back seat with 5 cartons of cigarettes & 1 carton of cigars that I'd purchased at the Reserve store in North Bay prior to leaving. What I DID NOT KNOW, is that it was illegal for me to purchase or possess any of these products. I thought, because the sticker on the cartons said "Canada Duty Paid", they were legal. My friend who is a Non-Status Native's belongings were also searched. She also had a carton (2packs missing). She was not asked for a status card & was allowed to keep her smokes & was not charged.

Now I've received a bill from the Ministry of Finance in the amount of 940.83, 434.97 in taxes (which the actual taxes were 144.99 but they multiply that amount by 3 as a penalty, therefore, equalling 434.97), and a stacking penalty of 500.00 & 5.86 in interest, although I just received the invoice today. I will NOT pay this amount, I will do jail time instead. It is beyond my understanding how this can be done. I'm going to be charged for buying the cigarettes that should have never been sold to me in the first place, charged for taxes I did not pay on cigarettes that were confiscated and a penalty. Furthermore, a court appearance on Nov 29, 2012, and if found guilty, another fine or possible jail time. Yet they will not press charges against the stores that sold me the cigarettes???"

http://www.nugget.ca/ur/story/529303

anyone whos white and gets caught with native smokes who doesnt look native or cannot prove they are native, its considered contraband.

 

[sunni]

You pay 32 bucks a carton? Fuck - I've been missing out, I'm sending someone else to buy me ciggies next time. I'm half ginga - they would NEVER buy that I could hold a tan!

i smoke the DK's strong flavour i like them, you?
depends where you live i guess the price did indeed go up , they have this cute little restaurant there too when i wasnt vegan i would eat their fish and chips fresh fish was quite lovely, but they needed to know how to season but hey it was fresh fresh so i didnt mind.

But i look native and i can speak native language so they assume i am native, hooray for being a weird heritage mix of french/italian i guess but like is aid they refuse point of sale to anyone white here im sure other italians or other darker complexion people get away with it

 

[Yessica...]

"
He soon found a bag in my back seat with 5 cartons of cigarettes & 1 carton of cigars that I'd purchased at the Reserve store in North Bay prior to leaving. What I DID NOT KNOW, is that it was illegal for me to purchase or possess any of these products. I thought, because the sticker on the cartons said "Canada Duty Paid", they were legal. My friend who is a Non-Status Native's belongings were also searched. She also had a carton (2packs missing). She was not asked for a status card & was allowed to keep her smokes & was not charged.

Now I've received a bill from the Ministry of Finance in the amount of 940.83, 434.97 in taxes (which the actual taxes were 144.99 but they multiply that amount by 3 as a penalty, therefore, equalling 434.97), and a stacking penalty of 500.00 & 5.86 in interest, although I just received the invoice today. I will NOT pay this amount, I will do jail time instead. It is beyond my understanding how this can be done. I'm going to be charged for buying the cigarettes that should have never been sold to me in the first place, charged for taxes I did not pay on cigarettes that were confiscated and a penalty. Furthermore, a court appearance on Nov 29, 2012, and if found guilty, another fine or possible jail time. Yet they will not press charges against the stores that sold me the cigarettes???"

http://www.nugget.ca/ur/story/529303

anyone whos white and gets caught with native smokes who doesnt look native or cannot prove they are native, its considered contraband.

Fight the SHIT out of that. E-mail or call your MPP. The onus for checking ID is on the store-employee. If they didn't check your status card, and just assumed - there is NO WAY they can make you pay that fine.

If you sound upset enough in e-mails, people will help you.

I got out of a 600.00 fine, because my car broke down at the side of the trans Canada highway and they towed it an hour later while I was on my way back home. They took it to the impound, which is automatically a 400.00 charge, or something.

I wrote to everyone who's e-mail address I could find online. I used the word "travesty" a lot, and said that I would not be able to afford food or rent.

An OPP officer, very kind, called me back within 2 hours of my e-mails and said they would re-fund my mother the money (I didn't have the money to pay - so my mom payed for me).

You just gotta sound upset, and you must be! I would be fuckin pissed! Money-grabbing bastards!

Tears work very well too - but if they can't see your face - it doesn't.

Tears got me out of prison in MExico!!!

It's rather fun being a girl in a misogynisitc world sometimes...

 

[Yessica...]

i smoke the DK's strong flavour i like them, you?
depends where you live i guess the price did indeed go up , they have this cute little restaurant there too when i wasnt vegan i would eat their fish and chips fresh fish was quite lovely, but they needed to know how to season but hey it was fresh fresh so i didnt mind.

But i look native and i can speak native language so they assume i am native, hooray for being a weird heritage mix of french/italian i guess but like is aid they refuse point of sale to anyone white here im sure other italians or other darker complexion people get away with it

Peter Jackson's! I actually used to smoke DK's, or whatever were the cheapest - but then one year, they made me loose my voice. Now I have to buy the more expensive ones. I'm going to go all e-ciggy once I get home from work.

 

[sunni]

Fight the SHIT out of that. E-mail or call your MPP. The onus for checking ID is on the store-employee. If they didn't check your status card, and just assumed - there is NO WAY they can make you pay that fine.

If you sound upset enough in e-mails, people will help you.

I got out of a 600.00 fine, because my car broke down at the side of the trans Canada highway and they towed it an hour later while I was on my way back home. They took it to the impound, which is automatically a 400.00 charge, or something.

I wrote to everyone who's e-mail address I could find online. I used the word "travesty" a lot, and said that I would not be able to afford food or rent.

An OPP officer, very kind, called me back within 2 hours of my e-mails and said they would re-fund my mother the money (I didn't have the money to pay - so my mom payed for me).

You just gotta sound upset, and you must be! I would be fuckin pissed! Money-grabbing bastards!

Tears work very well too - but if they can't see your face - it doesn't.

Tears got me out of prison in MExico!!!

It's rather fun being a girl in a misogynisitc world sometimes...

that was just a quote from a news story to prove im not bsing the dude who decided to tell me im a huge liar.

 

[Yessica...]

that was just a quote from a news story to prove im not bsing the dude who decided to tell me im a huge liar.

hahahahah - did I mention I smoke pot?

Oh...this is awkward.

"I never learned to READ"
- Mike Myers - Waynes World

 

[sunni]

hahahahah - did I mention I smoke pot?

Oh...this is awkward.

"I never learned to READ"
- Mike Myers - Waynes World

i love that goddamn movie, i have a waynes world hat everyone....EVERYONE comments on it.....its just the fucking coolest hat ever

 

[Yessica...]

i love that goddamn movie, i have a waynes world hat everyone....EVERYONE comments on it.....its just the fucking coolest hat ever

I want your hat!!!!!!! hhaha.

 

[CalyxCrusher]

well im glad at whatever rez youre near they allow white people to buy from it
here they refuse sale. i should explain more clearly

i am from ontario different law.
but under the tabacco act
there are little tags or stickers on your cigarettes , if you dont live in ontario im not sure if they have them but they look like this View attachment 3197270 (lovely photo of my smokes) pink means it from a rez for natives and white commonly found on other cigerettes is for everyone else, like when you buy canadian classics or demories from macs
if for whatever reason the cops stopped me outside the rez and i couldnt prove im native they will seize my cigarettes
and i will get a fine.
now whether or not this is the reason why the natives refuse point of sale to white people here on my rez is a different story.
so no its not bs its the tabacco act law.
and yes it does happen,

i speak Ojibwe , commonly found in northern ontario and I went to highschool for it for 2 years and also took college course on it. I can go to university for 3 years more to speak more so but I can hold a conversation in ojibwe so I didnt feel the need to have to pay to learn more.
I also had to fight to get into that class in highschool because they told me only natives could learn it.

I pay 32 dollars for a carton and i dont buy gas on rez cause it sucks

I'm unfamiliar with tobacco laws as I don't partake in that unfortunate habit. I'm not sure if you meant tobacco sales or sales in any form. If it's sales in any form, I've never had an issue in Northern Ontario or heard of anyone in my region having an issue(not to say it does not happen, or never has, just surprised it's being "enforced")

I do live in Northern Ontario and have lived in Northern Ontario my whole life. If it's between Sudbury and Thunder Bay, I've been there, many times and have family and close friends spread across Northern Ontario I've spent 25+ years in the region and go back to visit family and friends in the different communities. I do know that most of the places sell bootlegged smokes, which forgoes the whole person of status situation. But even the regular packs I've never had an issue. Maybe because it's a small community where everyone knows each other, and I also had friends on Res I'd visit or vise versa. Also, these Reservations had they're own Anishnabek police forces and did not deal with OPP or RCMP, so maybe that's another possible factor in leniency? Any word on the outcome of the article you posted?

We were offered Ojibwe through HS as well, took it first 2 years but have forgotten most if not all unfortunately. Moving to a city with little to no Ojibwe people for work didn't help. Aside from Hello and Goodbye, I think it's escaped me.

 

[sunni]

I'm unfamiliar with tobacco laws as I don't partake in that unfortunate habit. I'm not sure if you meant tobacco sales or sales in any form. If it's sales in any form, I've never had an issue in Northern Ontario or heard of anyone in my region having an issue(not to say it does not happen, or never has, just surprised it's being "enforced")

I do live in Northern Ontario and have lived in Northern Ontario my whole life. If it's between Sudbury and Thunder Bay, I've been there, many times and have family and close friends spread across Northern Ontario I've spent 25+ years in the region and go back to visit family and friends in the different communities. I do know that most of the places sell bootlegged smokes, which forgoes the whole person of status situation. But even the regular packs I've never had an issue. Maybe because it's a small community where everyone knows each other, and I also had friends on Res I'd visit or vise versa. Also, these Reservations had they're own Anishnabek police forces and did not deal with OPP or RCMP, so maybe that's another possible factor in leniency? Any word on the outcome of the article you posted?

We were offered Ojibwe through HS as well, took it first 2 years but have forgotten most if not all unfortunately. Moving to a city with little to no Ojibwe people for work didn't help. Aside from Hello and Goodbye, I think it's escaped me.

it happens from OPP mostly as its on the highway or the rez police before you leave , thats just someones own words.dunno the outcome im sure she ended up [aying the fine
if ya google it people get stopped all the time, it'll be a routine stop on the highway cop will see they have native smokes , and they will take em and fine em
its not ever personally happened to me

I was born in northern ontario beautiful place, lovely people and ive not left this area in 24 years, its all i know so i cant speak for every native community and i sure dont all i can speak for is the one in sudbury is much nicer than the one where i live,

there are some online tools for ojibwe though if you ever wanna get some of it back.