Saving Aboriginal peoples from themselves: Could the Australian model be creeping into Canada?

As my friends know all too well, I allow myself to be somewhat susceptible to sweeping, dramatic theories bordering on the conspiratorial. To me, they’re almost a form of entertainment, a kind of political science fiction in which I heartily indulge as a geeky, guilty pleasure.

But what if, as the old joke goes, everyone truly IS out to get you? Oxford defines ‘conspiracy’ thusly: “A secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegal.”

Secret, harmful, illegal — on all three counts, there is no doubt a sizable number of Aboriginal people in Australia’s Northern Territory who would argue they’ve been subjected not to a theory but the fact of a conspiracy for the past three-plus years. It’s taken the form of a massive federal legislative incursion known as the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER), what’s now become informally known as the ‘NT Intervention.’

Announced on June 21, 2007, the NTER was unilaterally imposed by the federal government upon some 70 Aboriginal communities in the Territory. One of the last acts of a supposedly desperate (and subsequently defeated) Conservative regime led by John Howard, the suite of laws was justified in the name of arresting and eliminating the physical and sexual abuse of Aboriginal children. According to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs at the time, “All action at the national level is designed to ensure the protection of Aboriginal children from harm.”

In other words, supposedly incapable of dealing with their own problems, the Territory’s Aboriginal peoples needed to be saved from themselves.

As the above roadside sign illustrates, the NTER famously included prohibitions on alcohol and pornography in these predominately-Aboriginal communities. The NTER also brought in outside officials to run the communities, added more police, provided for the systematic health assessment and follow-up care of children, made sure those same children attended school, and altered the form of welfare payments (e.g., as credits redeemable only at grocery stores) so they would reach their intended beneficiaries, i.e., children.

Somewhat controversially, the NTER also provided for the Australian government’s acquisition of 5-year leases over Aboriginal community lands, which the government says enabled it to “provide prompt access for the delivery of services, repair of buildings and development of infrastructure in communities.” But critics fear the move actually conceals a land grab to make it easier for mining companies to set up in Indigenous territories thought to be opposed to resource extraction.

Last but certainly not least, according to Amnesty International, these “Intervention measures are racially targeted, as they are applied regardless of individual circumstances, to all residents of ‘prescribed areas and communities,’ which are all Aboriginal towns, communities, outstations or town camps.”

Despite a new Labour government coming into power shortly after NTER’s enactment in late 2007, the Response’s main thrust and motivation — including its “top-down, monolithic and paternalistic approach,” as one critic put it — seem to have been largely retained as of 2011.

Recalling our Oxford definition, one might argue the Response/Intervention pretty much fits the criteria of conspiracy:

  • ‘secret,’ because it came without warning or consultation
  • ‘illegal,’ because it violates the human rights of those affected — indeed, as critics point out, application of Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act had to be suspended in order for NTER to even proceed (a suspension since repealed, claims the government)
  • ‘harmful,’ because by marginalizing the very people it’s supposed to help, the government only renewed and reinforced the colonial dynamic that so debilitated these communities in the first place

Meantime, the fallout from the NT Intervention continues and, somehow, it’s disappointed both its proponents (‘didn’t go far enough, fast enough’) and its opponents (‘a human rights violation from the get-go’). In any case, if my interpretation of reports published in 2010 and 2011 are correct, the crisis in Aboriginal child welfare that ostensibly inspired NTER is still very much an active concern.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper with then-freshly-minted Senator Patrick Brazeau

Now, I imagine some of you who share my home base of North America might be a tad curious as to why I would go on and on about some initiative way over yonder in Australia. Surely, such ‘interventions’ couldn’t happen here in Canada?

Couldn’t they, though? It’s by no means an imminent threat, I’ll admit, but, if you could just hear me out, I want to explore the idea that some of the same contributing elements that made initiatives like the NT Intervention possible down under similarly exist — if only in nascent form — in the lands of the true north strong and free.

Indeed, I will argue that this interventionist ideology has already put down roots here. And what’s more, its brightest torchbearers may even prove to be of Indigenous extraction.

And on this latter front, few may come to burn brighter than Conservative Senate appointee Patrick Brazeau, whose push for greater “accountability, transparency and responsibility in the undertaking and delivery of Canada’s Aboriginal affairs” has led him to call for a full-fledged inquiry:

I am convinced that this issue [of greater accountability and responsibility] is at the heart of the problem as Canada’s Aboriginal community grapples with unrelenting poverty and lack of opportunity.

Complicit in this lack of accountability, charges Brazeau, are the national organizations representing First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, all three of which pretty much draw the bulk of their funding from federal sources. Indeed, the Senator goes so far as to openly question whether money spent on these national groups could be put to better use elsewhere (now that he no longer draws a salary from one of them, anyway):

As we look at new models and the need for new funding sources, I believe directly reallocating some of these not inconsiderable resources [away from national Aboriginal organizations] is an idea whose time has indeed come. Let us redirect resourcing to the people in the greatest need and to the areas in which it is most required.

But, in arguing that bodies like the Assembly of First Nations are inherently incapable of fully and truly representing grassroots interests, Brazeau is hardly alone. According to Clayton Warren Maxie,

[I]t is obvious the only voices heard on Aboriginal issues are the well-funded, well-connected Aboriginal lobby groups, which is unfortunate. When reporters need a comment on an Aboriginal issue, they go to these established groups. Sadly, these groups largely represent the interests of leaders and the ‘Aboriginal industry.’

Maxie also accuses the Assembly of First Nations of not “dealing with governance problems on First Nations.” His partial answer? “A few independent NGOs [non-governmental organizations], unconnected to the Indian Act system.” Such NGOs might take “the form of policy think tanks and pro-democracy groups, but the idea is to give a voice to those who currently have none.” Here, Maxie seems to imply the creation of groups alongside the AFN, but it’s not difficult to imagine that his message could also be interpreted as justification for AFN’s outright abolition.

Outlandish, you say? I refer you once again to Australia, where, in 2005, the country’s rough equivalent to the AFN, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), lost all of its federal funding amidst “various allegations of assault, sexual assault, and fraud” against some of its senior office-holders: two years later, the NT Intervention was put into effect. As a report published by Australia’s Parliamentary library noted, ATSIC had long been

“subject to intense public and political scrutiny, no more so than in the areas of expenditure and accountability … Issues of funding were also the focal point for debates about ATSIC’s effectiveness. …

Yet, perhaps because of its unique blend of executive and representative functions, and its highly visible presence in an area where ‘success’ is difficult to define and therefore hard to achieve, ATSIC was an easily identifiable symbol of the perceived failure of government spending on Indigenous-specific programs to yield sufficiently positive results. … [M]any of ATSIC’s elected representatives complained that it was the scapegoat for the inadequacies of all levels of government in Indigenous affairs.”

Intentionally or otherwise, by calling into question the very existence of national or even regional Aboriginal organizations — a call periodically ‘sexed up’ with button-pushing issues like the recent disclosure of salaries for Chiefs and councillors — pundits may be setting into motion the ideological momentum for their elimination and, quite possibly, taking the very notion of dedicated institutions under distinctly Aboriginal control and jurisdiction along with them. (Can you say ‘municipalization’?) For it could then be a short ideological step from there to imposing a made-in-Canada version of NTER — its very own ‘FNER,’ aka the First Nations Emergency Response — with no-one around at the national level to effectively oppose it, however imperfectly AFN might do so.

Think about it: the Aboriginal child welfare situation in this country, while perhaps not nearly so dire as some of Australia’s worst cases, could hardly be called stellar. Is it that much of a stretch to imagine Canada, à la Australia, feeling ‘compelled’ to massively intervene in First Nations communities in order to “ensure the protection of Aboriginal children from harm,” possibly as a pretense to secure access rights to… oh, I don’t know, maybe an undisputed pathway for a certain Oil Sands pipeline?

Am I being conspiratorial here? You tell me. (Seriously, tell me: I would like nothing more than to see a good ol’ honest debate come out of this!) Lord knows I am capable as the next person of putting 2 + 2 together and getting 22.

And look, I am all for further democratizing national Aboriginal organizations but, mark my words, bashing them so indiscriminately may see them just as easily replaced with nothing at all, and I’m not convinced that gets us any further ahead either.

Dumping on Aboriginal communities for their perceived failings as if they are entirely at fault (nowhere in Brazeau’s account as to why First Nations go into deficit does he imagine that it’s because they are chronically underfunded) is a movie we’ve seen way too many times before. And that movie’s initial screening — back in 1492, I believe, when Europeans first said our savage, uncivilized nature precluded us from managing our own lives and lands — paved the way for a series of endlessly repetitive sequels following that same old tired formula: deprive and/or impede Indigenous efforts at securing appropriate and adequate political and economic authority, resources and opportunities, then blame them for the inevitable incapacitation and dysfunction that follows. Finally, top it off with the widespread removal and/or institutionalization of the youngest of our generations — be it via residential schools, foster care, child and family services or prisons — so you all but guarantee an ample supply of future actors in this never-ending drama. All in the best interests of the child, of course.

And you thought Hollywood was unoriginal and derivative. Sadly, as ‘plots’ go, it’s hardly far-fetched, and whether it’s co-authored by an Aboriginal hand or not won’t make much of a difference to the eventual ending.

21 thoughts on “Saving Aboriginal peoples from themselves: Could the Australian model be creeping into Canada?

  1. As you note, the federal record — in Canada as well as the US — is replete with plans to eliminate indigenous peoples. Minorities getting in the way of progress, the characterization of First Nations by Enbridge, is exactly what the President of Peru said recently about the Andean indigenous revolution to end the era of wanton destruction by oil companies. Sowing dissension among indigenous communities by undermining their institutions — whether conspiratorial or not — is an attack on their solidarity, their diplomacy, and their ability to defend themselves.

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  3. Hey Jay 😉

    Rick, you’re far from alone here. I’ve been following the NT intervention since day one and I have raised these same concerns. It could happen here, yes; but Canada would NEVER be able to enforce it. We’re too well organized. Of course, we’re not as organized as Indigenous Peoples in South/Central America, but we have enough political power, experience, will, and awareness of our rights to stop an intervention in its tracks, no matter what form it may take. We’d just have to step up with our activism (instead of a “Day of action” we make it a month. And we keep going until Canada concedes. )

    It’s a very different story in Australia. Indigenous people there don’t have the same political experience we do (our support from organizations and activsts). And they’ve been so completely marginalized and deprived of their rights (and dignity) by the government that they were vulnerable to an intervention (which is something that Howard knew going in.) I mean, even now, if you spend some time going through the AU media, you’ll even find all sorts of stories and “scientific” reports that characterize the Indigenous population there as “stupid animals” who just doesn’t any better. There’s alot of racism there.

    Anyways, even if dear old Canuckistan got rid of the AFN and instituted martial law on reserve, there’s no way we’d stand for it anymore than we’d stand for another round of residential schools.

    Incidentally, Brazil tried to usher in its own NT-style intervention in 2008, also under the auspices of “saving the children”. Fortunately, the plan, which would have placed all indigenous lands under martial law (for starters) fell through. Like the NT-intervention, the plan was completely racist and based on pure fabrication.

    All hardships facing indigenous people today are the direct result of the polices and practices of Nation States. That’s not say it’s “all their fault,” because it’s not. We have our own responsibilities in all this. But, well, if anybody needs an intervention here, it’s the Canadian government. I mean seriously. They act like junkies.

  4. Your assurances are welcome: as I say, I freely admit to being a bit dramatic here. Still, the army has been called in occupy a First Nations community over a golf course, and we know how long that took to resolve. But maybe Oka made us that much more vigilant? Perhaps Caledonia shows it can be held back from the brink, if only because of that level of organized Indigenous resistance of which you speak.

  5. I was assaulted and abused at a child by others. I personally agree with the merit of the legislation. I know too many children who have been abused by angry drunk elders and ignored by drunk sex crazed teens. If you can’t parent your own children then babysitters are required. It is no differant regardless of the color of your skin. If men comprehended that rather than tagging and labelling their opponenets they would realize that their actions propel the violence against women, children and society in general. Think hard of your own personal, arrogant behaving when you thought no one was watching and then decide who the hypocrites are. By the way…I’m white.

  6. Your ignorant comments on this issue makes me puke. You people are bystanders and have no comprehension of reality but instead liken youself to lazy bastards who stand around the water cooler. Yet when hardworking aboriginals take your job because they actually succeeded and bypassed your ignorance, then perhaps you can find a mirror while your hiding in the bathroom asking yourself what happened.

  7. “All hardships facing indigenous people today are the direct result of the polices and practices of Nation States. That’s not say it’s “all their fault,” because it’s not.” In relation to this comment, I absolutely disagree. When is the last time any commenters actually resided on the lands ‘reserved exclusively for indigenous peoples’? If you witnessed and experienced the mayham perpetuated by so-called ‘leaders’ who are turning a blind eye to rampant issues of sexual, physical, emotional, mental abuse, addictions and suicide while they ‘golf’ and ‘gamble’ and ‘talk treaty’ you may think again! The blantant theft going on via the ‘councils of the day’ of community owned resources has got to stop! The silencing of women and children under the age old imposition of ‘sexism’ in our nations has got to stop! The paramountcy of capitalistic ideals, materialism…greed, self-interest and secrets has got to stop! People wonder why there is a ‘gang crisis’ in many of our reserve/urban communities…well it’s because the adults and ‘leaders’ are all perpetuating this style of dictatorship! Education, indigenous laws, true treaty teachings and our languages are all being cast aside and those that stand up and speak out are also stigmatized and silenced. Our ‘national organizations’ are directly complicit and cooperative in this agenda, it’s a ‘chiefs’ world! The People are the Power and we must stop pointing fingers and blaming everyone else and start addressing the crisis and reconciliation that MUST OCCUR at a community level FIRST AND FOREMOST. The corrupted mentality of ‘gangs’ must be ousted or nothing will change. With all of the brilliant indigenous intellectuals out there why is nothing being done at a community level? Instead of critiquing from a safe and well paid ‘distance’ why not engage and offer your help where it is so desparately needed? Why continue to ignore our youth and children who are at risk, who are dying in vast numbers and who are suffering in desperation because everything they are witnessing around them is so sad, miserable and wrong!! Enuff is enuff, help us rebuild, acknowledge the rampant corruption and greed that is paramount in too many of our communities and the powerlessness of the people who are victims of a minority.

  8. I agree that we should defer to the wisdom and insights of those communities most affected by the scourge of child abuse, which is why I am heartened by the best practices highlighted in the report, A Better Way: Success Stories in Aboriginal community-control in the Northern Territory.” Local, lasting solutions put into action by those who can’t afford to be bystanders, as you say.

  9. Great piece, Rick. It’s funny to me that we still find it surprising that there could be a conspiracy against us–isn’t that what colonialism is? Rationalizing the seizure of Indigenous lands and resources by any means necessary, including rendering us less than human? This can be traced back to justification for holy wars in Europe, in which the church declared that conquest was in the best interest of non-Christians, conquering them for their own good. The same rationale was used in colonizing North America and much of the rest of the world, and is still present in Western law the world over. The government will use whatever tactics it can in order to get rid of obstacles to making money and using our land and resources. If working with national Aboriginal leaders doesn’t work, then I’m sure undermining those organizations will be the next step.

    I think it’s important to remember that the national Aboriginal organizations were set up to engage with the federal government, not to replace our traditional leadership. Indigenous communities would not have traditionally used a federal system of governance to solve local problems (since there was no “Canada”). In my work on issues of violence against children and youth in BC, it is largely brave, outspoken community members who are creating change, not paid leaders. Since the government introduced abuse into our communities and continue to maintain that abuse through systemic neglect, I don’t think we can look to them to solve those problems. This story clearly shows that the violence in our communities will just be used as proof that we’re too incompetent to raise our own children and to govern ourselves. It is up to us to prove them wrong.

  10. Miranda, I agree with you completely. And the problems are only going to get worse unless, as you say, “we stop pointing fingers and… start addressing the crisis”.

    I only wish to add that “understanding,” I believe, is a major part of the process. We all know where we are, but how did we get here? Why are our Leaders corrupt? Why are our kids joining gangs? We have to get to the root of the problem. And I made that comment because the main root is CANADA. The systemic problems we’re facing now, didn’t exist before Canada started imposing its will on us, dis-empowering men and women and cutting every single thread that held together family, community and nation.

    With all of the brilliant indigenous intellectuals out there why is nothing being done at a community level?

    That is an excellent question. Do you remember the Wasase Movement? The hope was that Wasase was going to be the answer to that. We definitely had enough Intellectuals, Community Leaders and Activists involved. But there was never enough will to get anything done.

    Maybe it’s time for another Wasase to emerge? I mean, there are some good things happening here and there, but we’re capable of so much more. We just need community leaders to step forward and say, “ok, let’s do this.” And then they do it, regardless of any threats or whatever.

    If we don’t step up, than maybe Canada will “intervene.”

    Linda, the big concern here is that Canada’s plan wouldn’t be in the best interests of the children. Rather, it would be in “Canada’s best interests for the children,” just as the NT Intervention was for “Australia’s best interests”.

    For example, the “Little Children are Sacred” report–which ultimately brought on the NT intervention—outlined nearly a 100 recommendations on how to improve the lives of all indigenous Children in the Northern Territory. The NTER, the “little children are scapegoats” bill, didn’t include one single recommendation from “Little Children are Sacred”. Instead, the government did what it wanted. And now the landlords have been turned into tenants on their own land–and after 5 years, things aren’t any better for the kids. Certainly nowhere near how it would’ve been if the government gave the communities the supports they need for efforts such as those listed in “A Better way” and others centred on empowering individuals and communities: to stop the abuse (protect those who are abused); replace the conditions that led to the abuse, with something healthy; and heal and empower the abuser and the person who is abused.

  11. “The systemic problems we’re facing now, didn’t exist before Canada started imposing its will on us, dis-empowering men and women and cutting every single thread that held together family, community and nation.”

    So how long are we going to allow corrupted individuals to use this excuse to continue to perpetuate dis-empowerment at all levels in many of our communities? To anwer about the ‘wasase’ movement, no I was busy working in my own community at the ‘ground level’, learning and witnessing what is happening, the corrupted political circles and connections, and caring for my family, advocating for change and learning from Elders who have been silenced and cast aside. Rather than jump on the next ‘in’ bandwagon of change, the battle, as I have experienced, needs to happen at a community level, by the relatives living and suffering in these communities under the corrupted council of the day. I do believe well paid intellectuals (who also enjoy power in many instances and this is another area of often power politics I don’t care to acknowledge nor engage) could start by working in their own nations and communities, demonstrating the change they preach, rather than starting ‘fad’ movements far removed from their relations, territories, etc. Why are we so afraid to stand up to the bullies in our communities who thrive off of the crisis in addictions, abuse, etc.? Until we can stand up and say “no” as ‘the people’, and force change at a community level, using all of our resources (the Elders, people, our laws, values, language) this sad state will continue. People will continue to whine about how wrong we have and continue to be treated by the colonial state and players at all levels, and continue to turn a blind eye to the sickness in our own backyards. If you are watching the revolution in the middle east right now it may provide insight into what needs to be done at a community level (ousting with ‘tuff love’ tactics versus violence of course). Change will not happen until we get the crooked perps out, reconcile families and members of our communities via acknowledging firstly that we are now the perps of ‘colonial oppression’ and it HAS TO STOP. Our people are not reading the ‘books’ that our intellectuals are writing so this awareness is key in this struggle, at a community level, in a manner that will engage the people. Alcohol and drugs are a key barrier to this happening and until we ‘ban’ both and banish the dealers (sadly which some ‘leaders’ have participated in ….i.e. See Key First Nation in SK recently) and gang members that r not willing to change nor contribute to the rebuilding….it will continue.

    Question for U and Others: If none of our ‘leaders’ at any level (political, indian act, academic, legal, etc.) are willing to stand up to the plate and stop the flow of oppression and genocide (self perpetuated now by turning a blind eye and/or feeding the system of misery) what is the next step for community people desperate for change at a grassroots level?
    And I’m not into more ‘reports’, we have been and continue to feed ‘academics’ lifestyles based on ‘report writing and publishing’…where has that gotten us? Ask any community person about what the problems are and you may learn insight that no fancy report will give u. Recommendations have been going on for decades….and now what? Nice words will not do….I for one, as an Indigenous Lifegiver am fed up with disconnected ‘nice words’ which result in absolutely nothing!

    Is it about ‘will’ truly, or about ‘ego-maniacs’ who, similar to our ‘indian act’ ‘leaders’, cannot get along nor respect the gifts evvery person brings to the table? Every one seems to want to be ‘in the spotlight’ , and ‘given recognition’ for ‘their brilliance’ and ‘innovation’ in the ‘clicky’ world of academia but really what that is just another display of ‘band office politics’ veiled behind fancy words, initials and institutions.
    Get off the phony pot already people because it is only a part of the problem, not getting us anywhere nor stopping the abuse that is happening to many of our children this very moment while a Chief “puts another nickel into the slot machine”. Enuff said!

  12. Miranda…I feel your rage ,but you seem to have arrived at the same conclusion many of the commentators,i.e regarding the root cause, in your discus bio you wrote …She has worked for Treaty Nation People in SK, which solidified her position that no change will come without dismantling of the current regime (Indian Act), and ownership by leadership of indigenous values, laws and worldview in the rebuilding of Indigenous Nations.
    That said i congratulate you for sticking to/with your community ,that where the change will happen and has to happen.Venting is good but no need for the cynical reaction to others who want the same thing as you .

  13. hmm, my last comment isn’t here anymore. Let’s try this again…

    So how long are we going to allow corrupted individuals to use this excuse to continue to perpetuate

    Miranda, I really don’t know; but it definitely has to stop. Just to be clear, though: I’m not suggesting that we should blame Canada. I prefer to look at it as a guidepost; eg, if Canada is at the root of all this, than the solution lies in restoring what we’ve lost since Canada started interfering with our lives.

    Question for U and Others: If none of our ‘leaders’ at any level (political, indian act, academic, legal, etc.) are willing to stand up to the plate… what is the next step for community people desperate for change at a grassroots level?

    I’m by no means a community organizer, but there’s always strength in numbers. So, as a starting point, what if, say, 100 women got together to confront a drug dealer (or someone that’s abusive to family)? Then, together, you could give him an ultimatum: self-correct or leave. Then two weeks later, you do it again, with more women (and men, Elders, youth. ).

    After your second or third notice, if he’s not willing to correct, then kick him out (for however long you decide, and hopefully with the understanding that when he comes back, no one’s going to tolerate the behaviour that got him kicked out in the first place). And, one way or the other, he’s going to have to work for it. As I was taught, that means he has to give back to the community ten-fold.

    Some communities have tried this before. Sometime’s it has worked. You just got to make it clear that, one way the another, his harmful actions are coming to an end.

    Or, if you want to focus on the leaders, than I’d say occupy the Band Office – or at least surround the doors so no one can get in (and when they try, lock your arms together so they can’t get through.) If trust is a big concern than start small; but if your focus is drugs or gangs or abuse, than after a day or two, people will start joining in.

    And then it becomes a waiting game. You have to hold out longer than the Chief and Council. Just be sure to give them an “out” whether it’s stricter laws, better counselling services, a new community center, a weekly open forum for everyone to sit and talk, a referendum on banishment, the replacement of irresponsible leaders, all of the above. Whatever you think is best.

    That said, I would just like to add that the protest isn’t really what matters here. That’s just a means to an end. What matters is that you’re challenging the status quo (throwing a boulder into the lake), bringing the issues to the surface and keeping them there so we can start working through them. You don’t really have to protest to do that; but it’s the best way when people are too afraid or too comfortable with how things are.

    And of course, you’ll probably end up bumping into INAC at some point—especially if you’re going to try to banish someone. If things are particularly bad on the reserve (and INAC knows it) they’ll try to use it to their advantage.

    The only way to deal with this, is with bigger protests. The courts can work, but that’s usually a waste of time. ANd if INAC (with or without the Band Council’s support) can keep the situation away from the public eye, then they’re basically free to do what they want. But if you get “loud” enough than INAC will be forced into a corner that they won’t be able to get away from, particularly if it ignites more protests and a National debate.

    Well, that’s all I can think to say, Miranda. I hope it can be useful.

  14. Yes let’s censor ‘rageful cynics’ like myself who have witnessed and experienced more trauma in their lives and work than most can imagine (thus the smug attitudes of false superiority) and continue to witness this crisis that rages on unaddressed in our communities by anyone! We are at war people, make no mistake and the battle needs to happen in our communities first and foremost. This requires the removal of ‘the old’ and empowerment of ‘the new’ particularly our youth!

    Intervention? Doesn’t that breach our’ s.35′ (meh!) rights despite the fact that we are abandoning children in our communities that are hungry, beaten, sexually abused and desperate for a way out? Let’s pull out the ol’ treaty card and beat them back with cleverly composed legal arguments around ‘jurisdiction’ and ‘self-determination’! Sad!!

    Of course I am not advocating for the state to intervene but rather live up to their binding obligations under Treaty and work ‘with us’ rather than ‘at us’ or ‘not at all’, as is currently. But we cannot wait for them to rescue! Recognition and invitation to/of members who have training/vision/experience to begin this necessary work, rather than empowering a minority of often very undereducated, experienced or healthy individuals to control the majority for ‘scraps’.

    If it were not for ‘mouthy’ indigenous women like myself (in the ol’ brown boyz club that dictates and denies) the current crisis would continue to go on and on and on…until we have absolutely no ‘distinct identity’, lawfully binding Treaties, values, worldview….etc.!Why would our children be interested in our worldview or laws when all they witness is violations at all levels? Too often, they can’t wait to get away and we lose them to gangs, suicide, addictions, mainstream societal values, thoughts, aspirations and law.

    I am all for people trying new strategies for change but enuff talk already! What did these ‘movements’ accomplish over the long term? Did any of them mount a direct challenge to corrupted leadership and values that anyone took any notice of or that resulted in substantial change? Why not? I am a firm believer that change begins in our own backyards first and foremost, and while the ‘pan-indigenous’ movement is ‘nice’, it fails to reveal the situation so many of us have lived with and continue to suffer under for too long at the hands of our ‘leadership’. For myself, and in my direct experience, I was out of touch with this reality until I ‘returned home’ and confronted it directly. Now I cannot walk away from the people that have no one to turn to, to listen, to acknowledge ….”yes that is wrong, a violation of treaty, our law, and you are ok, right, loved and cared for”. There is no one listening or working for ‘the people’, at least in our Treaty territory.

    Here’s another ‘radical’ thought for those that are drawn to such terminology/ideology:
    We women are continuously shut down, silenced and ignored which is a key component of the problem! Huanani Kay Trask utilized the term ‘righteous rage’ which u r likely familiar with (or not) and comments from indigenous and white men to our women that we are ‘rageful, angry, bitter, etc. only demonstrate that these accusers are the opposite….complacent, which is a form of guilt. It is a tactic to silence… but thankfully many of us see through this and march on regardless. This is what our laws obligate us to do, and if people don’t like the harsh words and frustration we MUST share for change to happen (conflict is necessary component of change) and to confront false ideas that are allowing the corrupted domination to continue at all levels, then don’t invite such ‘controversial’ topics that push peoples’ buttons!! Unless you are far removed from the reality ‘on the ground’, I suppose such a topic would be ‘interesting’ or ‘amusing’ but I take offense to the utilization of our pain for such meaningless purpose. It continues to shade the reality of corruption in our communities by continuously attempting to place the focus and blame on the state and not on those wrongdoers and perpetuaters of injustice in our own communities, many of whom we share a blood relation to. The silence breaking is the first step, and with my children and our next seven generations coming behind us, I will not be silenced.
    Meegwetch and likely I will be blocked/ deleted/banished now:)
    Keep the struggle going for those of u that recognize oppression at all levels. Politeness covering oppression is wrong, and a very ‘western’ practice that many of us don’t catch ourselves within. There is no polite way to confront genocide and the perpetuators of injustice that hide behind the ‘poor me’ whine.

  15. Yes let’s censor ‘rageful cynics’ like myself who have witnessed and experienced more trauma in their lives and work than most can imagine (thus the smug attitudes of false superiority) and continue to witness this crisis that rages on unaddressed in our communities by anyone! We are at war people, make no mistake and the battle needs to happen in our communities first and foremost. This requires the removal of ‘the old’ and empowerment of ‘the new’ particularly our youth!

    Intervention? Doesn’t that breach our’ s.35′ (meh!) rights despite the fact that we are abandoning children in our communities that are hungry, beaten, sexually abused and desperate for a way out? Let’s pull out the ol’ treaty card and beat them back with cleverly composed legal arguments around ‘jurisdiction’ and ‘self-determination’! Sad!!

    Of course I am not advocating for the state to intervene but rather live up to their binding obligations under Treaty and work ‘with us’ rather than ‘at us’ or ‘not at all’, as is currently. But we cannot wait for them to rescue! Recognition and invitation to/of members who have training/vision/experience to begin this necessary work, rather than empowering a minority of often very undereducated, experienced or healthy individuals to control the majority for ‘scraps’.

    If it were not for ‘mouthy’ indigenous women like myself (in the ol’ brown boyz club that dictates and denies) the current crisis would continue to go on and on and on…until we have absolutely no ‘distinct identity’, lawfully binding Treaties, values, worldview….etc.!Why would our children be interested in our worldview or laws when all they witness is violations at all levels? Too often, they can’t wait to get away and we lose them to gangs, suicide, addictions, mainstream societal values, thoughts, aspirations and law.

    I am all for people trying new strategies for change but enuff talk already! What did these ‘movements’ accomplish over the long term? Did any of them mount a direct challenge to corrupted leadership and values that anyone took any notice of or that resulted in substantial change? Why not? I am a firm believer that change begins in our own backyards first and foremost, and while the ‘pan-indigenous’ movement is ‘nice’, it fails to reveal the situation so many of us have lived with and continue to suffer under for too long at the hands of our ‘leadership’. For myself, and in my direct experience, I was out of touch with this reality until I ‘returned home’ and confronted it directly. Now I cannot walk away from the people that have no one to turn to, to listen, to acknowledge ….”yes that is wrong, a violation of treaty, our law, and you are ok, right, loved and cared for”. There is no one listening or working for ‘the people’, at least in our Treaty territory.

    Here’s another ‘radical’ thought for those that are drawn to such terminology/ideology:
    We women are continuously shut down, silenced and ignored which is a key component of the problem! Huanani Kay Trask utilized the term ‘righteous rage’ which u r likely familiar with (or not) and comments from indigenous and white men to our women that we are ‘rageful, angry, bitter, etc. only demonstrate that these accusers are the opposite….complacent, which is a form of guilt. It is a tactic to silence… but thankfully many of us see through this and march on regardless. This is what our laws obligate us to do, and if people don’t like the harsh words and frustration we MUST share for change to happen (conflict is necessary component of change) and to confront false ideas that are allowing the corrupted domination to continue at all levels, then don’t invite such ‘controversial’ topics that push peoples’ buttons!! Unless you are far removed from the reality ‘on the ground’, I suppose such a topic would be ‘interesting’ or ‘amusing’ but I take offense to the utilization of our pain for such meaningless purpose. It continues to shade the reality of corruption in our communities by continuously attempting to place the focus and blame on the state and not on those wrongdoers and perpetuaters of injustice in our own communities, many of whom we share a blood relation to. The silence breaking is the first step, and with my children and our next seven generations coming behind us, I will not be silenced.
    Meegwetch and likely I will be blocked/ deleted/banished now:)
    Keep the struggle going for those of u that recognize oppression at all levels. Politeness covering oppression is wrong, and a very ‘western’ practice that many of us don’t catch ourselves within. There is no polite way to confront genocide and the perpetuators of injustice that hide behind the ‘poor me’ whine.

  16. You need to know that the Australian Government implemented the whole NT intervention under the auspices of addressing sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. Two major problems from the start: 1) the government’s own statistics showed that sexual abuse rates were LOWER in the Aboriginal communities than among non-Aboriginal people in Australia and 2) there is NO EVIDENCE linking measures like bringin in the army and forcing land leases to reducing sexual abuse. Another one unfolded as they implemented the NT intevention. After the Australian Government forced thousands of Aboriginal children to undergo sexual abuse screenings only four cases of sexual abuse were detected. Still the Australian government continued the measures reframing the NT intervention saying it was now required because their are “unreported” cases of sexual abuse. While it is true that sexual abuse is largely an unreported violation there is no evidence that these rates are different for Aboriginal versus non-Aboriginal peoples. Sexual abuse is a violation of children that should not be excused and requires the most sensitive and evidence based interventions. I have said publically, that if the Australian Government truly thought measures like the army and forced land leases were required to deal with the tragedy of sexual abuse then it should have brought in even stronger measures for the non-Aboriginal community where rates were higher – it did not. So what was the intervention really about? For one perspective watch the film Our Generation at http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/
    Meanwhile, Aboriginal children and families do have important needs that are going unaddressed. Like in Canada Aboriginal children in Australia are over-represented in child welfare care because of poverty, poor housing and substance misuse linked back to residential schools (called the Stolen Generation in Australia) and little has been done to respond to historic and current calls from Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal experts calling for measures that WOULD HELP.
    I am from Canada, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting Australia and working with Aboriginal peoples there who truly are the experts on their own children. I can tell you first hand – they care about the kids the most, they want to accept responsibility for their children and all they need is the same opportunity to do that in culturally based ways as other citizens. There are good Aboriginal organizations there supported by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal experts who could be putting the government dollars wasted on the NT intervention into good use for children. Watch Our Generation and then take action – write to PM Gillard and tell her to invest in housing, water, support Aboriginal peoples to live on their homelands, provide funding for culturally based mental health and to get rid of the archaic NT intervention as the UN recommended two years ago in its scathing human rights review of the Government of Australia.

  17. “…the [Australian] government’s own statistics showed that sexual abuse rates were LOWER in the Aboriginal communities than among non-Aboriginal people in Australia … if the Australian Government truly thought measures like the army and forced land leases were required … then it should have brought in even stronger measures for the non-Aboriginal community where rates were higher — it did not. So what was the intervention really about?” Wow. This is added context that I missed. I also neglected to mention the military’s involvement. Your closing question hits the nail on the head.

  18. I don’t know if there’s any truth to it; but when the Intervention was being rolled in, lots of people were saying that it was really about the uranium in the Northern Territory (that is, getting control of everyone’s land for the uranium). Personally, I’ve always thought that it was so the government could carry forward it’s assimilation policy.

    That said, there’s a pretty illuminating talk by Chris Graham, former editor of the National Indigenous Times, that examines the supposed “origins” of the intervention: an ABC Lateline program that aired on June 21, 2006. Graham shows that the Lateline report was largely based on false statements given by an “anonymous former youth worker” who later turned out to be Gregory Andrews, a high-ranking government official who advised then-Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, on Australia’s Aboriginal policy. See http://intercontinentalcry.org/manufacturing-the-intervention/

  19. There are so many issues on the table…democracy is just that. Dealing with the issues as they are brought forth. I have watched for over 40 years as people of all cultures migrate and assume there is some form of community there for them yet they never stay in the same place long enough to make one. Their idea to some extent is to wait, with baited breathe for the appropriate time to emerge, usually after there is progress. This has been a silent war that only recency came to be. I have pushed for aboriginal rights for over 30 years, as I ripped the pages out of my textbooks ensuring that they were receiving the same education so one day when I was older, the youth of today would have something to carry them. Not some barbaric history of demented humanity and bizarre actions but logical effective solutions. Those come with a financial cost and a huge responsiblity to stand, even while others push. I unfortuantely got pushed too far by industry who attacked my human rights with their legislation. Fall House of Commons, you are a beautiful CHURCH…..we will pick you back up with ethical, morally responsible behavior although I, dramitically repused, would spit on some of the individuals who proclaim this to be their country “strong and free”.

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