Dan Green

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Residential Schools released its interim report on February 24, entitled They Came for the Children. The basic conclusions were that the residential school system had been an assault on aboriginal children, culture, families and that the impact of the system was immediate and ongoing. Lastly, the commission concluded that Canadians have been denied full and proper education about this sad chapter in our history.

Even though the Canadian government and the various religious denominations who were involved in operating the system have apologized for the assaults on the aboriginal community and are providing monetary compensation to the survivors, it will never be enough.

However when it comes to the the Canadian public being denied full and proper education on the matter, there is a degree of self serving rhetoric on the part of the TRC, the AFN and other First Nations Organizations who seem to more interested in perpetuating their own beaurocratic agendas for continued funding by acting as gatekeepers regarding just what information will be provided to the public,  particularly young Canadians of high school age who have so many other media distractions vying for their attention.

A journalistic report like this is really just another expensive example of the many that have preceeded it, pretty well saying all the same things. It will be read only by a few academics and maybe by some high school students who will cough back a few answers to pass their exams. The Canadian public will not be any the wiser and it will shortly end up in the dustbin of history.

Yet when given the opportunity to lever a story like Blue Saltwater to engage Canadians on an emotional level and thereby raise awareness about the schools and the sytemic dysfunction they generated within the aboriginal community, the gatekeepers inexplicably remain silent and unsupportive. Why is that?

Asemmbly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo’s interview with George Strombolopolous on CBC television revealed a man with a sharp intellect and clear vision for what will be a brighter future for First Nations people in Canada.http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/canada/shawn-atleo-the-complete-interview.html With a Conservative government majority, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chief Atleo have the perfect opportunity to dismantle the antiquated Indian Act, replacing it with a new legislative agreement which will provide the framework for First Nations to grow, prosper and become an integral partner in the social fabric of Canada.

Both Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo and Herb George, president of the National Centre for First Nations Governance are calling for a “smashing” of the status quo by replacing the Federal Indian Act which has governed aboriginals in Canada since 1876. Herb George says the act is punitive, restrictive, regulatory and an assault on the language and culture of First Nations communities.http://www.thestar.com/article/1121475–aboriginal-crises-are-symptoms-of-a-deep-rooted-problem 

There is no question that a piece of legislation drafted in 1876 must be in need of some serious updating to reflect the changing reality of First Nations affairs in this country. However, with almost 2000 independent First Nations bands in British Columbia alone, all with different priorities and needs, the idea of just smashing the Indian Act seems a little naive without a solid vision about what is to replace it.

Would getting rid of the Act provide more transparent and democratic governance then what now exists under the hereditary chief system where aboriginal people’s lives are controlled by individuals and their relatives who benefit in many ways by an accident of birth? If so, lets put all the cards on the table and get on with it. Until Shawn Atleo and Herb George do more than just complain about the status quo without putting forward any concrete proposals regarding more accountable and responsible self-sustaining forms of governance, the Indian Act will be here for a long time to come.

Check out Wab’s comments at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlkuRCXdu5A&feature=youtu.be. Wab is an educated, well spoken individual, about as far as one can get from what many would consider a stereotypical Indian guy.  His insightful comments on YouTube speak volumes of how the power of education and technology working hand-in-hand, can bridge the gap between how aboriginal and other Canadians perceive each other.  Well done.

Hats off, to courageous and generous individuals like Michelle Durant-Dudley http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/this-teacher-is-on-a-mission-to-educate-first-nations/article2289480/  a teacher, who since 2009 has been volunteering her time to help aboriginal residents of the Wahgoshig First Nation gain their high school diplomas.

When close to $3-billion began to flow into the area with the construction of a gold mine, most of the local aboriginal residents found themselves shut out of the good job opportunities because of lack of education. Ms. Durant-Dudley’s personal mission to improve the quality of life on this reserve has now resulted in producing 40 graduates. She has now been hired by band leaders and provided with  $400,000.00 in funding that came with the mine business, to teach 70 more students enrolled in this year’s program.

The initative is snowballing and other First Nations want in, but the problem is lack of teachers who understand First Nations cultures and values. 

A perfect “opportunity is knocking” for aboriginal youth to fill these roles as teachers and role-models like Ms. Durant-Dudley, leading the way towards the postive change that will come when educational opportunities are provided to the countless bright aboriginal children thirsting for a chance to learn. Hopefully, the best and the brightest of today’s teenagers will “hear the knocking and heed the call”.