Canada

[vance hawkins]

The following was sent to me by someone I know and respect. Having said that, I have no idea what is being discussed. I am just reporting it in case we have Canadian members who might know the topic better than I do. The following is what I was sent.

=========================

DANGER ¡V ALERT
Canada & Provinces Are Meeting in Kelowna, B.C.
with the
Assembly of First Nations, UBCIC, First Nation¡¦s Summit
&
Other DIA Controlled Chiefs
STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!
WHY?
Paul Martin, Gordon Campbell & Other Premiers want Phil Fontaine (AFN) with the Backing of other DIA Controlled Chiefs to Sign a 10 year Deal for Dollars to Health, Housing, Education and Economic Development programs and services in exchange for giving up First Nations control and rights. They call this the ¡§Quality of Life¡¨ Agenda, which is supposed to fix our poverty. The Governments want the 10 year Deal to Apply to All Grassroots Peoples across Canada.

WHERE & WHEN IS THE DEAL-MAKING?
„« Grand Okanagan Hotel, November 24 & 25, 2005.
„« Nov. 24: Federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Provincial Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs Meet with National Aboriginal Organizations like AFN.
„« Nov. 25: Prime Minister Paul Martin and the Provincial Premiers Meet with National Aboriginal Organizations like AFN. The Deal is scheduled to be signed on this day in front of national media for propaganda purposes.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
The Grassroots Peoples have not been involved in the negotiations of the 10 year national deal that Phil Fontaine intends to sign, which helps Canada off-load its responsibilities to the Provinces.
Meanwhile, Our Aboriginal Rights, Title, Treaties and Self-Determination have been sidelined and are being ignored.
The historic theft of Our Lands and Resources by federal and provincial governments still continues despite court victories. THIS IS WHY WE ARE IMPOVERISHED!

COME TO KELOWNA ¡V EMERGENCY MEETING
DEMONSTRATE YOUR RIGHTS!
November 24: Peoples Meeting (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) ¡V Kelowna Public Library
November 25: Peoples Meeting (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) ¡V Kelowna Rotary Centre
421 Cawston Ave.

Bring Hand Drums ¡V Signs ¡V Food to Share

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Arthur Manuel, Spokesperson, Grassroots Peoples¡¦ Meeting, Cell: (250) 319-0688, email: amanuel@telus.net
Okanagan Contact:
Dixon Terbasket (250)809-0557 terbasket@nethop.net

[Tom]

This is not surprising we suffer from the "OLD BOY'S" club politics just like every where else, the problem is that many of these areas are really remote, and like all native people , many are marginalized, and are looked at as less than people, recently the editor from a local paper said that reserves don't work because it has made welfare/ drug addicts out of everyone.
So for people like the editor of the local rag that's the depth of thier perseptions, sad but true.
I often wonder about what is better status or status quo. really the answer is both, citizens plus!
thanx for the posting Vance.