"possible game breakers in the war against the poor economy"

Do we keep on doing business as has been done up to now, or do we wrok out how to do business in a world that realizes that Indian Affairs is NOT the vehicle to disperse moneys to small communities and we have to wean ourselves off that?

Perhaps the alterante way would be to keep the Aboriginals as a ward of the State and simply extract higher taxes from the companies benefitting from extracting resources from the vicinity of local communities.

How is this any different from people bitching about companies who have left communities such as Mackenzie high and dry as the economy changes? Or from exporting raw logs primarily from coastal communities so that they benefit communities south of the border? Or from sending harvested logs to other regions than where they were harvested?

Are non-aboriginals allowed to bitch about such things while aboriginals are not? If our Mayors can discuss matters of community impact with the companies, the province and the feds, First Nations can't. Or their positions are not considered to be meaningful?

https://www.ethicalfunds.com/en/Investor/OurStory/InTheNews/EthicalFundsintheNews/Pages/06052009.aspx

https://www.ethicalfunds.com/en/Investor/Pages/default.aspx

Investors in Enbridge are asking for disclosure. Perhaps the general public in this part fo the world could also get some of that information that is obviously missing in order for us to individually make an informed decision as to whom to support in this project.

You would think that by now governments and private enterprise would realize that they need to have the First Nations groups onside with development plans before going ahead with stuff that impacts their land. Obviously not enough has been accomplished in that area.

In the case of Terrane metals the band from McLeod Lake has signed on. The band from Ft. St. James just seem to be out for a cash grab from any project. Mt Milligan looks to be closer to McLeod Lake. We need for the various bands in B.C. to sort out whose land is whose so the various stakeholders can negotiate in good faith.

Exactly muckermike!
Nothing is as simple as it may seem at first glance.
There is a lot more going on here than most people understand.
Unfortunately,it all revolves around money for select groups and has nothing to to with what will benefit everyone and the economy in general.
Whether or not the federal government understands that,or even cares, remains to be seen.

I have a hard time blaming govt. and industry for not getting first nations groups 'onside'. Anyone who has followed the various negotiations with first nations over the last few years would know that getting the various first nations onside is virtually impossible.

it is impossible to sort out what band owns or controls what land.
Between having overlapping land areas and many bands being resettled through the last century, no one really knows if it nishka or deni. Add to that the fact that most land claims are not yet settled after more the a century after the European invasion of north America, and we are in a more complex and dramatically inflated situation.

I sincerely doubt that this will ever be settled as the bands can suck more funding out of various governing bodies and any business enterprise that wants to exploit there land area resources. Worse yet, they have learned that as long as these matters are not settled, they can extort vast amounts of money.

Initially, aboriginals were an exploited and subjugated people. Over the years they have become enraged and are going to hinder every thing they can. I don't blame them at all for being totally pissed.

The fault lies with previous governments not taking decisive action and finishing treaty and land claims. Now it will cost us billions and Canada will have to relinquish huge land areas.

We are all Canadians, and what happened, to everyone being, equal. Why do some groups get special treatment. I think it's time, the feds get involved.

mib: depending on who you talk to, many aboriginals claim loyalty only to their own sovereign nation, ie Mohawk, deni, cree, and refuse to recognize the queen, (Canada is no longer a British commonwealth member??) or the Government of Canada. Some of the aboriginal community considers itself to be under siege by an invading enemy.

in short, we are not all Canadians. All through history there has not been any equality of all members of the community.
The feds have screwed this up since the beginning by not decisively closing the issue.
The strategy was to adsorb the aboriginal community into the euro-centric community. Total destruction by assimilation and dilution of the bloodlines. You think not? Why do you think that until recently, the only way to pass status onto descendants was only paternally based. Maternal descendants were denied all claims of Status.

Charter rights concerning equality gonna be updated? Fine tuning, so to speak? Everyone is equal. So they say. But, please see Section 16.

Maybe the point is that we ARE all canadians. Calling yourself something else does not change the fact. Every country in the world has its own aboriginals (assimilated or not) and its displaced peoples. Every single one. In most cases the original inhabitants were treated far worse than the canadian natives were. This is all history folks. It is in the past. The current strategy of some first nations to reject their canadian citizenship makes no sense and does not forward what should be their primary goal: the long term well being of their peoples. Canada is one of the richest countries in the world. Its citizens have one of the highest standards of living. As a nation we invite the first nations to partake of this good fortune, just as we invite immigrants to do so. It is senseless for them to refuse this.
Before you leap to lecture me on the subject you ought to know that my father and mother were persecuted minorities when they came to this country. I know some people are treated unfairly. I also know, from experience that it is better to work for the future than dwell on the unfairness of the past. I proftis nothing to be 'pissed' as a person or as a 'nation'

Must be a slow time at opinion250. Once again, Mr Meisner chooses to inflame the public with his usual us Vs. them rant to get people to actually read the tripe he puts on here.

Just for clarification Mr. Meisner, there are Aboriginal people out there who pay taxes. Matter of fact the honest reality is that everyone pays taxes of some sort. You buy a chocolate bar, you pay taxes. You get a haircut, you pay taxes.

Sorry for the simple explanation here. Just trying to help you out in this chosen profession of yours, which is just a step or two above prostitution.

It is time to let go of the past. Everyone should be equal in the acts of working and paying taxes. It has been 300 years now and I am sick to death of the natives and their rights due to what the europians did that long ago. Just shut up and hang on like the rest of us! With all the best lands at your disposal you should be able to make an excellent living. I was not born with land rights and I was born in this country. I have to pay taxes on three levels of government, when you can attest to the same then whine. IMO and I am part native myself.

howard, I assume you disagree with anyone discussing or even reporting on First nation issues and conflicts. Are you saying that Mr Meisner is in error? Just for clarification Mr MEisner isnt making a point based on whether natives pay taxes. He does, however, state in plain language what a lot of people have observed. THe interests of native bands seem to be largely contrary to those of British Columbians (or at least those who feel a healthy resource industry is vital to our economy). If you dont think this is news worthy then perhaps you dont think resource jobs are important.
We have a problem here in BC. With the proposed legislation (written it seems on a napkin) we may have a much larger problem. I for one think that this is worthy of report and discussion. We need to show our govt. officials that we care about such things.

Those native communities who feel they are hard done by the mining companies and the people of Central and Northern BC seem to have lost track of the fact that the seven odd billion dollars that flows to the Indian Affairs department comes directly from the taxes of those who oppose their wishes.

With a closing statement like that, why would I think otherwise. It assumes that because the dollars come from INAC, then Aboriginal people have absolutely nothing to do with how those dollars were generated. Is that a reality? When I pay taxes on my wage, does that go into a separate pot marked "indian money" and is not added to general revenue or do my taxes also go into the INAC fund like EVERY OTHER CANADIAN TAX PAYER? I could go on about how INAC is really a great lie that employs a great deal of white folks who do nothing except collect cheques but thats another story.

Secondly, it is a simplification of the tax system and as my recent tax return would tell you is complicated and complex.

I get really tired of people stating the obvious (paying taxes)and then thinking that because they do, it somehow makes them special. Ooooh, you pay taxes. So does everyone else.

As for the reconciliation deal, well lets just say it will fail no matter what the stoolies at the 1st Nations Summit and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs were paid to say. This is a bad deal for all British Columbians and I hope all citizens make that message loud and clear to our government. I think you will see that the majority of Aboriginal communities in this province are against this deal as well.

Carancil, I don't merely disagree with people and oppose their views, but get your facts straight.

I did get them straight. Your interpretation of Mr Meisners closing is your own, and obviously not the only one. You might think, as i do, that the statement was meant to reflect the fact that without the projects in question there will be a lot less tax money to be spent. Nowhere was it stated that 'so and so doesnt pay taxes'. The point pehaps was that while some native bands treat the various levels of govt. and industry in general as though they are the enemy they are, in fact supporting the bands themselves (through taxes). It is a question of biting the hand that feeds, even if one or two of the fingers in that hand are your own.
I think my facts are straight (though i dont see this as an argument about facts). Rather i think it is one of interpretation. I may be wrong about what was meant, thats for the author to clear up if he wants to. I would say though that someone seems to have their back up on the issue (and for once it isnt me).

The opinions expressed in your article are clearly biased as are mine. I'm not surprised to hear comments that continue discredit First Nations as "grabby" types, nor the tiring use of the "self-interest vs. public interest" card. However I am surprised this article is being written by a person whose profession it is to report on facts rather than opinion.

I am not of aboriginal descent, but am a Canadian that cares about what is happening to our country and for the future of our children. Here is my bias in plain language: our country and its people would be far worse off with regard to environmental devestation brought on by governments and private industry if it weren't for First Nations standing-up for their land rights and aboriginal entitlements. We owe much thanks to First Nations people and should ditch any notions or opinons that might state otherwise.

Oddly, and with reference to your closing statement, the first thing I see when reading this article is an ad for a fishing lodge. An ad which uses the bright and colourful imagery of pristine widlife and salmon fishing. If you had taken the time to read or hear why the First Nations are opposed to a pipeline cutting through ancient forest and disturbing BC's pristine wildlife, you would realize that they are defending the viability and livelidhood of the advertisers who are putting money into the hands of Opinion 250.

@therealgreen