?

"Those recommendations include requests for funding to help communities examine the impact of the legislation...."
More funding, good grief! pretty soon they will need funding to examine the funding. I think there are better ways to spend tax payers money.

Let me get this straight, they want money to examine the legislation but claim that the provincial government doesn't have jurisdiction? Seems like if the gov't doesn't have jurisdiction then there's no sense in examining the legislation.

This "funding" game is getting out of hand!
It seems everytime something new is even mentioned it involves more "funding"!
Where is all this money actually going and how much of it actually benefits the rank and file band members?
What actual benefit do they get from these studies and how are they conducted?
It seems everything gets studied to death but not much ever changes for band members?
I also think first nations in general are smart enough not to put too much trust in Gordon Campbell's rhetoric.
If he is in favour of this "Recognition and Reconciliation Act" he is pushing,it's a pretty safe bet his reasons are self-serving at best.
And not only does he have to explain it to first nations leadership,Campbell also needs to explain it to the non- native people of B.C.!
That's something he has not done yet and it's about time he did!
This is something that will affect B.C.forever,and Campbell has some explaining to do to both sides of the issue.
I also question why Campbell himself is even involved in something as big as this.
When did he become an expert on first nations issues?
Who and what is really behind it all?

Of course they don't want to settle, than their cash cow gets shot. No wonder the smart ones are leaving the "Rez". They know its eventually going to only benefit a few of the higher members of the "Rez".

A smart man, plans for three generations, a dumb man plans for Saturday night.

I think the leaders need to start thinking of how to become intergrated into provinces economy, in which they get a piece of the action and yet gets to hang onto there heritage. Instead of delay, delay, and asking for more handouts.

Are they a part of this province or not. If not stop welfare. If they are have them pay taxes. Enough of the handouts.

I agree completely He spoke!

Lawyers can again rejoice. A continuation of the "aboriginal industry". Simply put. Carry on, gentlemen.

I concur with the opinions of those who have already posted on this topic.
Newsflash: this industry will never stop, as long as there are greedy people on the face of old Mother earth.
Greed and love of money will bring us all down eventually. The current financial crisis is proof of the fallibility of our financial system.
metalman.

This brings to mind the admission of Jacques Pariseau of the Quebec seperatists that; "what they want is more than what Canada can give them" and hence seperation was the only answer (as they seen it). There are similarities between what French seperatists leaders wanted and what leaders of native peoples want via the true meaning of "first nations".

This "wanting" or expectation of what is essentially the unique rights and entitlements, also includes the unique rights to self determination, and all of this is on the basis of being a "distinct society" or in this case a "First Nation".

I am not suggesting that the leaders of native peoples are promoting seperation as such, but I am suggesting they expect more than what Canada can possibly give them, which is essentially the power of which an independent nation would have over resources etc within a "traditional territory".

The province of Quebec could actually become an independent country and Canada could continue on, whereas it would be impossible to seperate native peoples and what is described as "traditional territories" from Canada. This is an ethnic/geographic/economic omelete of which cannot be unscrambled or reorganised. It is impossible to divide these juristictions and it is impossible economically.

Attempting to provide unique rights and entitlements to some/any, goes against everything that Canada stands for. I do not believe that we can have a country and have other "nations" within it, nations which have a special right (as nations) to self determination which includes unique rights or powers over the country, its resources,or its economy. You cannot have this and also have an economically viable province, territory or country.
The juristictions of Nunavut, the Northwest territories and Yukon are absolute proof of this incredibly costly approach. If the rest of Canada operated as these areas do, we as a country would be bankrupted in short order.
Check the math.

The leaders of native peoples are champions of the power which they will yield as "first nations leaders" but they promote this at the expense of everyone including their own people, because it is impossible and not to mention economically unsustainable.

The lesson which should be learned by now that treatys have become outdated, is proof that it is impossible to predict the future circumstances, the population growth and or the expectations of what being a "first nation" might be.
The establishment of treatys and Indian Reserves was supposed to be the answer but this has proved to be a bigger problem (for native people)than a solution.
The notion of redefining "traditional territory" to that of something similar to a seperate nation's lands will prove to be a similar deadend.

Native people as individuals do in fact have special rights, but these are rights bestowed to them as individual native Canadians which as all other Canadians represent a single individual's right.

It is time for native people to advance their own individual Canadian rights as Canadians rather than having their leaders squander everything on a road to nowhere.

It is time for our governments to take responsibility for the mess which they have largely caused to native people. A mess of inaction and misleading everyone as to what Canada can and actually will do for its citizens.

National slogan for all Canadians, instead of sea to sea, on our coat of arms,it should read, "I'm entitled to my entitlements". Put that in Latin and smoke it, pal.

Good one woodchipper!