Balt
Root problem has to do with the dysfunctional constitutional, legal, economic and other relations which have existed for many years between the Federal Government (which is responsible for Indian Affairs....their term, not mine) and First Nations (aboriginal people). As Bruce also pointed out the previous 'solution' has been to throw money at the problem; however, as is usually the case this is little better than a band-aid and a mighty expensive one at that. At the root of the change will be IMHO an extensive overhaul of the Indian Act, the legislation which effectively administers most (if not all) aspects of First Nations lives, on or off reserve, and possibly also the Treaties (1-11) which were 'negotiated' in the C19th. To date, little in the way of significant change has occurred and the result is an increasingly dissatisfied grassroots, especially within the FN community and outside of FN leadership significantly, which has decided that peaceful protest is the only available and realistic way to go. It has expanded rapidly in the past couple of weeks (the Kingston Sub and Sarnia blockades are part of this protest, the Hunger strike of Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat is another expression of this protest as well as is the protest re: the Northern Gateway pipeline to Kitimat BC) and has finally resulted in a meeting being called between the Prime Minister, the Minister of Indian Affairs and the Assembly of First Nations (the umbrella group which represents First Nations in Canada ). Usually these are pretty pro-forma and highly politicised affairs, however FN's have said that this time substantive and substantial progress must be made or the protests will continue.
As someone who worked for many years among FN's in Northern Canada (Yukon) I agree the relationship is badly flawed, even broken, and will require significant and substantial changes, legal constitutional and more, to be made. This is, again IMHO, a significant juncture in this sorry history of relationships. Hopefully something productive and life-giving for all concerned can result.
Time and genuine commitment by all concerned will be required. Violence such as was seen at Oka, Kanasitake and in your country Wounded Knee, SD will solve nothing. Everyone will lose....
The view from here.
Charlie
Chilliwack, BC
Not being Canadian - what is the root problem that is being protested?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Buried in a story about other aspects of this ongoing protest is the news that the blockade of the VIA trains ended after midnight last night. VIA stated that about 1,000 passenger were affected.
It was interesting reading the columnists in the local right-wing paper today. I usually don't agree with them, but I think this is increasingly looking like a problem wanting a throw-more-money-at-it solution. These issues have been dragging on for 35 years, but in today's era of tight government money the old solution isn't very likely. Nobody has yet figured out what the new solution is going to look like, or when it will happen. So, I expect this is the type of railway related news we are going to see out of Canada for the next while.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
First Nations protesters have stopped VIA service between Toronto-Ottawa and Toronto-Montreal for an indeterminate period of time, among other blockades in Canada this weekend.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/idle-no-more-protests-target-rail-service-border-crossings-1.1102263
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