‘Indigenous reconciliation’ ranks at rock bottom of B.C. voter priorities
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/indigenous-reconciliation-bottom-bc-voter-priorities
‘Indigenous reconciliation’ ranks at rock bottom of B.C. voter priorities
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/indigenous-reconciliation-bottom-bc-voter-priorities
10 Comments
The Cowichan case was the longest fought case in Canadian history.
It was fought using Canada law, precedent and agreed upon Canadian-First Nations history.
The reaction to the Cowichan outcome just underlined the apathy and ignorance that defines the Canadian side of that relationship.
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I can’t imagine the Cowichan claim and the decision on that helps.. If anything, private landowners in BC are going to turn this into a voting issue but not in favour of reconciliation.
I’ve always considered reconciliation to be a ‘luxury’ priority to most of the public. The type of cause that you’re fine with throwing a bone when times are good but when you’re struggling and worrying about paying your rent it can be borderline offensive to see massive land grants or other major perks be thrown around to others
It is an important long-term project but currently the concerns are elsewhere unless we have water, health or other specific FN issues in a specific area that need emergency attention.
Mugfahs go on about the Rule of Law until it inconveniences them. Indigenous people know the Canadian electorate is a fickle bunch which is why we are generally very defensive about our rights under treaty, jurisprudence, and international instruments like UNDRIP. We know many Canadians view the extent of our rights based on which side of the bed they wake up on in the morning.
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Unsurprisingly.
“Rreconciliation” has become exactly the opposite of what that word normally means.
The model of reconciliation that is currently being pursued only serves to further entrench differences in legal rights and government entitlements between Indigenous and “non-Indigenous” Canadians.
There was a time not long ago that advocating for equality under law and exclusive sovereignty of the Canadian state and it’s publicly elected bodies of government would be seen as normal and just.
These days, wanting such things is apparently “anti-reconciliation”.
Really makes you wonder what exactly that word is representing in policy and culturally.
Far from being a priority, I expect this model of reconciliation to in fact represent something many voters in BC want done away with altogether.
I think it has been a big mistake having closed negotiations without much public involvement. I would have liked to see a general referendum granting self governing power to first nations that is less then a provincial government then more then a municipal government.
As it is things come out of these negotiations that surprise people and cause backlash. You have to bring people along in the process.