I once had the opportunity to sit and talk with two experienced political advisers from Canada's two main parties. In spite of what most of us see - far removed from the political scene in Ottawa - most people that get involved in politics, do it because they love their country and want to make it a better place to live. The people we see warring on TV have more in common with each other than most realize.
One piece of wisdom that I carried from that encounter made a lasting impression on me. 'Never fall into the trap of thinking that the other party has nothing to offer.' they agreed. Hearing that from the mouths of what I thought would be extreme partisan folk was eye opening.
Now, I am no fan of President Barrack Obama, my impression of the man is that he is all talk, show, and hype. An overwhelming percentage of Canadians support him and they are buying into the cult of personality lock stock and barrel. Most Canadians that support him have little or no knowledge of his actual beliefs, voting record or platform ... they simply like his speeches. It is what most people say they hate about politics, playing itself out before their eyes, yet they fall for it. He provides the late night television instant infomercial solution to all of today's complex problems. Most Canadians do not know that president Obama is against same sex marriage; is against the Kyoto protocol; and supports the coal industry.
In spite of my personal dislike for him however, he is making some very interesting changes in how the White house faces Indigenous issues. See press release:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 2009
President Obama Announces Tribal Nations Conference WASHINGTON - On Thursday, November 5th, 2009, President Obama will host the White House Tribal Nations Conference. As part of President Obama’s sustained outreach to the American people, this conference will provide leaders from the 564 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of his Administration. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one representative to the conference.
President Obama said, "I look forward to hearing directly from the leaders in Indian Country about what my Administration can do to not only meet their needs, but help improve their lives and the lives of their peoples. This conference will serve as part of the ongoing and important consultation process that I value, and further strengthen the Nation-to-Nation relationship. "
(Source: White House)
****************
The words "Nation-to-Nation", are words that President Obama has said before in dealing with Indigenous issues. You may recognize the words as they have been used in dealing with Quebec in Canada. Whether the nation to nation terminology stems from a Canadian influence, as a friend of mine proclaims, is questionable.
I however, commend President Obama for taking a new approach to the intensely complex relationship between the federal government and Tribes in the US. It is an approach that may mark a new era in what has been a dismal and failing relationship.
Most importantly to us as Canadians watching from afar, the 'nation-to-nation' relationship needs to be looked at seriously in Canada in dealings between the federal government and First Nations. This may be the approach that breaks us First Nations from our cycles of dependency on the federal government. For 'nation' in a First Nations setting in Canada means self-taxation, self-governance, self-reliance, personal property rights and economic independence. It means an end of First Nations reliance on INAC and a reliance on ourselves. A relationship based on equity not hand-outs.
One piece of wisdom that I carried from that encounter made a lasting impression on me. 'Never fall into the trap of thinking that the other party has nothing to offer.' they agreed. Hearing that from the mouths of what I thought would be extreme partisan folk was eye opening.
Now, I am no fan of President Barrack Obama, my impression of the man is that he is all talk, show, and hype. An overwhelming percentage of Canadians support him and they are buying into the cult of personality lock stock and barrel. Most Canadians that support him have little or no knowledge of his actual beliefs, voting record or platform ... they simply like his speeches. It is what most people say they hate about politics, playing itself out before their eyes, yet they fall for it. He provides the late night television instant infomercial solution to all of today's complex problems. Most Canadians do not know that president Obama is against same sex marriage; is against the Kyoto protocol; and supports the coal industry.
In spite of my personal dislike for him however, he is making some very interesting changes in how the White house faces Indigenous issues. See press release:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 2009
President Obama Announces Tribal Nations Conference WASHINGTON - On Thursday, November 5th, 2009, President Obama will host the White House Tribal Nations Conference. As part of President Obama’s sustained outreach to the American people, this conference will provide leaders from the 564 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of his Administration. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one representative to the conference.
President Obama said, "I look forward to hearing directly from the leaders in Indian Country about what my Administration can do to not only meet their needs, but help improve their lives and the lives of their peoples. This conference will serve as part of the ongoing and important consultation process that I value, and further strengthen the Nation-to-Nation relationship. "
(Source: White House)
****************
The words "Nation-to-Nation", are words that President Obama has said before in dealing with Indigenous issues. You may recognize the words as they have been used in dealing with Quebec in Canada. Whether the nation to nation terminology stems from a Canadian influence, as a friend of mine proclaims, is questionable.
I however, commend President Obama for taking a new approach to the intensely complex relationship between the federal government and Tribes in the US. It is an approach that may mark a new era in what has been a dismal and failing relationship.
Most importantly to us as Canadians watching from afar, the 'nation-to-nation' relationship needs to be looked at seriously in Canada in dealings between the federal government and First Nations. This may be the approach that breaks us First Nations from our cycles of dependency on the federal government. For 'nation' in a First Nations setting in Canada means self-taxation, self-governance, self-reliance, personal property rights and economic independence. It means an end of First Nations reliance on INAC and a reliance on ourselves. A relationship based on equity not hand-outs.
A nation-to-nation relationship also means that First Nations in Canada would significantly have to pony up in how we face our problems. There would be no room for weak kneed leadership and table pounders that whine away their days by blaming the feds.
Beyond language, if anything else comes of our look at US politics and how the relationship between the government and the Indigenous people is being handled Canadian politicos need to look at how president Obama is engaging the US Tribal voters. It is a lesson that Canadian parties of all stripes need to emulate.
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