Native issues in the news

Lots of stories in the Canadian media over the last few days that complement the readings from our course. Follow the links for the full stories.

Fontaine warns of 'palpable' anger in native communities

National native leader Phil Fontaine warned a blue-chip audience on Tuesday that the anger felt in many First Nations communities has reached a breaking point.

In an eloquent speech to the Canadian Club of Ottawa, Fontaine outlined just what was at stake.

"Frankly, we are fearful of the effect this is having on the well-being and public safety in our communities," said the chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

"So here I am again today, hammering away at another group. Many of our communities have reached the breaking point. The anger and frustration are palpable."

[. . .] Pointing to severe overcrowding in many native communities, Fontaine spoke of as many as 28 people living in small two-bedroom homes where people are forced to sleep in shifts.

[. . .] Fontaine also spoke of the deep poverty in many First Nations communities and how this leads child welfare officials to remove children from their families.

"The number of First Nations children today who have been removed from families and placed into state care is now three times the number of children that were in residential schools at the height of this terrible experience."

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/05/15/fontaine.html

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Educational programs keeping aboriginal languages alive: StatsCan

While only one in four First Nations people can speak or understand an aboriginal language, many have learned the language of their ancestors as a second language, says a study released Tuesday.

The Statistics Canada study, "Aboriginal languages in Canada: Emerging trends and perspectives on second language acquisition," said second language learning is a positive development because it could prevent or slow the loss of aboriginal languages across the country.

Over the last 100 years, the study says at least 10 aboriginal languages have become extinct in Canada.

"Learning an aboriginal language as a second language cannot be considered a substitute for learning it as a first language," the study reads.

"Nevertheless, increasing the number of second language speakers is part of the process of language revitalization, and may go some way towards preventing, or at least slowing, the rapid erosion and possible extinction of endangered languages," it adds.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/05/15/aboriginal-languages.html

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Car-buying ad aimed at residential school students sparks lawsuit

Former Manitoba politician and aboriginal leader Elijah Harper has filed a lawsuit against a Winnipeg auto finance company over an advertisement that aims to sell automobiles to people receiving compensation as a result of residential school abuse.

In the ad, an image and likeness of Harper urged people to call the White Buffalo auto sales team for a fair price and courteous service, the statement of claim says.

The ad goes on to offer a special service to people expecting a residential school settlement cheque, the court document says.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/05/15/harper-lawsuit.html
Thanks to Jennifer Hammer for alerting me to this story

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Aboriginal children in care victims of more than poverty, says Metis leader

(This story fits very well with our reading of In Search of April Raintree)

Donald Langford, executive director of Métis Child and Family Services Society, said that while Fontaine is raising some important issues, poverty is just one of the problems.

"You can't blame everything on poverty. There are issues of family violence, there are issues of addictions that have to be addressed and that isn't all poverty."

The Métis Child and Family Services Society was formed more than two decades ago over concern about the disproportionately high number of Métis children being taken into provincial care. In the Edmonton region today, native children make up about six per cent of the population, but nearly 50 per cent of the children in care are aboriginal.

Kari Tomason, who works with Langford as an outreach worker, said removing children from their homes can be devastating.

"The label comes with that child, it's a stigma, it's like nobody wants me now, what did I do wrong? And that stays with you for many years to come."

Langford said what is needed now is for the federal government to take notice and increase funding to help aboriginal families stay together.

"We need proper funding," he said. "We need proper management of the funding. We need addictions services. We need suicide intervention. We need employment programs. We need safe water. We need housing. We need good education and we need good teachers and we need good role models."

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2007/05/16/fontaine-reax.html