Second Cast Citizens

Second Cast Citizens

FTLComm - Melfort - June 14, 1999

This is by definition a "Cast" system.
Sociologists discovered that Canada has a class system like most of the modern industrialised world where there are the lower classes who are often unemployed or underemployed, we have the working class, middle class and a very few upper class. But it was also discovered that the people of Canada's First Nations do not classify in any of those groups for their plight is to be born into their station in life where they have little or no hope of ever seeing things change for them. This is by definition a "Cast" system.

Almost all First Nations people are either unemployed and receiving social assistance.
It is always disconcerting to discover these unpleasant things about "This our Native Land" but the status of Canada's aboriginal people is not improving and to some extent, I believe that the life style and social conditions, are worse now, then when I was a teenager. The things that are making life less functional for the aboriginal people of Canada are complex. Almost all First Nations people are either unemployed and receiving social assistance. What is even more shocking is that most of the prison population of this country is made of up of this group of people. Their average level of education is grade six and the average age is 15. From these simple facts, it is abundantly apparent, that things are not good for this large population of people and here in Saskatchewan they will soon be half of the provinces population.

How in a modern society can such a situation be tolerated?

the standard features of the culture of poverty.
The first and most obvious affect is that aboriginal people are poor. Their poverty produces negative conditions such as malnourishment, alcohol and drug abuse, a high crime rate and the painful and ominous conditions of fetal alcohol syndrome, brain damage from abuse of inhalants and a burgeoning birth rate. On many reserves, the incidence of single parent teenage pregnancy is 100%. The dreadful dark side is that aboriginal people kill and abuse their spouses, children and each other at a level that is astonishing to everyone, yet these conditions are not improving, but remain the standard features of the culture of poverty.

large numbers of aboriginal people have moved from the reserve to Saskatchewan towns and cities
To reduce the impact of limited opportunity and over crowding, large numbers of aboriginal people have moved from the reserve to Saskatchewan towns and cities. The demographic shift in population is clearly understandable as we expect soon to see both Regina and Saskatoon's population reach the point where half of all the inhabitants of those cities will be status and non status Indians. This shift in population does alleviate some of the problems on the reserves, particularly those of insufficient housing, but the problems of poverty persist and desperation leads to chemical abuse, prostitution and crime.

he told me he wanted what ever spare change I could afford
As I was about to leave Prince Albert last night an aboriginal man approached me at a 7-11 and told me he was a long way from his home in Regina and I asked him what he wanted and he told me he wanted what ever spare change I could afford. A look at his face and what looked to me like the signs of alcohol abuse resulted in my turning him down, but it really bothered me to do so, however, money in his hands would not go to solving his problems, but could be used to buy mouthwash or Lysol to damage his already affected body.

life for these boys is all about -- not much
Then in Melfort the picture that appears at the top of this page was taken. These youths were not breaking in to that building, but were merely accessing the roof, which they were using as a place to hang out. I did not take a picture of what followed, but of the three boys on or near the ground, a nasty fight broke out, I observed for a moment to see if it was play fighting and realised that it was serious stuff and I began an intervention, and an adult woman came out of the building and stopped the fight before I got there. But the violence was intense and yet to them was as casual and ordinary as taking a breath of air. I was struck by the way that altercation had begun and ended, and it told me so much about what life for these boys is all about -- not much.

While they negotiate for generations, the poverty, unemployment and horrible conditions persist
Though the plight of Canada's First Nations people is inordinately complex, there are some features that need to be identified in order to understand why this is happening and why we can expect things to get worse. The treaties established for the peaceful invasion of North America are not being kept. Canada's lawyers, both for the First Nations and for the government, continue to wrangle over the meanings of the simple language that was inclusive, yet every day our governmental representatives attempt to make it more and more exclusive. The First Nations cling to the treaties even though their provisions are being eroded, because they really have nothing else, while the European population considers their interpretation of the Treaties is more then fair compensation for everything. While they negotiate for generations, the poverty, unemployment and horrible conditions persist.

Imagine the economic potential of having all of the people of Saskatchewan working, earning money and contributing to the economy.
The Treaties are with the Federal government, so that all of the services provided by provincial and municipal government that assist the rest of us, are not for the aboriginal people. I am of the opinion that we as a people, the population of Saskatchewan, have no alternative but to take matters into our own hands and invite the people of the First Nations, to join in our society, share in our society and we and they, will accept responsibility for each other. My conscience and sense of fairness can not tolerate the present condition, of seeing people living in these conditions, for it lowers my status as a person and we are all affected by the plight of the minority. Imagine the economic potential of having all of the people of Saskatchewan working, earning money and contributing to the economy. Status must be a matter of honour, but for a practical and legal solution, we need equality and fairness.

Another time, I will explain how we can sort this issue out, we can still retain the recognition that the treaties imparted and at the same time combine all of Saskatchewan people into a common and positive society. I would welcome your input on this issue.

Ensign is an information product of Faster Than Light Communications

Second Cast Citizens

*FTLComm - Melfort - June 14, 1999*

This is by definition a "Cast" system.	Sociologists discovered that Canada has a class system like most of the modern industrialised world where there are the lower classes who are often unemployed or underemployed, we have the working class, middle class and a very few upper class. But it was also discovered that the people of Canada's First Nations do not classify in any of those groups for their plight is to be born into their station in life where they have little or no hope of ever seeing things change for them. This is by definition a "Cast" system.

Almost all First Nations people are either unemployed and receiving social assistance.	It is always disconcerting to discover these unpleasant things about "This our Native Land" but the status of Canada's aboriginal people is not improving and to some extent, I believe that the life style and social conditions, are worse now, then when I was a teenager. The things that are making life less functional for the aboriginal people of Canada are complex. Almost all First Nations people are either unemployed and receiving social assistance. What is even more shocking is that most of the prison population of this country is made of up of this group of people. Their average level of education is grade six and the average age is 15. From these simple facts, it is abundantly apparent, that things are not good for this large population of people and here in Saskatchewan they will soon be half of the provinces population.

How in a modern society can such a situation be tolerated?

the standard features of the culture of poverty.	The first and most obvious affect is that aboriginal people are poor. Their poverty produces negative conditions such as malnourishment, alcohol and drug abuse, a high crime rate and the painful and ominous conditions of fetal alcohol syndrome, brain damage from abuse of inhalants and a burgeoning birth rate. On many reserves, the incidence of single parent teenage pregnancy is 100%. The dreadful dark side is that aboriginal people kill and abuse their spouses, children and each other at a level that is astonishing to everyone, yet these conditions are not improving, but remain the standard features of the culture of poverty.

large numbers of aboriginal people have moved from the reserve to Saskatchewan towns and cities	To reduce the impact of limited opportunity and over crowding, large numbers of aboriginal people have moved from the reserve to Saskatchewan towns and cities. The demographic shift in population is clearly understandable as we expect soon to see both Regina and Saskatoon's population reach the point where half of all the inhabitants of those cities will be status and non status Indians. This shift in population does alleviate some of the problems on the reserves, particularly those of insufficient housing, but the problems of poverty persist and desperation leads to chemical abuse, prostitution and crime.

he told me he wanted what ever spare change I could afford	As I was about to leave Prince Albert last night an aboriginal man approached me at a *7-11* and told me he was a long way from his home in Regina and I asked him what he wanted and he told me he wanted what ever spare change I could afford. A look at his face and what looked to me like the signs of alcohol abuse resulted in my turning him down, but it really bothered me to do so, however, money in his hands would not go to solving his problems, but could be used to buy mouthwash or *Lysol* to damage his already affected body.

life for these boys is all about -- not much	Then in Melfort the picture that appears at the top of this page was taken. These youths were not breaking in to that building, but were merely accessing the roof, which they were using as a place to hang out. I did not take a picture of what followed, but of the three boys on or near the ground, a nasty fight broke out, I observed for a moment to see if it was play fighting and realised that it was serious stuff and I began an intervention, and an adult woman came out of the building and stopped the fight before I got there. But the violence was intense and yet to them was as casual and ordinary as taking a breath of air. I was struck by the way that altercation had begun and ended, and it told me so much about what life for these boys is all about -- not much.

While they negotiate for generations, the poverty, unemployment and horrible conditions persist	Though the plight of Canada's First Nations people is inordinately complex, there are some features that need to be identified in order to understand why this is happening and why we can expect things to get worse. The treaties established for the peaceful invasion of North America are not being kept. Canada's lawyers, both for the First Nations and for the government, continue to wrangle over the meanings of the simple language that was inclusive, yet every day our governmental representatives attempt to make it more and more exclusive. The First Nations cling to the treaties even though their provisions are being eroded, because they really have nothing else, while the European population considers their interpretation of the Treaties is more then fair compensation for everything. While they negotiate for generations, the poverty, unemployment and horrible conditions persist.

Imagine the economic potential of having all of the people of Saskatchewan working, earning money and contributing to the economy.	The Treaties are with the Federal government, so that all of the services provided by provincial and municipal government that assist the rest of us, are not for the aboriginal people. I am of the opinion that we as a people, the population of Saskatchewan, have no alternative but to take matters into our own hands and invite the people of the First Nations, to join in our society, share in our society and we and they, will accept responsibility for each other. My conscience and sense of fairness can not tolerate the present condition, of seeing people living in these conditions, for it lowers my status as a person and we are all affected by the plight of the minority. Imagine the economic potential of having all of the people of Saskatchewan working, earning money and contributing to the economy. Status must be a matter of honour, but for a practical and legal solution, we need equality and fairness.

	Another time, I will explain how we can sort this issue out, we can still retain the recognition that the treaties imparted and at the same time combine all of Saskatchewan people into a common and positive society. I would welcome your input on this issue.

Ensign is an information product of Faster Than Light Communications