View topic - Idle No More and Environmental issues

"...Canadians who understand the issues are saying, “You’re right, and we want to join with you.” If this isn’t unique, it’s certainly welcome."

Spence lacks support of most Canadians: poll

Most Canadians believe First Nations receive too much federal funding, and Aboriginals' problems are 'brought on by themselves'

Global News : Tuesday, January 15, 2013 7:41 PM



More than a month into her much-publicized protest, Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence is not garnering much support from Canadians, according to a new survey.

The chief received an approval rating of 29 per cent in a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted exclusively for Global News and Postmedia News.

The survey suggests the Idle No More movement hasn't garnered much sympathy for Canada's First Nations, but rather, raised awareness about financial accountability on the reserves.

Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of poll respondents believe Canada's First Nations receive too much federal funding. About the same number (62 per cent) believe Ottawa treats Aboriginals well.

But Aboriginals are also creating problems for themselves, according to more than half (60 per cent) of respondents. Idle No More spokesperson Pam Palmater insists that simply isn't the case.

In an interview over the phone with Global News, she puts the blame squarely on Ottawa. "First Nations are not to blame for the situation they're in. Indian Affairs controls every single aspect of our lives."

"Our problem is we have more kids in care today because of government policies than we ever did in residential schools. So nothing's changed for us, they just use different policies to accomplish the same thing."

Until auditors are appointed to ensure financial accountability, Ottawa should not hand out additional taxpayer dollars to any reserve, according to most Canadians (81 per cent).

Twenty-seven per cent of Canadians believe much of the federal money is managed well by First Nations leaders. Out of all Canadian provinces, Quebec agreed the most with this (36 per cent), while Saskatchewan and Manitoba agreed the least (8 per cent).

The question was asked just days after an independent audit of Attawapiskat First Nation, commissioned by Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, detailed how the band council had not properly tracked how it spent $104 million earmarked for housing, sewage, and education.

Deloitte and Touche LLP's study showed 81 per cent of the 505 financial transactions reviewed lacked proper documentation. Sixty per cent had no documentation for the reason for payment, the auditors noted.

Chief Lloyd Phillips of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke says one reserve's bad audit reflects poorly on all the reserves. "By far, 90 per cent-plus of the communities are above board in terms – they've always been accounted for. The audit reports are requirements of the federal government every year."

"The vast majority are more than adequate in what they provide. You know, it's unfortunate there are a few – and no one will deny that – that are mismanaging, but those are the ones who make the headlines."

Global National Ottawa Bureau Chief Jacques Bourbeau approached Spence on Tuesday for her reaction to the poll, but she refused to comment, deferring Bourbeau to her spokesperson, Danny Metatawabin.

Metatawabin says many Canadians just don't understand the issues facing First Nations. "We are not money-grabbers. We just get limited funding."


Approval

While Spence suffered relatively low approval ratings, First Nations national leaders scored the highest, at 51 per cent.

Harper came in second at 46 per cent. Ipsos Reid points out that when the Conservatives were elected to a majority government in 2011, the party received 40 per cent of the vote.

The Idle No More movement placed third, at 38 per cent, ahead of Spence. But only 51 per cent of Canadians say they've been paying "close attention" to details of the recent First Nations protests.

A lack of knowledge is contributing to Aboriginals' negative reputation, according to Palmater. "These people participating in polls – for the most part – don't have that historical, legal, political, social, factual context. They're giving opinions based on what they hear in the media – and not based on fact."

Phillips echoes Palmater's sentiment. "The movement certainly needs to send a much clearer message to the Canadian public through the media... (I'm) not being critical of (all) the media, but I've witnessed some media outlets who have not shown the best light on the whole issue."

To Phillips, the message is simple: First Nations want a better life in Canada. "We want to assert our jurisdictions, and have a new relationship – you know, respective of our historical relationship with Canada."

Palmater is urging Canadians to give the Idle No More movement "a chance. Ask questions. Self-educate. Start understanding what are the root causes of these problems."

In the meantime, Spence insists she will remain on a liquids-only diet until she is granted a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Gov. Gen. David Johnston, and other First Nations leaders.


'Legitimate protest' and cooperation

The views on what constitutes a "legitimate protest" varied across Canada. Nationally, 31 per cent believed shutting down roads and railways was appropriate. Forty-three per cent of Atlantic Canadians agreed, but only 21 per cent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba concurred.

As for cooperation, a majority (56 per cent) of Canadians believe neither Canada's First Nations nor the Harper government is being fair. When the results were dissected by political party support, 56 per cent of Conservative supporters thought the Harper government has been reasonable during this dispute. Twenty-eight per cent of Bloc Quebecois supporters believed First Nations were more fair.

An equal number of NDP and Liberal supporters (58 per cent) agreed that neither side was more reasonable.

Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of Canadians believe Ottawa should be helping to raise the quality of life for Aboriginal Canadians. Support on this issue was the greatest in Atlantic Canada (68 per cent), while less than half (49 per cent) of respondents in Saskatchewan and Manitoba agreed.

From Friday to Monday, 1,023 Canadian adults were interviewed online for this survey, which was weighted to bring it in line with Canadian demographics, and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.



Read it on Global News: Spence lacks support of most Canadians: poll


Read it on Global News: Spence lacks support of most Canadians: poll

In an interview over the phone with Global News, she puts the blame squarely on Ottawa. "First Nations are not to blame for the situation they're in. Indian Affairs controls every single aspect of our lives."

Edited to fix a couple of typos only.

I think the government had Idle No More coming. Their actions have been a slap in the face to Aboriginal rights (and environmental protection). I find it really frustrating that one party will work really hard on some progress with Aboriginal issues, and then a new party gets elected and immediately throws out all that planning & commitment, only to get themselves into this mess. The relationship today between government and Aboriginal peoples is obviously a mess, and that was avoidable, it's really unfortunate.

Pat.

Vision and goals

The founders of Idle No More have outlined the vision and goals of the movement in a January 10, 2013 press release as follows:

The Vision revolves around Indigenous Ways of Knowing rooted in Indigenous Sovereignty to protect water, air, land and all creation for future generations.

The Conservative government bills beginning with Bill C-45 threaten Treaties and this Indigenous Vision of Sovereignty.

The Goal of the movement is education and the revitalization of Indigenous peoples through Awareness and Empowerment. IDLE NO MORE has successfully encouraged knowledge sharing of Indigenous Sovereignty and Environmental Protections.

.... and yet others who are looking for personal gain. The latter is where Paul Martin fits in, who is just doing some political posturing, otherwise why the heck did his government not institute initiatives to make this change. The issues were there, just not as much in the media and public eye,

One thing will never change: there will always be priveleged and underprivielged. To expect equality is absurd. We should, however, try to do better at managing the inequalities.

Having equal rights and being equal aren't the same thing. In the big picture who technically has what rights doesn't have much bearing on how the inequality plays out and who is underprivileged, so I wouldn't get too worked up about the fact that "all Canadians don't have the same rights."

Aboriginal peoples might have more rights than other Canadians when it comes to processes with government and even access to resources (debatable), but guess what, most Canadians wouldn't change places with most Indians, so what's your point about their rights?

I'm don't mind that some Canadians (those from societies who already lived here before Europeans arrived) have a Constitutional right to be engaged in decision making that impacts the enviornment. And if people don't like it, well, we're kinda stuck with it anyway - although the world changes, changes to Constitutional rights don't come easily or quickly, so we just need to get over that.

In my mind, when Aboriginal peoples stand up to a government that tries to ram through a whole bunch changes to environmental legislation, it benefits Canada as a whole. Obviously those who stand to profit in the short term from resource extraction don't agree, but on the whole, a consultation process with Aboriginal peoples isn't a bad check on a government that wants to steam roll a confusing bunch of changes in a hurry.

For example, because of their legal right to consultation, they are doing more for the protection of rivers than, say, canoeists are able to. Sign all the petitions you want and write your MP all you want, but Aboriginal peoples have a better voice for slowing and correcting decisions that harm the environment.

In my mind, Idle No More is posing a lot of valid questions at a good time, and I'm glad that the government has some legal accountability to listen.

Pat.

I'm sick of this conservative government and it's about time somebody stood up to them.