Mutnaggewinu Mutnaggewinu:
Wow guys I must be in some rare case here.
My band is none of the above they are caring, kind, respectful peoples.
They have no need for money or to put their own interests above anyone’s first.
They take care and responsibility for all their actions they speak on behalf of every person in our community & other communities as well.
The live and practice of native spirituality and provide enough food and housing for our entire community. My leaders are wise and brave warriors who live like our ancestors did. They are a benefit to the human race.
They only have one wife/husband who they are utterly faithful to and they show now cowardice towards any bullies or ones who would do us harm. The only hunt & fish what is needed by all and when you see someone down and out you don't hesitate to help them out by giving the shirt off your back.
When the federal gov't tries to bully us by taking our traditional lands and polluting them or killing off our natural resources we unite as one big nation and we fight even if it means dying until we protect our lands at all costs.
There are many people across all of our nations who think like this. It is the few Corrupt leaders and the whiners on the reserve who want bigger welfare cheques and more hand outs that perpetuate the myth that all of our leadership is corrupt.
Like your link says, many have roads to build and water treatment plants to maintain and schools to hire teachers for. We do not have the manpower to fix your broken windows after your party or to change the doorknobs on your house because you broke them when you locked yourself out of the house.
They have debts to pay from previous expenditures, land that was stolen to re-coup and houses to build and maintain.
They do not get enough money to do all of the projects we are asked to do. INAC gives us the very bare minimum, after they get their cut. Not only that, they have to hire people out of our band's pockets to fill out the forms to document where every dollar goes. We submit these reports quarterly yet no one ever reads them. What a waste of money.
It’s a thankless job; they can not help everyone who needs help. We have many social problems to deal with like drug, alcohol and sexual abuse, suicides, murders and yet they still defend our people and our rights against the Canadian government and the few but vocal redneck bigots out there.
They are the Chiefs and council of First Nations across this country and they (the majority) are not corrupt. They are doing the best we can with the tools we have.
And if you are an Indian on a reserve you have many options if you want your doorknobs changed. You can do it yourself. You can move, you can volunteer to help the band do vital tasks so we can free up someone to help you eventually. You can run for council, start community hall meetings and be involved in the decision making.
You should have read your link, there were many good posts.
