[Winnipegger]

Native peoples were shafted for a long time, but I think that has not been true for decades. Over a century ago, native peoples were moved to reservations so the best land would be available for white settlers. When someone found the land the native peoples were given was useful, then wanted that so moved the native peoples again. One example: the Peguis reservation north of Winnipeg was found to be on prime agricultural land, that band did well. However, some white men realized it was good land so wanted it. They con'ed the Peguis bad to move to another piece of land close to Lake Winnipeg. There are other examples, this one comes to mind.

Are native peoples all viewed as "lazy"? Not at all. Here in Winnipeg there are more people of native descent than any other Canadian city. One person of native descent told me that if Winnipeg were a reservation, it would be the largest (in population) in the country. That individual is a good example: I worked with him for months without realizing he was native. I just accepted him as another co-worker. He's just like anyone else; I didn't know he was native until he told me.

Are native peoples the only ones shafted? No. My ancestors on my fathers side were Mennonite. Peaceful, hardworking people who believe in minding their own business. In my great grandparent's day the town of Blumenhauf in Saskatchewan was a Mennonite reservation. During World War 2 they were looked down upon and criticized because they spoke Plut Deutch (the English term is "Low German"). They actually originated in Holland, left Europe to live in Canada to escape religious persecution and wars. The reservation was converted to a farming town and they were forced to attend school in English, mixed with other English students, rather than their own schools in their own language. Some left Canada to establish a colony elsewhere, but my grandfather (a young man at that time) remained. He still attended the Mennonite church, but my father attends the United Church and doesn't speak Plut Deutch. In my family the Mennonite culture ended with my father. My mother is part Scottish/English/Irish/Welsh (that's pretty much all the British islands) so I'm not interested in renewing the Mennonite heritage; it's gone.

In December 2005, I got a letter from a group that was initiating a land claim on former Mennonite lands. They claim 3 million acres of Mennonite land in southern Russia was taken from them by force by the communists. That land is now part of the Ukraine. They wanted me to be part of it because my family came from there. However, my great grandfather came over as a 10-year-old child during the reign of the last Tsar; they weren't there during the communist revolution. Besides, they land claim was by an American corporation that wanted their corporation to own the land, not the Mennonite people. They just wanted my name to justify their claim. To make matters worse, they wanted each Mennonite to pay $1,000 per share for interest in their corporation. No guarantee they would get the land, and even if they did no land would go to the Mennonite people. I laughed my head off when I read all this. First, me part of a land claim? Secondly why would I want to risk my money when there was such a low chance of success, and even if they did win the claim, none of the land would go to Canadian Mennonite people. Are native land claims run this way? Are the ones pushing the claim getting rich and the people getting shafted?

During the debate over where to run the next hydro transmission line in Manitoba, several native groups on the east side wanted financial compensation for running the line through their land. I looked at a map and saw a lot of crown land, the line could easily be routed away from any reservation. No need to disturb anyone's land. But several native groups claimed "traditional resource areas". The Winnipeg Free Press published a map of these areas; 5 groups claim areas that extend from the east shore of the lake to the Manitoba/Ontario border. These are overlapping areas that consume all the land on the east side, from the north end of Lake Winnipeg to the south end. Furthermore, there's a group in north-western Ontario claiming a "traditional resource area" as well. Since the new dam is on the Nelson river in the party of Manitoba that angles east, running the power transmission line straight south could actually pass through Ontario, then the line could jog west back to Winnipeg. But that Ontario claim negates that option. When I saw the extent of these land claims my reaction was "They want what!" I can understand native peoples getting shafted, but the sheer size of these claims is unreasonable. If the justification is "traditional resources" then they can continue to collect resources under the power line. On a chunk of land that big, a power line is as thin as a thread; negligible impact. There's no need to compensate anyone for running a power line on crown land. But this has raised the question in my mind: just how big are these land claims and what by what justification do they make these claims?

[meaden24]

I just don't understand that it's 2008 and we're talking about land claims. News flash for all the natives, YOU'RE CANADIAN you can go anywhere you want from the east coast to the west coast and live anywhere you want. How can they claim land that is the property of Canada? that's like me going out of my apt building and declaring I now own the parking lot.

[Public_Domain]

[Donny_Brasco]

meaden24 meaden24:

I just don't understand that it's 2008 and we're talking about land claims. News flash for all the natives, YOU'RE CANADIAN you can go anywhere you want from the east coast to the west coast and live anywhere you want. How can they claim land that is the property of Canada? that's like me going out of my apt building and declaring I now own the parking lot.

Actually Canada has a legal duty to live up to it's treaty promises - including accounting for all of the land set aside for First Nations.

They also have to account for all of the land not covered under treaty and duely compensate whomever that land belongs too.

Again, please feel free to show up in court when these land claim cases are being heard to express your views to the (Canadian) judge. Its always good for a laugh when some ignorant asshole says something really stupid about a subject he knows nothing about.

You sould do some real research, google canadian land claims and then come back with something besides ignorance.

[Donny_Brasco]

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Nah, seeing the suits, I'd have asked if you were on your way to or from your court hearing.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Excactly. Assumimg we are criminals instead of respecting us for our dedication to education and our professions.

Thats OK, we are used to spending your money to lobby for our land claims. Either way the average Canadian taxpayer loses, and partially because of ignorant attitudes like yours.

You try so hard to be a champian for Canadians but you look to me like the worst kind of lowlife - a bigot.

[meaden24]

haha yea I'll get back to you with something other than ignorance, that's funny since no matter how many people disagree with you and tell you how retarded you are making youself look you still come back with these stupid "blah blah blah land claim" bull shit. Why don't you count you lucky fucking stars you're in this country and get a job and contribute to society in ways other than trying to tear a country apart, if you really have a problem with the land claims then leave we certainly don't want/need people like you in this country.

[Wally_Sconce]

My gf in Highschool was a reservation registered indian from manitoba. she was getting paid monthly cheques to stay in high school....in my hometown in BC.

Must be nice, no one ever offered to pay me to stay in school.

[ShepherdsDog]

Donny_Brasco Donny_Brasco:

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Nah, seeing the suits, I'd have asked if you were on your way to or from your court hearing.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Excactly. Assumimg we are criminals instead of respecting us for our dedication to education and our professions.

Thats OK, we are used to spending your money to lobby for our land claims. Either way the average Canadian taxpayer loses, and partially because of ignorant attitudes like yours.

You try so hard to be a champian for Canadians but you look to me like the worst kind of lowlife - a bigot.

Like I've said before my AIM friend, you would be the best person to judge if someone was a bigot, you being the measuring stick and all.

[ShepherdsDog]

Winnipegger states this.....

$1:

My ancestors on my fathers side were Mennonite........... They actually originated in Holland, left Europe to live in Canada to escape religious persecution and wars

And then says this.......

$1:

In December 2005, I got a letter from a group that was initiating a land claim on former Mennonite lands. They claim 3 million acres of Mennonite land in southern Russia was taken from them by force by the communists. That land is now part of the Ukraine. They wanted me to be part of it because my family came from there. However, my great grandfather came over as a 10-year-old child during the reign of the last Tsar; they weren't there during the communist revolution.

Last time I opened an atlas, Holland wasn't part of Russia or the Ukraine. Maybe we should consult Brenda on this matter.

$1:

Mennonite reservation

.Shit, if Indian reservations were as well off as Mennonite communities, Donny wouldn't have borrow a suit for his court appearances.

Sorry, seeing as most of my in-laws have names like Theissen, Freisen, Funk, Dyck and Fehr, I'm calling BULLSHIT!! on that one.

[Public_Domain]

[commanderkai]

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

Donny_Brasco Donny_Brasco:

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Nah, seeing the suits, I'd have asked if you were on your way to or from your court hearing.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Excactly. Assumimg we are criminals instead of respecting us for our dedication to education and our professions.

Thats OK, we are used to spending your money to lobby for our land claims. Either way the average Canadian taxpayer loses, and partially because of ignorant attitudes like yours.

You try so hard to be a champian for Canadians but you look to me like the worst kind of lowlife - a bigot.

Bigot, eh? One to talk, terrorist.

Oh, I'm well aware of your robbery of Canadian Tax dollars, *chuckles* You want your land back? Why? Like seriously, wtf are you going to do with it? What happened to the land not being anybody's? That it was all part of "mother Earth" and shit? Why should it be YOURS?

This is how I figure it. There are winners, and there are losers. This was a war, in some aspects.

And it looks like Canada won. You know what happens when you win? You own it. Regardless of these lost and non-existent "treaties". Canada should really do nothing for you. No cheque in the mail, no tolerance for these terrorist rampages you people have every few months...

Honestly, It's like the Jewish people took WWII better then you guys take anything.

And yes, I'm a bigot, hell yes I am. In my eyes, you people are a threat to Canada. I don't stand for this retarded Native terrorist bullshit.

Welcome to Canada, fucker, you aren't going to destroy it, no matter who your freaking ansestors were.

Holy shit I just agreed with you...its been a fucked up day lol

[kenmore]

most canadians are sick of this land bullshit.. the cops should do more than draw weapons they should bulldose those who are blocking highways etc over..or if they put a bus across a railway line plough them down.. this shit is pure crap and its time for it to stop.. get a life get a job and get on with it..

[Public_Domain]

[Donny_Brasco]

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

Donny_Brasco Donny_Brasco:

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Nah, seeing the suits, I'd have asked if you were on your way to or from your court hearing.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Excactly. Assumimg we are criminals instead of respecting us for our dedication to education and our professions.

Thats OK, we are used to spending your money to lobby for our land claims. Either way the average Canadian taxpayer loses, and partially because of ignorant attitudes like yours.

You try so hard to be a champian for Canadians but you look to me like the worst kind of lowlife - a bigot.

Bigot, eh? One to talk, terrorist.

Oh, I'm well aware of your robbery of Canadian Tax dollars, *chuckles* You want your land back? Why? Like seriously, wtf are you going to do with it? What happened to the land not being anybody's? That it was all part of "mother Earth" and shit? Why should it be YOURS?

This is how I figure it. There are winners, and there are losers. This was a war, in some aspects.

And it looks like Canada won. You know what happens when you win? You own it. Regardless of these lost and non-existent "treaties". Canada should really do nothing for you. No cheque in the mail, no tolerance for these terrorist rampages you people have every few months...

Honestly, It's like the Jewish people took WWII better then you guys take anything.

And yes, I'm a bigot, hell yes I am. In my eyes, you people are a threat to Canada. I don't stand for this retarded Native terrorist bullshit.

Welcome to Canada, fucker, you aren't going to destroy it, no matter who your freaking ansestors were.

So the people who stole land from us and made their families millionares - thats OK with you...

Even though we settle land claims based on their theivery and you have to pay us for their crimes...

And you fight us tooth and nail every step of the way ensuring massive legal bills paid for by you...

I used to feel bad that the good people of Canada had to pay for the crooks - but with attitudes like yours I just feel good sticking it to you every day. Next time I see a band get $100 million for a land claim I'll be laughing at you and the rest of your bigot friends. Sitting there in yout trailers pointing at us Indians dressed in our suits to get to court and fuck you again for another $100 million.

You think you can just get out of this by bad mouthing us and telling us what your version of "right" is? Like I said before, come tell the judge. We are always pleased to hear from folks like you, makes the judges a little more generous when handing out these lawsuit dollars.

[ShepherdsDog]

$1:

Indians dressed in our suits

Why does, 'would the defendant please rise!' come to mind when I read this phrase.

$1:

Sitting there in yout trailers pointing at us Indians

That were towed behind our 3/4 tons as we head up to the lakes for the holidays. I've parked in some RV campgrounds near reservations but I was told not to make fun of the poor, so I don't point at them.

$1:

and fuck you again for another $100 million.

which only a few chiefs and their friends enjoy while the rest of his people live is squalor. Hey, but if that's a system you admire enjoy continuing as a third world enclave.