Im not sure i think if i was taken from my family, forced into a residential school where I was beaten and prevented from speaking my own language i might have other things to worry about than fishing and hunting rights...
My grandparents were actually taken from their home and forced out of their country during world war 2, I dont go around trying to get special rights because of it. We all share the same resources it doesnt matter what happened back then.
We all have the same opportunities and it can be argued that they even have more opportunity with government grants so i dont see any reason for special laws that allow them to net and snag and fish out of season.
As for being constructive im just stating my opinion, do you expect me to get into politics and start lobbying??
If Fishing and Hunting were your daily way of life, and your entire sense of community and religion were tied to your use of land, the impact of being forcibly removed from that way of life would certainly be an issue of concern.
As far as your claim that 'we all have the same opportunities', you would be incorrect. Many native reserves do not have hospitals, high schools or clean drinking water, nor do they have substantial economic opportunity. There are of course successful reserves that are lucky enough to be located on large mineral deposits and have the benefit of jobs created by mining and hydro projects. I'm guessing that you were able to attend high school, have a hospital in your community and you likely drink, brush your teeth and shower in potable water. A great number of native peoples do not have those opportunities. There are government grants to encourage education, deal with alcoholism, provide job training and offset poverty and the cost of food (a box of cheerios is $26 at the Attawapiskat reserve). Even so, native communities still have abysmally high rates of suicide, diabetes, illiteracy, depression, alcoholism etc...
I'm sorry to hear that your family was removed from their home during the war, My grandmother lost her brother in Italy and due to the devastation of the community, her family subsequently immigrated to Canada. I don't know if they were ever the recipients of any sort of reparations as these were generally distributed on a national level for reconstruction, but I would point to the German reparations paid to countries such as France, Belgium and Poland as an example of the sort of 'apology' given to the peoples who suffered at their hands in WWII. The treaty rights, including fishing, hunting and monetary assistance given by the Canadian government to native communities is their form of an apology for small pox blankets, reserves, residential schools and the destruction of their traditional ways of life and culture.
I'm not suggesting that you ought to get into politics or start lobbying, only that while appreciating your opinion, I objected to the negative slant it took in singling out a specific group of people. As a law abiding angler, I certainly understand the frustration of seeing poachers and rule breakers. This forum is a place where members of the fishing community can freely express and debate their frustrations with those issues, I would only hope that such a discussion could be undertaken in a more positive manner.
Apologies to the OFF community for hijacking this thread.
