Anishinawbe Blog

Aboriginal elders George Robertson (L), Toby Gara (C) and Brenda Maxwell (R) playing cards near their house in Hopy’s town camp at Alice Springs. (Anoek De Groot/AFP/Getty Images)

By Shar Adams
The Epoch Times

SYDNEY — The Australian Government is endeavouring to improve housing and conditions for people in the town camps of Alice Springs but critics of their approach say unless indigenous people are included in the development and implementation of the plan, the mistakes of past governments would only be repeated.

The Rudd Government has allocated $672 million dollars to improve housing in the Northern Territory, promising 750 new homes and 2500 refurbishments. Of that around $138 million has been allocated to the 18 town camps surrounding Alice Springs.

Ben Schokman, a human rights lawyer representing town camp residents opposed to the terms of the proposed 40-year-lease, says the government should be “commended” for its considerable investment, as town camps have been in a state of disrepair for years, with little spent from either the Northern Territory administration or local councils.

However it is the lack of indigenous involvement in the development and implementation that is of concern, he said.

“If you look at the history of successive government approaches here in Australia, let alone evidenced all round the world in terms of government practice towards indigenous people, if you don’t involve aboriginal people, indigenous people, in both the development of and implementation of those policies, then they are just not going to be successful,” he said.

Government expenditure is conditional on two key restrictions – that the government obtains secure land tenure through 40 year leases, and that it takes control of the way services are provided.

Mr. Schokman, who works at the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, said the current policy breaches the two most important concerns of indigenous people.

“The two rights which are most fundamental to aboriginal people are land rights and rights of self determination,” he told The Epoch Times. In undermining these two rights, the government’s approach is likely to affect the “the realisation of a whole range of other rights,” Mr. Schokman said, including “housing, education, health and political participation”.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, says she has been frustrated by delays in implementing the housing plan but her government is committed to “the transformation plan in Alice Springs.”

“Living conditions in the town camps are appalling and I will not give up on the residents,” she said in a statement.

Housing Authority Not Trusted

Greens Senator, Rachel Siewert, said she was concerned the government was going to hand over control of housing to the Northern Territory Housing Authority (NTHA), even though there were a number of proven alternatives.

“The sticking point is the government’s insistence that control of all housing in the town camps be handed over to the Northern Territory Housing Authority, which has a bad record on delivering public housing to Aboriginal people and which is simply not trusted by town camp residents,” she said in a statement.

Jenny Macklin conceded there were concerns, but is refusing to back down saying the NTHA is responsible for tenancy management in the region.

“We are working in partnership with the Northern Territory government but we have recognised the need to put Commonwealth officers on the ground to ensure we deliver,” she told the ABC.

Ben Schokman said the NTHA leasing agreements were not sensitive to indigenous culture, citing a number of examples.

One local was evicted from NTHA housing after returning from 13 days away on sorry business (a death in the family). It is a breach of the tenancy agreement to be away from their houses that long without giving authorities notice, he said.

Another local was evicted for having a fire outside in the yard, even though it is traditional to sit outside around the fire.

Another was threatened with eviction after her elderly mother came to stay. The mother, who lived 200 kilometers away had to travel to Alice Springs to use her basics card. Under a NTHA lease, it is forbidden to have anyone staying that is not on the lease, he said.

Mr. Schokman said such strict conditions would have a significant impact on Alice Springs town camps residents who have been used to self-management. In addition, providing housing which is culturally inappropriate ends up driving indigenous people back out, into the surrounds, which is how town camps began in the beginning, and which is starting to happen again as a result of evictions, he said.

Culturally Insensitive

Mr. Schokman said more effort could be made to be culturally sensitive around a whole range of issues including basic negotiation.

Negotiations are usually done the ‘white fella way’ a process most indigenous people find intimidating. “Even the language of negotiation is problematic,” he said.

Government officials say they are open to communication or comment and to just write an email, but most houses in the town camps do not even have running water, let alone electricity, he added.

Negotiating with indigenous communities could be slow, complex and frustrating but unless efforts were made to find a common ground of cooperation, the cycle would be repeated.

I may be able to watch a little more of CNN now that Lou Dobbs is gone.

It was just on Tuesday that I was talking with my brother-in-law Robbie about Dobbs who was telling the story about the Fort Hood shootings. We know Dobbs detests terrorists. Even after the reporters were explaining over and over again that the suspect wasn’t linked to Islamic extremists, Dobbs pressed on. I guess if you’re Muslim and you kill a bunch of innocent people, you’re a terrorist. That’s not a far stretch. But is this about the suspect being a terrorists, or is it about him being Muslim?

Dobbs is well known for being the most outspoken critic of illegal immigrants and human rights they may or may not be entitled to in the United States. Anything will set him off. (Just trying saying “Taco anyone?” at the CNN lunch counter.) But is it because they are illegal aliens, or is it about them being Mexican? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

There is a fine line here. When it sounds like racism and smells like racism? Is it racism? He’s pretty careful not to cross that line. But I wonder what Lou Dobbs sounds like at a barbeque, chasing two burgers with a six-pack?

I’ll give it to him, he’s honest. He’s not overwhelmed by political correctness. He has no fear. But I just can’t watch his show.

The Lou Dobbs Show isn’t news, It’s biased, personal commentary – pure and simple. Journalists are entitled to their opinion, sure. But his opinions far exceed anything that has been offered in television journalism. His opinions go beyond even Geraldo Rivera. Personally, I’d like to see them go toe-to-toe. Geraldo has taken down his share opinion-ists, namely a few neo-nazis skinheads in 1988.

Dobbs will be back. Probably for right-wing Fox News. But probably not for Al Jezeera or Telelatino.

For all of the brothers and sisters of colour, I’ll quote American History X: “You just take it easy on the brothers, a’ight? The brothers!”

For Freddy Martin-Wapistan.

Some guy named Earl, I think
I knew him long ago
He sang of a place called
Moose River Crossing.

With his guitar he played a show
He was confident in who he was
Where he came from
And where he was going.

We departed early in the morning
I recall the cold mist off the water
On the regular train, north to Cochrane
And further north, beyond.

We sang some songs for curious tourists
The vinyl train seat being our drum
They said we were chanting
But I didn’t know anything about that
In school they said ‘Indians just did that’.

For them, it was a long wait in Cochrane
It wasn’t long enough for me
We get back on the train
with a pretty fun bunch of Crees.

I never thought I’d visit there
Moose River Crossing
If you blink, you might miss it
If you sleep, you’ll surely miss it.

I travel with hopes and dreams
Others will just return back home
Most have lived hard lives
Just like in the songs that Earl sings.

We arrive at Moose River Crossing.
Watche-ay! Lots of Watche-ay!
Greetings, welcome!
Brother, sister, cousin.

They all know each other
All are family. Kin-folk.
Like my Dad’s reruns of The Waltons
But with brown faces.

Displaced, swampy Crees
Living in the bush
This is the place they want to go
This is the place that they Love.

I can’t see why.
But I’m not from Moose River Crossing.
The train barely slows down
But for a few, it’s their whole world.

By John Trudell

We hope you don’t mind but we would like to talk to you. There are some things we need to straighten out, it’s about these Christians. They claim to be from your nation but man you should see the things they do all the time blaming it on you: manifest destiny, genocide, maximized profit, sterilization, raping the earth, lying, taking more than they need in all the forms of the greed. We ask them why. They say it’s God’s will.

Damn, God they make it so hard. Remember Jesus? Would you send him back to them, tell them not to kill him, rather they should listen. Stop abusing his name and yours.

We do not mean to be disrespectful, but you know how it is. Our people have their own ways. We never even heard of you until not long ago. Your representatives spoke magnificent things of you which we were willing to believe. But from the way they acted, we know we and you were being deceived.

We do not mean you and your Christian children any bad, but you all came to take all we had. We have not seen you but we have heard so much. It is time for you to decide what life is worth. We already remember but maybe you forgot.

By The Hon. Brad Duguid
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs

This time last year, not long after I became Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, I was meeting with Serpent River First Nation. I was honoured to have been invited by their Chief to attend their community’s Remembrance Day ceremonies in Elliot Lake.

In the year since, I’ve learned a great deal about the contributions that Aboriginal people have made to Canadian society.

First Nation, Métis and Inuit people aided the early settlers, provided our ancestors with lifesaving and necessary food and medicine, and were key to forming the early economy through the fur trade.

But one of the most significant contributions has been their extraordinary military service that goes as far back as the War of 1812 and before.

I’ve been reminded of this sacrifice each time I’ve attended a Pow-Wow. I’m always moved by the respect and recognition that is paid to First Nations veterans. Their recognition isn’t limited to one day a year.

To commemorate the contributions of Métis veterans, a monument has been erected on Juno Beach in France. The monument will be dedicated on Remembrance Day this year.

I’ve learned in the past year that Aboriginal military service was inspired, in large part, by the friendship treaties and by loyalty to the Crown. And so when Canada entered into global conflicts during the first and second World Wars and in Korea, Aboriginal people volunteered en masse to support Canadian’s shared principles.

During this time, Six Nations of the Grand River provided more soldiers to the Canadian Armed Forces than any other First Nation. In one eastern Ontario First Nation, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, nearly every single able-bodied man volunteered to serve in the armed forces. The key word is volunteered. Aboriginal people were exempt from conscription and not required to serve.

That they volunteered in such numbers is all the more notable because they knew what they were giving up upon returning home. Through a process called enfranchisement, they would immediately lose their Indian Status when they joined the armed forces. Then, upon completion of their service, Aboriginal veterans would not be eligible for military pensions, subsidies, and land grants provided to their non-Aboriginal comrades. They would not even be eligible to vote until 1960. Thankfully, enfranchisement is a thing of the past.

But many veterans of 20th century conflicts lived their remaining days in outright poverty. Canada’s most decorated Aboriginal soldier, Sgt. Tommy Prince, was forced to sell his medals to support himself. He died penniless in Winnipeg in 1977.

Aboriginal veterans deserved better.

On November 11 at 11 a.m., we should take time to honour Canadian veterans of all backgrounds. Many will reflect on the service of their family members. Others will be thankful for those long passed. At that time, I will be sure to remember and honour those many brave Aboriginal veterans who paid many sacrifices in service, in life and in death.

You will not be forgotten.

Robitaille’s Hall of Fame career had humble beginning

By Wayne Scanlan, The Ottawa Citizen

He goes by the handle of “Lucky Luc” and it isn’t hard to see why. Luc Robitaille continues to be blessed by things he couldn’t see coming.

Robitaille, 43, former Hull Olympique of the QMJHL, is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame today along with fellow players Steve Yzerman, Brian Leetch, Brett Hull and builder Lou Lamoriello.

Even now, Luc can hardly believe his luck.

“You are just a kid, you want to play a game,” says the Montreal native, “and the next thing you know, you’re in the Hall of Fame with all the legends.”

Robitaille suited up with a few of them on Sunday afternoon, taking part in the Hall of Fame Legends game at the Air Canada Centre.

Not many Hall of Famers had a more humble entry into the NHL. Despite a tremendous junior career in Hull (85 points as a rookie in his draft year, and 191 points in his final year in the ‘Q’), Robitaille was considered a poor skater. Scouts dismissed his numbers as just more bloated stats from Quebec.

One hundred and seventy kids were drafted ahead of him in 1984 — and that included baseball pitcher Tom Glavine, who was selected by the L.A. Kings in the fourth round, 69th overall.

Robitaille only knew one scout, Alex Smart of Ottawa, working for the Kings. Smart would cross the bridge to see Robitaille play with the Olympiques.

“So, every time the Kings turn came up I thought it was my only shot to get in the NHL, because I’d never heard from any other scout,” Robitaille says.

The wait was agonizing.

Robitaille and several of his Olympiques teammates were at the Montreal Forum shortly past noon, hoping and wondering. This was the year Mario Lemieux had been drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, but refused to put on the uniform because he hadn’t come to a contract agreement. The confusion around the Lemieux situation added nearly another hour’s wait.

Over the next several hours, Robitaille consumed six or seven hot dogs, give or take.

“I think I had about a hot dog a round, or a hot dog an hour … those great hot dogs at the Montreal Forum.”

Robitaille figures it was 7 p.m. by the time his name was called, in the ninth round in a near empty arena. Beaming, he ran downstairs to the floor to meet Kings officials and was promptly stopped by a security guard.

Where do you think you’re going? Robitaille had no agent. Luckily (what else?), Pierre Lacroix, a player agent at the time, saw Robitaille being held up and smoothed the way past security. Robitaille proudly marched up to the Kings table, which by that time was populated by just two staffers, one of them the director of player personnel.

“Who are you?” he says to Luc.

“I’m Luc Robitaille — you just drafted me.”

The player personnel guy looks at his list, sees Robitaille’s name and says, “Oh, you’re right, but we don’t have any more jerseys or caps.”

So the staffer pulls a Kings pin off the lapel of his own jacket and flips it to Robitaille: “Here.”

“That was my souvenir,” Robitaille says. “I’ve still got the pin, too.” A hotshot draft pick today would view the abrupt welcome as a slight. Not Robitaille. A foot in the door was enough.

“I was so pumped,” he says. “My name was on the list, so I knew I had a shot now.”

In Los Angeles, the legendary Marcel Dionne took Robitaille under his wing. Right from the first training camp, Dionne dismissed Robitaille’s crazy notion that HE might feed Dionne. “It’s funny, because my idol was Wayne, I took so much pride in being a playmaker,” Robitaille says.

Although he had 123 assists in his final year in Hull, setting up Guy Rouleau, being the next Gretzky wasn’t Robitaille’s calling.

Garry Galley, a former Robitaille teammate in L.A., remembers Robitaille being chided as “Cy Young” for his lopsided goals to assist ratio (eg. 24-3 midway through a season. Get it? Cy Young kind of numbers). One time, Robitaille vowed to set someone up on his next shift, dutifully throwing a pass out front, only to have it bounce in off a defenceman. Goal — Robitaille. He skated by his own bench and said, “I tried.”

In that first camp, Robitaille tried to set up Dionne on a 2-on-1, when the great centre set him straight.

“He comes to the bench,” Robitaille recalls, “and he says, ‘listen kid, I’ll be the playmaker, you go to the net and I’ll feed you.’ “I said, ‘alright Mr. Dionne.’ “I’m no dummie. It’s kind of funny, he kept feeding me and I kept scoring.”

No kidding. In his first seven seasons, Robitaille recorded 45, 53, 46, 52, 45, 44 and 63 goals for the Kings. His biggest thrill? His first game, against the St. Louis Blues in the fall of 1986.

“I went from no one,” Robitaille says. “No one thought I’d make it. I’ll never forget getting on the ice my first game, being on the bench as anxious as ever and I think we went as a fourth line on that first shift.

“I jumped on the ice, go right to the front of the net and Rick Wamsley made a mistake, whipped it around the boards and Marcel Dionne stops it. I go, ‘Marcel!’ and he gave it to me and I tipped it in the empty net.”

Dionne loved the fact Robitaille was in L.A. to play hockey and the kid wound up with 668 goals — 668 more than Tom Glavine — and 1,394 points, plus a Stanley Cup season in 2002, alongside fellow inductees Yzerman and Hull.

Lucky guy, Luc Robitaille.