For Shelly, life on the Rez!

[oldcarman]

Hi @Shelly and anyone else interested in what our gov't considers proper living conditions on most Reservations in Canada. The one showing only the footings are where the river washed away the bank under it and it collapsed. The burned out place is a common sight as most places are built to minimal standards with wood burning stoves for heating. At times there can be three generations living in mould infestation and each year we lose at least one resident to fires and many more are burnt badly. Just last week two children 2 yrs and 18 months died in a fire but six others escaped. Not as pretty a sight as shown in movies. My Goddaughter and her family fortunately got away to Winnipeg and I don't get to see her as often as I'd like. The tee pee is used mostly in summer now and the trailer in winter. I will post pics of the annual pow wow in August which is quite a sight to see and participate in. JIM

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

JIM, we had no idea that people are forced to live in such conditions in a country like Canada, we thought that the Canadians had a more enlightened views of it's native inhabitants. looking at the pictures it is so sad that a once proud race are reduced to such indignation by the very people that by definition are actually guests in their country!!!
Mike & Sandy

 

[oldcarman]

My Gov't has created a third world situation on most Indian Reserves in Canada and racism is rampant because Natives can make more on welfare so there is little interest in working. While I was at Uni I took every Native Studies I could to learn the truths about life on the Rez. My neighbouring reserve were signatories of Treaty One back in 1870 which was negotiated very wisely by the Chiefs. If only the Gov't had followed through with what was promised life would be so much different. They have broken the terms countless times and yet the Native population has never gone to war against them. They still fight strongly for their rights but mostly falls on deaf ears of our Dictator PM. Sorry for the rant but I'm very passionate when it comes to the plight of so many living right outside my door. JIM

 

[Shelly]

Thank you very much @oldcarman
What a eye - opener in my mind I had a completely different picture of what the reservation would look like
I'm totally shocked
The story your just told us about the children is so sad
I'm totally fascinated with the pictures , I keep looking at them
I can't believe people still live in these conditions
Thank you very much Jim for posting these ,
Can't wait till august to see the pictures of the pow wow

 

[t-tony]

From what I've seen and heard from TV shows and documentaries etc. many of the reservations further south even as far as far south west are roughly as bad in different weather extremes. Mostly no work for the people who live there and resentment from the outsiders for the same reasons highlighted by Jim. it really is shameful.

Tony.

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

From what I've seen and heard from TV shows and documentaries etc. many of the reservations further south even as far as far south west are roughly as bad in different weather extremes. Mostly no work for the people who live there and resentment from the outsiders for the same reasons highlighted by Jim. it really is shameful.

Tony.

Yes, Tony & JIM, certainly not a nation's history to be proud off!! How they can hold their heads up, I'll never know!! Unfortunately if you look back over all the so called 'heathen' native peoples of the world, they had a very raw deal as the original inhabitants of many invaded countries and the majority of the time, the English seemed to be the prime culprits!!!!
M & S

 

[t-tony]

It can't be denied M&S. but many European countries were just as bad, unfortunately England were probably "better" at it than the rest, THE Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese amongst others. The Moors were also the same in Asia and the Med too. Aside from the original post this is why all around the world there are different cultures and architecture and even religions too I guess.

Tony.

ps. And none were in Z3's just as a tenuous link.

 

[oldcarman]

Yes, Tony & JIM, certainly not a nation's history to be proud off!! How they can hold their heads up, I'll never know!! Unfortunately if you look back over all the so called 'heathen' native peoples of the world, they had a very raw deal as the original inhabitants of many invaded countries and the majority of the time, the English seemed to be the prime culprits!!!!
M & S

Mike, you can't let the other countries off the hook. France, Dutch, Spanish,Portuguese to name a few. But the Hudson's Bay Co played a major part in Canadian history in trading trinkets and guns for furs. Oh yes, we can't forget liquor which caused major problems then and continues today. JIM

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

........and don't forget the greed & the gold too!!!

Mike

 

[Shelly]

How ever do those people keep warm
Must be a struggle
Lots of layers I expect .........
I like my home comforts
When ever I think I'm cold , I'll think of those poor people and then I'll know I'm not cold really

 

[oldcarman]

It's not only a gov't problem but so much on our Rez is corruption by their own politicians. They are given control of millions upon millions of taxpayers money and can't seem to be capable of managing it without a large part of it falling into their own pockets and those of family and friends. We've had several chiefs and executive members serve jail sentences. Worst part is they still have the cash when they get out while kids are living in poverty. Drug and alcohol abuse is rampant and even on Dry Rez's there's always someone willing to risk bringing alcohol and drugs to the boundary lines and fleece the people and feed their habits. Teen pregnancy is a huge problem with girls as young as 10-12 raising babies from family members and others. Physical and sex assault is a common occurrence and keep the RCMP very busy, unfortunately.
On a lighter note the Pow Wow ceremonies are all pomp and so interesting to be involved in. The Native dress is so elaborate and the pounding of the drums and singers along with the dancers is enough to stir primal urges in one's soul. Hopefully I'll get some pics of this years event in August to share with you so you can see the contrast between everyday life and what is a historical depiction of yesteryear traditions, JIM

 

[Shelly]

Thank you Jim
For sharing all this information with us
You always hear about different things going on , but it's hard to believe it does in this days of age

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Your description of the Pow Wow, sounds magical, a movie of the ceremony would be good to see too, JIM

M & S

 

[t-tony]

View attachment 13027 View attachment 13028 Hi @Shelly and anyone else interested in what our gov't considers proper living conditions on most Reservations in Canada. The one showing only the footings are where the river washed away the bank under it and it collapsed. The burned out place is a common sight as most places are built to minimal standards with wood burning stoves for heating. At times there can be three generations living in mould infestation and each year we lose at least one resident to fires and many more are burnt badly. Just last week two children 2 yrs and 18 months died in a fire but six others escaped. Not as pretty a sight as shown in movies. My Goddaughter and her family fortunately got away to Winnipeg and I don't get to see her as often as I'd like. The tee pee is used mostly in summer now and the trailer in winter. I will post pics of the annual pow wow in August which is quite a sight to see and participate in. JIM View attachment 13023View attachment 13024 View attachment 13025View attachment 13026 View attachment 13022

These are great pictures Jim, it would be really good if you have time to retake them in the summer months if you could, so we can see the difference between winter and summer.

Tony.

 

[hard top]

How ever do those people keep warm

By the looks of it, they burn down the house......

 

[oldcarman]

By the looks of it, they burn down the house......

ActuallyHT you are right in many cases when the band office won't okay repairs or a new house there is a surprise fire in the house and the residents get put up in Manitoba Housing homes. When you're endangering your health living in a house with mould and mildew and no one will fix it desperate people do desperate things. As I drive my son around we never know if a house that's there today will be there tomorrow. Two more went up in smoke since last Friday. No injuries though. JIM

 

[Shelly]

What a history lesson were having
Thanks Jim
It's always good to hear about other country's culture

 

[Zeti]

It's a sad situation but thanks for sharing Jim!
And I'm very proud that you're fighting against , because I know how difficult that is!
We expect that in the "outside world" everything it's perfect and running smooth, but an inside deep look shows that it's not always so...unfortunately...

 

[hard top]

an inside deep look shows that it's not always so...unfortunately...

I have been to your country a few times @Zeti and have seen first hand your Roma, Gypsy, Zigeuner problem.
Flew back home once sat next to a Dutch guy that worked on EU charity housing projects for these people.
What a bunch of ungrateful, thieving bastards they are and people of the UK, you have them now too........

 

[Zeti]

Yes, they spread all over. The reason of their terrible behavior that make them unwanted everywhere, is the marginalization for more than 100 years and the lack of education. After 89's the valve of "liberty" made them even worse. The leaders representing their minority in the Parliament have only one target: barking and increasing regularly their incomes with the money they supposed to use for the "Gypsy problem".
And now we have them all over the Europe, as champions of felonies.
Things are similar with what Jim presented, it's the same pattern, with different actors and geographical locations.
It's hard to believe but they are about 4% of of the population in my country and it's shocking to see them all over and even all over the Europe, in the center of criminal world.
And you will not believe, but they are not all felons! There are gypsies that I know, very honest, working hard and having what we like to call a normal life in the society!
The "bad ones" , they stamped a very bad image for my country , in front of the world, but nobody do nothing... They , our government and UE resort, just pretend on doing something!
It's not labor places they need , but a strong education, what we do for our children.
And not only local , but for all of them in the same time.
And to succeed you have to get their trust, they have to see that you are decided to help them, not only for appearance.
Instead of prisons they need schools and people to lead them, to take care of them. When you put them in prison for theft, they believe injustice was done, because they believe they where looking for food for the family......and they get out worse.....
The problem it's not hard to solve if you really want, but do they (the authorities)..........? It's not easier to pass the problem from one to the other?