NATIVE ISSUES: CAN WE GET IT RIGHT JUST ONCE?
Settling the Residential Schools issue was long over due. Abused victims deserve every penny they received in compensation, but did we have to give them their money in “lump sums”? Wouldn’t it have been better for the gov’t to send out monthly checks? Native people who have a disproportionate rate of addiction problems according to statistics, are dropping dead of substance abuse in the NWT, Alberta, and Saskatchewan at an alarming rate. Police are reporting that native gangs have been stocking up on drugs to sell to the newly rich aboriginal people. Native social workers in Edmonton say they are appalled at the lack of vision by the powers that be. One social worker said this was the dumbest thing he’s ever seen, and what’s worse, highly predictable because any addict, no matter what their race, creed, or religion will buy as much trouble as they can afford. That means if he has fifty thousand dollars, that doesn’t buy a house, that buys a big pile of dope or booze. What’s really disturbing about this topic is aboriginal leaders are saying the money has nothing to do with the deaths. Come on, it’s no coincidence that the substance abuse death rate climbed dramatically almost immediately following the delivery of big “lump sum” payouts. Chief Fontaine calls it a coincidence, I call it predictable. What do you call it?
Jeff Allan