I write this after watching the "On The Line" episode in full.
I enjoyed the first session with Tristan Hopper; I had read of his book (but not the book itself) previously and it remains on my "To Do" list to purchase. A good interview between two friends.
Ah! Your interview with Mitch Case .... Wow! A great interview.
I confess, Matt, that I am (and have been for many decades) much more aware of Metis organizations than you. I say that not as a matter of pride but simple fact. I live in Alberta and I recall that many decades ago (I am now seventy-four) this was a topic matter in elementary and junior high school. Since that time I have dealt with the Metis nation in Alberta (sometimes something so simple as to open an office hall door - with the sign, "Metis Nation of Alberta, District something" - and ask where the washroom was in the building). There are a number of Metis settlements in Alberta and, from time to time, they make the news with evacuations, appeals to government of this or that and so forth.
My son-in-law is Metis. I mentioned that I live in Alberta. My son-in-law grew up in Saskatoon and his memory of "natives" (his word) was the stereotype drunken Indian as he saw a great deal of that in Saskatoon. As a result, although he is himself Metis when he came of age he refused to seek recognition of his status. His mother is status Metis; his sister is status Metis; his niece is status Metis; his daughter could be status Metis; but he refuses to this day to seek that status. Because he saw many individuals who reflected badly on being a native.
All I can offer from my son-in-law's experiences is that we, in the rest of Canada, need to think about that. As Mitch Case made clear, Truth and Reconciliation is important but ignoring people is incredibly detrimental
What remains unclear from second segment with Mitch Case:
First, since Mr. Case admits he doesn't really know anything about what actually happens in other areas where industrial/resource development happens, I am entitled to disbelieve his hearsay accounts that the companies show up and talk only puppies and unicorns and don't disclose any risks unless the information is screwed out of them. It also has to be said that many of these studies the companies don't want to talk about, which supposedly show poor health outcomes from industry are activist junk science and ignore risks like cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity among the local residents. So there might be some justification for the companies taking a sunnier view of what they propose.
Second, are the Metis yet another sovereign government, with its own laws (as Mr. Case alluded), we have to negotiate with in order to get anything done? Who actually speaks for the Metis "nation" so we can tell when their consent has been granted, that the accommodation proposed is acceptable....or not? Is it Mr. Case's call, by himself, or some other activist, or is there is a transparent grass-roots process that the proponent, and the government, can get a deal with that both know will be binding?
How many Metis rely on the Sault fishery that the other 40,000,000 of us must yield to their traditional lifestyles? How much of the blame for the dysfunction and misery in aboriginal and Metis communities is down to the sins of our fathers and how much is down to learned helplessness? A lot of vague stewardship and ways of knowing mumbo-jumbo tied together with "you-know" every few words. No, I don't know what "justice" would really look like in the opinion of the Metis and I still don't know after listening to this segment.
I write this after watching the "On The Line" episode in full.
I enjoyed the first session with Tristan Hopper; I had read of his book (but not the book itself) previously and it remains on my "To Do" list to purchase. A good interview between two friends.
Ah! Your interview with Mitch Case .... Wow! A great interview.
I confess, Matt, that I am (and have been for many decades) much more aware of Metis organizations than you. I say that not as a matter of pride but simple fact. I live in Alberta and I recall that many decades ago (I am now seventy-four) this was a topic matter in elementary and junior high school. Since that time I have dealt with the Metis nation in Alberta (sometimes something so simple as to open an office hall door - with the sign, "Metis Nation of Alberta, District something" - and ask where the washroom was in the building). There are a number of Metis settlements in Alberta and, from time to time, they make the news with evacuations, appeals to government of this or that and so forth.
My son-in-law is Metis. I mentioned that I live in Alberta. My son-in-law grew up in Saskatoon and his memory of "natives" (his word) was the stereotype drunken Indian as he saw a great deal of that in Saskatoon. As a result, although he is himself Metis when he came of age he refused to seek recognition of his status. His mother is status Metis; his sister is status Metis; his niece is status Metis; his daughter could be status Metis; but he refuses to this day to seek that status. Because he saw many individuals who reflected badly on being a native.
All I can offer from my son-in-law's experiences is that we, in the rest of Canada, need to think about that. As Mitch Case made clear, Truth and Reconciliation is important but ignoring people is incredibly detrimental
You can get the book for $15 on your Kobo. Balls to Amazon and Kindle.
What remains unclear from second segment with Mitch Case:
First, since Mr. Case admits he doesn't really know anything about what actually happens in other areas where industrial/resource development happens, I am entitled to disbelieve his hearsay accounts that the companies show up and talk only puppies and unicorns and don't disclose any risks unless the information is screwed out of them. It also has to be said that many of these studies the companies don't want to talk about, which supposedly show poor health outcomes from industry are activist junk science and ignore risks like cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity among the local residents. So there might be some justification for the companies taking a sunnier view of what they propose.
Second, are the Metis yet another sovereign government, with its own laws (as Mr. Case alluded), we have to negotiate with in order to get anything done? Who actually speaks for the Metis "nation" so we can tell when their consent has been granted, that the accommodation proposed is acceptable....or not? Is it Mr. Case's call, by himself, or some other activist, or is there is a transparent grass-roots process that the proponent, and the government, can get a deal with that both know will be binding?
How many Metis rely on the Sault fishery that the other 40,000,000 of us must yield to their traditional lifestyles? How much of the blame for the dysfunction and misery in aboriginal and Metis communities is down to the sins of our fathers and how much is down to learned helplessness? A lot of vague stewardship and ways of knowing mumbo-jumbo tied together with "you-know" every few words. No, I don't know what "justice" would really look like in the opinion of the Metis and I still don't know after listening to this segment.