Mainstream columnists present skewed views

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Guest Column

Is there a backlash to requests by aboriginal leaders during this current round of Constitutional discussions? Some national columnists may have you believe so.

Montreal columnist William Johnson described a report written by the Assembly of First Nations as mythical-thinking, Utopian, and unrealistic and the Native contributors as being paeans to the past. He interprets the requests for self-government as a return to the past.

In a column, he implied that European life prior to North American Indian contact was more human than it was here.

That assumption is incorrect. For example, when the sadist Christopher Columbus ship-wrecked on our shores, the Arawak, an agricultural people, rescued his ship and his crew and were repaid with slavery and death.

Then Columbus took pride in the fact that he used green wood instead of dry wood when he burned Indians alive as it would prolong their agony.

Not to forget his religious sentiment, when he hanged Indians he did so in groups of 13...."in memory of Our Redeemer and his Twelve apostles."

And he was sent by the most civilized nation in Europe at that time.

Mr. Johnson concluded his column with a warning to aboriginal communities to adapt to European technology or risk degradation. I would like to give the same warning back to Mr. Johnson, however, I want to add that it is not European technology that is providing the challenges of today's ever-changing technological society, it is the Japanese.

In a more recent column, Mr. Johnson suggests hereditary Chief Bill Wilson would introduce slavery and polygamy if self-government is realized.

Mr. Johnson's arguments are illogical and offensive to Native people. Native leaders across Canada are aware that to request a return to a traditional lifestyle without today's modern conveniences is ludicrous. Even Chief Bill Wilson recognizes the need to be prepared to live in today's society, if his law degree proves anything.

Another columnist from Toronto challenged aboriginal rights to hunting and fishing, rights that have been upheld within Canadian courts. He wrote of the millions of dollars spent on aboriginal expenditures but failed to mention that 80 per cent of these funds are for administrative costs, while 20 per cent are actually received by aboriginal communities.

He also stated that aboriginal children seem to have more "pocket change" than others. May I remind Mr. Fisher that it was only a few months ago that a Native child died from starvation in the city of Winnipeg.

As an Indian person who has been quite optimistic about the future of red/white relations during the past 10 years, the trend towards Indian-bashing by some columnists

is very disturbing.

I am not saying that aboriginal issues and leadership cannot be criticized. I am saying that the criticism should be informed, knowledgeable and tolerant of another culture's differences.