Aboriginal Issues and Stances

This is not a topic to be entered into without preparation beforehand by a candidate, including learning some basic cultural facts about any local native communities.

Special Cultural and Spiritual Considerations

Traditional Native peoples are extremely interested in feeling that their culture is being respected. This is unsurprising considering the generations of oppression and degradation culturally. This includes the observance of certain rituals, most of which are easily accommodated and pose no threat to our ideology. A prime, and nearly universal ritual amoung Canadian Natives, is the offering of Tobacco. Offering tobacco is a sign of respect, and is a good way to gain the attention and goodwill of a more traditional native person being asked to perform a task, or consider an idea. If done on a personal level (1 on 1) this can be performed (at least amoung ojibwe) by placeing a pinch of tobacco in the left hand, and offering it to the other persons left hand.

AFTER CONSULTING and asking the permission of local native leaders being courted by the party, short and traditional tobacco ceremonies could be held at rallies/protests. This would garner much good will (if performed properly and respectfully, according to tradition), associate the party with a 'spiritual element' (which is a standard plank of successful protests), proves our inclusive nature, and overall reflects positively. It should be noted however that this is a double edged sword, as many of these issues are. If rituals are performed without reason, permission, or correct method (meaning one has had no local training/education in performing such a ritual) it could be considered ignorant/insulting.

The Eagle feather is a sacred object in native religion, and should not be used carelessly as a prop. Eagles in many Native cultures represent leaders and warriors. It should only be used after consulting native allies for their consent. There may come a time however where this may be a useful message and tool. If an elected Party member were to hold an Eagle Feather in Parliament as they introduced a bill calling for Native Sovereignty/increased autonomy this could be extremely potent as a message and an image.

It should also be noted that Headdresses should NEVER be worn by any party member, for any reason. The only exception to this would be if an extremely important native leader asked you to wear it. This would likely never happen, and I personally would be weary of such an event. Headdresses are extremely spiritual symbols, meant to be worn by important indigenous leaders, warriors, veterans. When a White person wears a headdress it is considered at minimum extremely offensive and ignorant, more often it is viewed as the same as Blackface http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfiNT6AKG0s

There are also certain sensitivities to words and ideas which are relatively widely held in this community:

The use of the word Indian:

Using the term 'Indian' is generally a bad idea. The only exception is the legal useage of the word. Legal status 'Indian' still exists, and when used carefully and explicitly in this manner is perfectly legitimate. Be careful to make this use explicit. Perhaps refer to them as 'Legal Indians'. NOT ALL NATIVES ARE 'Legal Indians'.

The use of the word 'Aborigional':

This is a fairly new politically correct terminology which has been incorporated into the legal structure. Many Natives do not like this word either, but is generally more acceptable than Indian.

The use of the word Native:

This word in Canada is generally viewed as the least offensive, alongside 'First Nations, Metis and Inuit'. It should be noted however that is some Austrialian Continental communities 'Native' is considered racist.

All of this should go to show that LOCAL cultural research is necessary before any candidate makes a statement on these issues. It is important to find the right terminology for your area, and be consistent with your word useage.

Other problematic topics:

Colonialism-

unless you want to admit canada's colonial past, dont bring it up.

Genocide of Natives & Cultural Genocide-

Unless you agree this occurred, do not bring it up. If you are pressed, state you are not well enough informed to make an opinion. YOU CANNOT expect their support if you claim there was no genocide. Better to be quiet.

Taxes-

To be clear, it is a small portion of the natives who do not pay sales taxes. Even then they still pay some taxes, and still suffer from the inflated prices caused by government intervention. This is something natives feel undually persecuted about, especially as so few have this 'privilege'. Dont be against paying no taxes, say you believe in it for all people.

History and the settlement of Canada-

be careful how you idealize canada's settler past, and understand that idealizing the cowboys who killed the 'indians' and the creation of the railroad that killed the buffalo will not gain you native allies. It may be best to not speak about historical events unless one is well acquainted them, including native perspectives.

Talking points with Natives:

-The Libertarian Party of Canada is pro-soverignty of native communities.

-The Libertarian Party of Ontario should pledge, if elected, to defer any and all responsibilities of governance the province does hold on reserves to the band governments. This does not break with any party ideology.

-The Libertarian Party of Ontario should pledge to start an investigation into the missing and murdered native women in the province. Present the party as inherently non-racist, and talk about the tragedy of these events which occur disproportionately to natives. state that it should be considered criminal for the government not to investigate the deaths of Natives due to their race.

-Native men are more likely to go to prison than graduate highschool in some places. This is due primarily to the criminalization of drugs and the destruction of the family unit. present legalization and pardoning all non-violent drug offenders as a quick and moral fix to incarceration. perhaps also talk about a 'harm reduction model'.

-natives want educational autonomy. they want this more than sovereignty. Education has been used violently against them for generations, and they wish to remove this weapon from government. Promote the idea that Libertarians would reduce provincial oversight on curriculum content and delivery, allowing for the creation and implementation of more cultural and language based schools. we should also pledge to fund native children's education at the same level as non-natives (this would of course only apply during the transitional period of libertarian leadership, in which education is still publicly funded. this bracketed caveat could potentially be left unstated publicly). we should not view this 'increase in expenditure' as a real increase. Instead we must accept it as a step toward creating equality regardless of race. we may not agree with public funding, but for as long as public funding exists it MUST be done regardless of race.

-It is obvious that the party cannot compromise its economic ideals. However, it should be stressed to natives that libertarians are extremly in favour of protecting the environment, and ensuring the ability of people to live traditional lifestyles off the land. This obviously includes giving natives rights to their resources. it should also incorporate new and extreme environmental laws. Companies which pollute, or who harm the people or environment should face steep and swift repercussions. The DEATH PENALTY,hammurabi's code style for people guilty of negligence causing environmental devastation (think massive BP oil spills)would be found extremely favorable by many in this community.

-most importantly, if a difference of opinion economically occurs (they believe in socialist welfare, etc.)there is a simple fix built into libertarianism. Tell them that we libertarians wish to fulfill the spirit of the treaties such as this one: http://www.albertburger.com/mohawk These treaties state that there should be two parallel societies, one native, one western, with neither steering the others boat (as this wampum indicates). Thus within native territories the traditional communal lifestyles could be recreated if wanted, while the western society practices libertarian capitalist rational selfishness.

-If when speaking to a native they tell you that they do not vote one should, delicately (and only if the person seems prepared for discussion), bring up the fact that

"Thats exactly what 'the white man' wants. Native activists had to fight for decades to earn the right to vote without giving up their Status as 'Indian'. Every vote you cast honors those warriors and empowers your children."

overall it seems that the whole ontario libertarian party needs to get together and consider some of the suggestions i have made, and consider a unified aproach to Native issues, as it seems to currently be lacking.

Natives have been improperly courted in western politics, makeing it difficult to get them involved with 'white mans politics' as some call it.

However, the Libertarian ideology is the perfect western counterpart to their ideas and claims to soverignty. Natives are the only growing segment of canadas population, and if they could be galvanized, could be the exact spark the party needs to take off.

Native organizations are only gaining in power, support, population, funding and radicalism. Natives protest, and care. They just feel unrepresented in the white mans politics. We must convince them we represent their interests AND believe in the traditional concepts of seperate but equal communities which help and protect eachother, but do not control them.

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