[IPSM] Once a Black robe, Always a Black Robe

Fri Mar 7 02:25:14 PST 2008

Thanks Douglas for agreeing to offer this forum. I think something needs to
happen, as I acknowledge that sniping at people without giving them a fair
chance to have their day in court just keeps us all in 'hell'.

But the first step to recovery must come from the person desiring the
recovery. I suggest that if you want to assist us, as an 'objective third
party', that you contact Kevin and see if he even acknowledges that he may
have transgressed and agrees that he would like some assistance in finding
his way back into the circle of trust.

All the best,

Doug B

On Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 7:26 PM, Douglas Jack <douglas.jack at mail.mcgill.ca>
wrote:

>  Hi Macdonald Stainsby, Douglas Brown and others,
>
> I have received this email from first Macdonald and then from Douglas
> Brown.
>
> As you are aware, there are many divisions among people and as many
> perspectives on trying to get a grip on what has happened in the past, how
> to support each other with livelihood for the present and how to manifest
> sustainable 'indigenous' (derived from the Latin meaning, 'self-generating')
> communities.  We are all originally indigenous peoples from around the
> world.  Our task is to find our way back to this long truth that is the
> sustenance of human kind.
>
> I have proposed to Macdonald before and I propose it again here, "if you
> have complaints against anyone, then use the tradition of the circle of the
> people and open debate debate withing this circle.  I have offered a venue
> to Kevin Annett of *Both Sides Now, Equal Time Recorded Dialogue*, under
> which a time period (eg 90 minutes) is chozen, stop watches are given to
> Kevin and to Macdonald, each having 45 minutes to speak freely their
> concerns recorded on an audio machine perhaps with video and a record made,
> perhaps transcribed and then circulated to those who might be interested in
> this issue and the differences or similarities presented.  The time limit
> can vary according to Macdonald and Kevin's agreement.  If Macdonald would
> like to be represented by one of those he purports to be speaking for then
> this is welcome Kevin has agreed to dialogue, but Macdonald has not
> responded to this offer or made an offer of his own for another method of
> dialogue."
>
> Given the serious nature of Macdonald's complaint against Kevin, I have
> yet to hear him offer a method of giving fair hearing to the issues raised.
> Given Douglas Brown's reassertion of this complaint, I assume that he will
> play as well a role in making sure that such an open fair dialogue happens.
>  If Macdonald (or others) continues to make damaging complaints without
> offering his perceived opponent a fair dialogue, then one must conclude that
> Macdonald is not interested in the indigenous way and the justice it offers
> and demands for all.  If anyone else has a method of conflict resolution
> (responsabilization) that they would would like to put forth for this or
> other issues, then it is most welcome.
>
> If we are going to sling mud at each other then at least we can plant a
> garden in the process,
>
> Douglas Jack, eco-montreal at mcgill.ca 514-364-0599, LaSalle-Montreal,
> Project Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Corporation.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- *From:* Douglas Brown <whemedia at gmail.com> *
> To:* Macdonald Stainsby <mstainsby at resist.ca>
> *Cc:* indigenousyouth at lists.resist.ca ; Radical anti-capitalist
> environmental discussion. <rad-green at lists.econ.utah.edu> ;
> fgn at friendsofgrassynarrows.com ; Redbadbear at yahoogroups.com ;
> dbain at telus.net ; ipsm-l at lists.resist.ca
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 06, 2008 2:02 AM  *Subject:* Re: [IPSM] Once a
> Black robe, Always a Black Robe
>
> Just for your interest, you might want to send your comments directly to
> the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF)
> http://www.nyfilmvideo.com/2007/ny-july/awards/ny-july-2007-awards.htm
>
> and to the film's director:
> *Louie Lawless:** ph: 250-733-2414* *email: *louie0 at telus. net<louie0 at telus.+net>
>
> All the best,
>
> DB
>
> On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 12:34 PM, Macdonald Stainsby <mstainsby at resist.ca>
> wrote:
>
> > The St'at'imc Runner, February 2008 issue
> >
> > Former church minister solicits Survivors' stories, misuses names
> > Some Residential School Survivors have shared stories of abuses they
> > suffered in the church-run schools. When a personal disclosure is given
> > in confidence, it should be kept private.
> >
> > Kevin Annett is a former minister with the United Church. Annett, who
> > has recently claimed that he is Metis, runs a website called "Hidden
> > from History," and has made a film called "Unrepentant." He had a radio
> > show on Vancouver's Co-operative Radio station. (Vancouver BC) Also he
> > has started an organization he calls the "Truth Commission into Genocide
> > in Canada."
> >
> > The subject of all of these media programs is the genocide against
> > native people, but specifically the Indian Residential School system.
> > Much of the accusations he makes against the church and Canada in
> > regards to their role in covering up the horrors of residential schools
> > can be verified by Survivors. However, Annett has used peoples' private
> > disclosures without their consent, he has misrepresented people on radio
> > and in print, and has betrayed the trust of many Survivors by using
> > their stories in various ways without their permission.
> >
> > James Craven, a professor of economics at Clark College in Vancouver,
> > Washington, talks about the abuses of trust and truth being carried out
> > by Mr Annett, who has recently taken to calling himself "Eagle Strong
> > Voice." According to Craven, a long time friend of the late Elder
> > Harriet Nahanee from Squamish, Annett published her testimonies that she
> > had told him, but without her knowledge or permission. Before her
> > passing, Nahanee circulated a letter to this effect. The late Kitty
> > Sparrow also wrote a similar letter about her experience with Annett. It
> > is unclear why someone would do these things to people who have surely
> > had enough suffering for one lifetime.
> >
> > There may be a clue in that the subject of the movie "Unrepentant"
> > quickly turns from that of Survivors' stories to the story of Kevin
> > Annett. Yet that story remains something of a mystery owing to
> > contradictory claims and reports. Annett claims that he was dismissed
> > from United Church ministerial duties when he started asking his
> > superiors what was being done about residential school crimes. Another
> > dissident minister from the same church contradicts that, saying Annett
> > never mentioned residential schools until well after he had been
> > dismissed.
> >
> > Survivors desperately want to be heard. They want to tell their story to
> > someone. A person who claimed to be seeking justice from the church and
> > Canada, and had himself been a self-appointed representative of god in
> > the United Church, would be in an ideal position to gain the trust of a
> > wounded soul. James Craven's mother, a Blackfoot woman, was victimized
> > at a residential school in Idaho, and actually committed suicide
> > because, as she put it, the demons had come home to roost. "The thing
> > that really gets me going is that the cause is sacred. The things he
> > says about murder and genocide are true. That's why you don't want him
> > involved with this cause - because the cause gets impeached with him,"
> > explains James. "In my protected opinion, he exhibits the
> > characteristics of malignant narcissism and psychopathology."
> >
> > Helen Michel is a Carrier Sekani woman who suffered terribly in
> > residential school. She met Annett some years ago, and disclosed to him
> > some stories of residential school impacts in her home reservation
> > community. "Kevin said a lot of things on the Co-Op radio, apparently he
> > said we said those things, but he twisted around our stories. No one's
> > ever given him permission to repeat their stories, he just uses what he
> > can get. When we confronted him about it, he started saying I and my
> > husband were RCMP informants." Annett claims on his website that he
> > believes Helen and her husband Frank are undercover agents from a
> > division known as "RCMP-E," and that their codenames are "Redman 1 and
> > Redman 2." Annett has also stated on his website that Michel assaulted
> > him in public by running into him with a scooter. No charges have come
> > before a court on this alleged incident.
> >
> > Mrs Michel spoke about these experiences to this newspaper because she
> > wants other Survivors to be warned of what has happened in the past.
> > "We've been working on human rights and land rights issues for 20 years.
> > He made our credibility go downhill after we started hanging out with
> > Kevin, and we soon found out we weren't the only ones."
> > Report by Kerry
> > Coast.   Printed in The St'at'imc Runner, February 2008 issue
> >
> > --
> > Macdonald Stainsby
> > Coordinator, http://oilsandstruth.org
> > --
> > moderated radical news & discussion list:
> > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
> >
> > In the contradiction lies the hope.
> >    --Bertholt Brecht.
> > _______________________________________________
> > IPSM-l mailing list
> > IPSM-l at lists.resist.ca
> > https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ipsm-l
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Dog-Gone Democracy
> http://whemedia.blogspot.com/
> 604.719.6297 office cell
>
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Dog-Gone Democracy
http://whemedia.blogspot.com/
604.719.6297 office cell
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