[IPSM] Government Seizes Control of Pine Creek Reservation

[willowtree at mts.net]

FYI... 
http://intercontinentalcry.org/government-seizes-control-of-pine-creek-reservation/


      Government Seizes Control of Pine Creek Reservation


October 10, 2008 - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has 
reportedly ‘taken control’ of Pine Creek First Nation in western 
Manitoba, placing the reserve under third-party management.

According to an article in Saturday’s Winnipeg Free Press, INAC decided 
to get rid of the Band Council last July, because of what they saw as ‘a 
total breakdown in band government’.

“The situation at Pine Creek First Nation has severely deteriorated to 
the point [where] the First Nation is unable to function,” states a 
letter dated July 17 from regional Indian Affairs officials.

An example, INAC “alleges that safety standards fell apart and the 
health of the 1,191 people living on the reserve was threatened when 
water tanks on water trucks weren’t cleaned anymore. The trucks deliver 
the only potable water on the reserve,” says the free press article.

The Band is also said to have ‘ruined’ a relationship with the only bank 
willing to lend it money, because of ‘Personality conflicts’.

Aswell, says INAC, ‘there was a breakdown of a hard-won agreement on 
council to pay down a $1.2-million deficit with tobacco tax profits and 
VLT gaming revenues.’

‘”Administration of programs and services are largely dysfunctional. 
(There’s) direct involvement of councillors in administration. Staff are 
intimidated, mixed directions are sent out to staff and political 
agendas take priority over services. There is no clear separation 
between administration and politics,” the federal government’s letter 
stated.’

It’s not clear how long Pine Creek will remain under TPM. It may not be 
for too long, since the band council’s two-year terms are about to 
expire, which means a new election must be held.


        Canada should be placed under Third Party Management

Is it just me, or does this take over sound completely unreasonable? Ok, 
sure, there’s a few problems at Pine Creek that need to be addressed — 
but I mean, /show me a government that isn’t dysfunctional!/

Just look at Canada… The Federal government systematically ignores the 
health and safety of tens of thousands of Indigenous People 
<http://intercontinentalcry.org/public-health-report-quietly-released-in-canada/> 
who are effected by a plethora of dangerous toxins and heavy metals 
<http://intercontinentalcry.org/indigenous-land-canadas-toxic-storehouse/>, 
who’s INAC-funded homes are filled with black mould and asbestos 
<http://intercontinentalcry.org/stop-exporting-asbestos-a-plea-to-canadians/>, 
who are suffering from a massive shortage of clean water (as of 
September 30th, 2008, there are 106 First Nations communities across 
Canada under a Drinking Water Advisory) and who are regularly forced to 
sacrifice their lands because the government refuses to consult them 
before they sell it off to resource-hungry corporations.

Keeping in mind that this is a small fraction of the issues facing 
Indigenous Nations in this troubled northern state, compare them to the 
few problems in Pine Creek and ask yourself: who’s the one that should 
really be placed under Third Party Management here?

It sounds a little silly, doesn’t it? Especially since Canada considers 
itself a democratic state. I guess it just goes to show you that 
Indigenous People truely aren’t a part of Canada. Or at least, that 
Canada believes first nation communities are the equivalency of a 
department store… just waiting to be bought, sold, traded, seized, and 
torn down for a brand new parking lot.