Speaking of Green

Peru Plans to Charge Greenpeace Activists for Damage to Nazca Lines

Karma is a bitch.

The Lamestream Media And The Arab-Israeli Conflict

"The volume of press coverage that results, even when little is going on, gives this conflict a prominence compared to which its actual human toll is absurdly small. In all of 2013, for example, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict claimed 42 lives—that is, roughly the monthly homicide rate in the city of Chicago. Jerusalem, internationally renowned as a city of conflict, had slightly fewer violent deaths per capita last year than Portland, Ore., one of America’s safer cities. In contrast, in three years the Syrian conflict has claimed an estimated 190,000 lives, or about 70,000 more than the number of people who have ever died in the Arab-Israeli conflict since it began a century ago.

News organizations have nonetheless decided that this conflict is more important than, for example, the more than 1,600 women murdered in Pakistan last year (271 after being raped and 193 of them burned alive), the ongoing erasure of Tibet by the Chinese Communist Party, the carnage in Congo (more than 5 million dead as of 2012) or the Central African Republic, and the drug wars in Mexico (death toll between 2006 and 2012: 60,000), let alone conflicts no one has ever heard of in obscure corners of India or Thailand. They believe Israel to be the most important story on earth, or very close.

A reporter working in the international press corps here understands quickly that what is important in the Israel-Palestinian story is Israel. If you follow mainstream coverage, you will find nearly no real analysis of Palestinian society or ideologies, profiles of armed Palestinian groups, or investigation of Palestinian government. Palestinians are not taken seriously as agents of their own fate. The West has decided that Palestinians should want a state alongside Israel, so that opinion is attributed to them as fact, though anyone who has spent time with actual Palestinians understands that things are (understandably, in my opinion) more complicated. Who they are and what they want is not important: The story mandates that they exist as passive victims of the party that matters.

Corruption, for example, is a pressing concern for many Palestinians under the rule of the Palestinian Authority, but when I and another reporter once suggested an article on the subject, we were informed by the bureau chief that Palestinian corruption was “not the story.” (Israeli corruption was, and we covered it at length.)"

Bingo!! RTWT

Accountability And Transparency

"It's not difficult for First Nations' to get information on how their money is spent," he said. "It's impossible..."

[---]

"Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau never supported the bill and after acknowledging in a weekend interview with a Vancouver paper that it had highlighted a fairly striking salary that wouldn't have otherwise been known, he then admitted that he'd still scrap the bill if he were prime minister."

Keep talking, Justin. You can always get a job as a grave digger.

Corruption In Indian Country

Band members call for chief’s removal

"Members of the Kwikwetlem First Nation are demanding their chief resign and an immediate audit be conducted over revelations his total salary amounted to almost $1-million last year.

Figures released under a new federal law showed Chief Ron Giesbrecht was paid an $800,000 bonus, and band member Ron Jackman said late on Friday that at least half of the small First Nation of 80 people stand behind a call to remove Mr. Giesbrecht from office.

Mr. Jackman said the group wants Mr. Giesbrecht gone by next Friday or it will hold an emergency meeting of the band to remove him.

“There’s been outrage because people are struggling and he’s kept $800,000 for himself,” said Mr. Jackman, adding that he stepped forward to speak for those opposed to the chief.

He said band members knew the money came into the community as a result of a business deal, but did not know that much had gone to Mr. Giesbrecht.

Mr. Jackman, a 39-year-old band member and student at the B.C. Institute of Technology, said that in June, members of the community were mailed $10,000 cheques as part of that deal."

What goes around comes around. Mind you, this could be just another faction on the reserve salivating at the prospect that they may now be able to mosey on up to the trough.

And when am I going to get my $10,000 cheque? It's high time the gravy train stopped by my house. First thing I'll do is pay off my mortgage. I didn't get a free house.

Excessive Salaries

UPDATE: Here's a doozy.

B.C. First Nation chief was paid almost $1-million last year

"Chief Ron Giesbrecht of the Kwikwetlem First Nation is listed as receiving $914,219 in remuneration last year, plus an additional $16,574 in expense reimbursement. Individuals with Indian status who work on a reserve are not required to pay income tax."

===========Original Starts Here============
Here's a good description comparing the salaries Chiefs pay themselves and the salaries earned by mayors of nearby communities. The difference is staggering.

A First Look At How Much B.C. First Nations Chiefs Actually Make

"As of this writing, only 15 of the 205 B.C. bands had their information posted. More are expected in the days and weeks to come, but even this sample reveals some very interesting information."

From the sample:

"The Tk'emlúps band paid its chief, Shane Gottfriedson, $92,352 last year. Because that salary is tax-free, it's the equivalent of making $128,000 off-reserve -- far more than the mayor of nearby Kamloops, who will make $85,754 next year. Gottfriedson leads a community of 1,058, half of whom live off-reserve; the mayor of Kamloops governs a city of 86,000 people.

Tk'emlúps also paid six councillors salaries ranging from $79,840 to $84,580 tax-free; far more than the $24,811 Kamloops city councillors make.

Jason Louie, chief of the 235-member Lower Kootenay band, made $60,000 tax-free last year, the equivalent of $76,500 off-reserve. Creston Mayor Ron Toyota made $23,632 for governing more than 5,000 people.

Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Doug White made $108,022 last year, the equivalent of roughly $155,000 if the salary were taxed. He governed a community of 1,716 -- 1,014 of whom live off reserve. Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan made $84,370 for leading almost 85,000 people."

Uh Huh

First Nation chiefs' salaries due to be posted under Transparency Act
Most First Nations have yet to post salaries

"The vast majority of First Nations chiefs and band councils have yet to post their financial statements online under new transparency rules passed by the federal government last year.

Under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, First Nations leaders have 120 days after the first quarter — so, by end of day Tuesday — to make public their audited financial statements for the last fiscal year, including the salaries and expenses of their chiefs and councillors.

As of Monday night, on the eve of the deadline, the government confirmed that 20 First Nations out of more than 600 had their financial statements posted on the government's web site.

First Nations already have to produce their financial statements as part of their funding agreements with the federal government, but this is the first time they are being asked to post the information online.

First Nations without a website can ask larger First Nations organizations to post their financial statements for them.

Under the new rules, the minister in charge must also publish the documents on the department's website.

First Nations who refuse to comply could be subject to a court order or see funds withheld from them."

[---]

"The Assembly of First Nations does not support the new legislation.

The AFN regional chief for B.C., Jody Wilson-Raybould, has told Parliament on more than one occasion that many chiefs resent the added measure.

"Chiefs were clear in their assertion that the proposed measures are both heavy-handed and unnecessary and they suggest that First Nation governments are corrupt, our leaders are not transparent and consequently need to be regulated by Ottawa," she said a year before the act became law.

The government has said all along it was First Nations members who approached Ottawa asking for greater transparency "as a result of difficulty obtaining financial information from their elected local officials."

Although there may be a delay between the time First Nations submit their documents to the government and the time they are posted online, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs has committed to publishing them "without delay."

BRING. IT. ON.

Round Up

Shawn Atleo was a different type of National Chief, and that’s what led to his ouster

This could be the beginning of the end of the Indian Industry, and not a moment too soon.


Police pile onto tractor as farmer helps track suspects through muddy field

"Four RCMP members hitched a ride on a farmer’s tractor Friday afternoon as they tracked down three suspects through a wet and muddy field near Briercrest, Sask."

[---]

"The suspects, without transportation to leave the town, were now somewhere in the area on foot, police said.

A canine unit and neighbouring police detachments were called to assist the tracking efforts. Word spread among residents to keep an eye out for the three suspects and to alert police of sightings.

Several residents assisted police by searching grid roads in their pickup trucks. Others canvassed wet and boggy areas with quads and one resident, a pilot, took to the air to search."

Lots of fun.

New views about Neanderthal Man:


Neanderthals not incompetent dimwits: study

"That is the message a pair of researchers have delivered after analyzing archaeological evidence detailing the capabilities of Neanderthals, our closest extinct human relatives, compared to the early modern humans who first crossed their path about 40,000 years ago."

Gap Between Neanderthals and Us Narrows, But Does Not Close

[---]

Tsunamis

They Must Be...

...getting the message:

FSIN vice-chiefs take pay cut

"Meeting for most of the day Wednesday at the Allan Bird Memorial Centre in Prince Albert, chiefs voted nearly unanimously to cut the salaries of the four vice-chiefs from $100,000 per year to $75,000. The $215,000 salary of FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde remains unaffected, as it’s funded by the national Assembly of First Nations (AFN).

Chiefs also voted overwhelmingly to take $500,000 in casino revenue from the First Nations Trust."

More here, here and here.

Long story short. They're cutting the fat and they ain't crying about "inherent and treaty rights". Will wonders ever cease?

And don't you just love it that Bellegarde is exempted?

The Cracks Are Showing

Elsipogtog seeks shale injunction, warns of 'radical elements

"The Elsipogtog First Nation is seeking a court injunction to suspend all exploration by SWN Resources, and warns “outside radical elements” are converging on the area where the latest work is being done.

The band says in a court application filed Thursday afternoon there’s a real risk of a repeat to clashes between police and protesters near Rexton last month."

[---]

"The notice by the band was filed in the Court of Queen's Bench in Fredericton. It names the Attorney General of New Brunswick, the Minister of Energy and Mines, SWN Resources Canada Inc, and the Assembly of First Nations' Chiefs in New Brunswick as respondents.(Emphasis Added) The application is asking — on what it calls "an extremely urgent basis" — to have an order suspending all SWN operations under oil and gas licences."

Poor fools. They don't seem to realized how transparent the hypocrisy is.

I Wonder..

...if he "consulted" the right people beforehand:

What Did I Tell Ya?

Okay. I've been ignoring my blog again. That's because I've been following this whole Idle No More/Attawapiskat nonsense over at Sun News Network. In fact, that may be where I told ya this before, but when news that Shawn Atleo had booked some time off, on doctor's orders, my first reaction was that the Prairie Chiefs (the FSIN, especially) had got to him and we may see the end of the Assembly of First Nations. This article seems to confirm my hunches:

Norovirus, exhaustion leave Atleo sidelined as schisms deepen within AFN

The prairie chiefs, especially Saskatchewan's FSIN, have been a$$holes for decades now. The FSIN is corrupt and filled with thugs.

Good News!!

Shawn Atleo 3 votes shy of re-election as AFN chief

"Atleo earned 318 votes on the second ballot out of 535 cast Wednesday in Toronto. He was far ahead of his closest competitor — Pamela Palmater, who got 107 votes."

The best part, though, is not that it looks like he's gonna win. No, the best part is who has already dropped out:

"Following the announcement of the results, Terrance Nelson, former chief of the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation in Manitoba, withdrew from the ballot and pledged his support to Palmater. He received 25 votes in the second round."

So the loudmouth boor throws his inconsiderable support behind another loudmouth, who, even with the perhaps 25 voters who may now be going her way, is still way far behind the front runner.

And there's something to this:

""What's likely happening here is regional picks, which are very big in the AFN," CBC's Cam MacIntosh said. "The thing about the way this works is Shawn Atleo is from B.C., and B.C. has more reserves — and as a result more votes in this contest — than any other region in Canada."

Atleo's supporters had expressed confidence of having enough backing to earn victory on the second round of balloting. They came close, but a coalescing "anyone but Atleo" movement might have stymied them. MacIntosh said there is strong anti-Atleo sentiment from many of the AFN's Prairie chiefs."

I have to wonder what would happen if the rank and file on-reserve membership were allowed to vote. Prairie chiefs have been flogging an inflated, made up line about the so called numbered treaties for decades now, and it has netted the grass roots very little else but plenty of scandal, nepotism and graft. And at any given time, half the Aboriginal population on the prairies lives in cities anyway.

There's a very interesting comment attached to this story, to:

"Atleo will win hands down.
Was there ever any doubt?
But a word of caution...less money for the "leaders"...and more for the people.
These leaders need to understand that the people they represent are not very happy with what those who represent them have done so far.
They have a lot...and many have nothing.
Anyone who thinks otherwise has not spent enough time talking to the elders and those not so privilaged (sic) down on the rez.
Far too much of a gap between those at the top and the everyday people barely getting by.
No...they do not all have pick-up trucks,quads and fancy houses!
No more conventions in expensive resorts!"

Yup!! This is the flipside of all that confrontation, anger and phony bravado we've been treated to for the past 30+ years.

And then there's this one:

"One of the questions posed to all candidates yesterday dealt with the problems the First Nation peoples encounter with lawyers. Reference was made to one Band that was charged $73 million relating to a land claim. That is $73 million tax dollars.

Canadian taxpayers who are so concerned about misuse of our tax dollars in relation to First Nations would do well to follow the money trail - it isn't just some Chiefs that abuse the system and it is often lawyers who are filling their pockets as fast as they can.

For every First Nation child in care in a foster home, there is a file in a lawyer's office. Only the willfully naieve (sic) would believe that the time billed on those files accurately reflects the service provided."

So I'm not the only one who has noticed there's an industry and, although nothing seems to change at the reserve level, there are lots of folks, both Indian and non-Indian who are lining their pockets, using Indian misery to fatten their wallets. It is in their interests to keep it that way.

One final point. The story at the link at the top come from the CBC. If you read through the comments, it's amazing (well, no, it's not that amazing) how many comments they have deleted. I suppose those comments weren't politically correct enough.

Yawn

Atleo facing accusations of a too-cozy partnership with Harper in AFN election

"The issues for the more than 700,000 members of First Nations living both on and off reserves are clear: more than 100 rural and remote communities lack access to safe drinking water, housing crises abound across the country, northern communities face rising food prices, land rights and resource-revenue sharing issues are heating up on resource-rich reserves, and claims that Canada is not honouring its various treaties are rampant."

Blah! Blah! Blah! Blah!

"While supporters of incumbent AFN national chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo — who is seeking re-election — say he has spent the last three years fostering relationships and laying groundwork for change, his critics say his approach has been too conciliatory and even go so far as to accuse him of being too cosy with the Harper government."

Can't have that, now can we?

"But Romanow said there are many First Nation communities which saw the Ottawa Gathering as a mere "photo-op" and many in those communities who refused to participate in the education panel, which they said was created without consultation."

This old saw about the lack of consultation is getting really, really tiresome. What the heck do you think Atleo was doing? Facilitating consultation is precisely what he was doing, dingbats.  Consulting has been the status quo since the second half of the 1940s.

So which sectors of the Indian Industry (lawyers, academics, consultants, civil servants, Chiefs who award themselves big salaries) are represented here?

Academic (and legal): 

"Pam Palmater, a Mi'kmaw lawyer and professor at the University of Toronto"

Lawyers:

 "Diane M. Kelly, an Ojibway from Onigaming First Nation, who is also a lawyer and the first female Grand Chief of the Grand Council of Treaty #3

"Joan Jack, a lawyer and band counsellor from the fly-in Aanishinaabe Ikwe community of Berens River First Nation in Manitoba."

Chiefs:

 "George Stanley, former chief of Frog Lake First Nation and current Regional Chief of Alberta"

"Dene leader Bill Erasmus, the regional chief in the North and brother of former AFN National Chief Georges Erasmus"

Oh. And I guess being a strutting, loudmouth boor in addition to being a member of the standard Indian Industry professions helps as well:

"Terrance Nelson is a former five-term chief of Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation in southern Manitoba. He made headlines earlier this year when he took the plight of First Nations to Canada's Iranian consulate. A self-proclaimed "radical," Nelson has said "the Northern Gateway project is dead if I am elected national chief." His focus is on sovereignty and land rights for First Nations."

Double yawn. I suspect his term as Chief on Roseau River was similar to that of the Mad Mullahs and I-am-a-dinner-jacket, too. He'd fit right in.

Unions in Crisis?

Maybe if they stuck to their original purpose, they might have a better chance of survival. Look at this:

It could be hike-dues-or-die time for federal union

"One of Canada’s largest federal unions could face extinction as an independent organization unless its members accept a 42-per-cent dues increase to forestall a financial crisis triggered by the Conservatives’ job cuts."

Too bad. So sad.

Or this:

Caw tackles social issues to boost ranks: Union steps in to pro-choice debate

Are you telling me that each and every member of the CAW is pro-choice? Or those that aren't are okay with their money going to support that cause?

Or this:

Elections Canada orders NDP to pay back some union sponsorships at convention

"For the second time in a year, the NDP has run afoul of political financing laws.

Elections Canada has ordered the NDP to pay back money it collected from unions who sponsored events at the party's national convention last year.

The party, which has criticized the Conservative government for a lack of transparency, offered no details on how much it paid back or to whom."

And this is just hilarious:

Public sector sick days cost $1B a year

From the CBC, yet! Whose annual budget costs the taxpayer the same amount and a bit more, if you call $100,000,000 a "bit more".

And this?

Unions see benefit to open membership

"Two of Canada's biggest unions are considering opening member-ship to everyone, including the unemployed and retired, when they merge. A committee working on the merger of the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions floated the proposal in a recently released report outlining the potential structure of the new union."

Let's just say they're getting desperate. Or the Union bosses want a bigger raise.

No wonder they are getting nervous:

Union bill causes stir in labour circles

"A proposed private member's bill that would compel unions to disclose their spending is causing ripples in Canada's labour community.

Bill C-377 -- put forward by Conservative MP Russ Hiebert -- would reveal how labour groups use funds collected through union dues."

Some good background reading here.

Heavy Sigh

Oh, but I'm raaaaaacist.

"A new federal government audit says the chief and council of Manitoba's Peguis First Nation paid themselves thousands of dollars in money earmarked for flood compensation, diverted thousands more to private consultants and hired unqualified staff as a make-work project for flood emergency operations."

Is it any wonder the industry thrives while the grass roots goes without? The Peguis Band has been like this for years and years.

"The Peguis review is the first indication Ottawa is scrutinizing the finances of individual First Nations and may go further than just recoup funds. Bands could also find themselves the focus of criminal investigations."

Long, long overdue.

Somehow I Don't...

...think that's what they had in mind:

NDP calls for troops into Attawapiskat

However, if we could well and truly say they've been conquered....

Perfect Time...

..to turn a corner:

Gov't-appointed consultant kicked out of Attawapiskat

There is no treaty right to housing or mega-bucks for Band Councils.

I doubt the government will take any decisive steps, though. The Indian Industry always wins.

Oh Dear!

We're slipping:

Corruption Perceptions Index 2011

(Note the amateurish botch-up job CBC does of the chart. Two entries for Germany. Twenty countries (those ranked in the 4 to 5.9 range) completely ignored. I'm surprised they didn't at least include Israel, which at 5.8, is ranked 36th.)

Hah!!

Nobody should be surprised about this:

Tories take Attawapiskat finances out of native hands

This is what happens in far too many cases where a *cough* *cough* First Nation takes control of the finances and administration of their own affairs.

Well done, Harper and company. To hell with the bleeding hearts sipping their lattes in downtown Toronto.

Nor should this bit be a surprise (from the article):

"Charlie Angus, the NDP MP whose riding encompasses the community, paid a visit to Attawapiskat on Tuesday. The Conservative solution, Mr. Angus said, “is to blame the community.”

When disasters occur in parts of Canada that are not on aboriginal territory, the government has responded, he said in the Commons. “Why are the people of Attawapiskat treated so differently. Why is it that when it’s a first-nation community in distress, this government’s response is contempt?”"

Snake. The NDP has been in bed with corrupt native leaders for years and years in Saskatchewan, and this is exactly the language they have used. Remember Dwain Lingenfelter's election campaign promise about sharing resource revenue with First Nations? Nobody would see any benefit from such a policy except for a handful of corrupt Chief's and councils who would be able to go to Hawaii more often, or buy a fancy new pick-up truck more frequently, reward his clan, etc., etc., with various monetary perqs.

More Good News

FSIN gravy train may be coming to an end:

Premier Brad Wall calls out problems in the FSIN and SIGA

""There's always accountability issues in every organization, but there seems to be a lot when it comes to the FSIN.""

[--]

"Wall went on to make the groundbreaking proclamation that his government is considering dealing directly with the First Nations themselves, rather than continue to go through the FSIN.

He said he wants proof that SIGA's proceeds are actually getting to the communities they are meant to help."

Good luck with that, Mr. Premier.

The Indian Industry was born in this province. Maybe it should die here, too. The sooner the better.