The last time this happened, someone had saved a screecap of the Olsen article, which came in super handy. I learned from that experience!
Mark
· September 23, 2013 at 5:51 pm
There’s absolutely nothing wrong or untrue about the remarks made by Bill McRitchie. In fact, he brings a much needed breath of fresh air by indeed saying what so many are truly thinking.
So you didn’t bother to read my article, which lays out precisely all of the things wrong with Bill McRitchie’s opinion piece (i.e. the fact that his opinion is based on total historical and contemporary inaccuracies)?
Stephen Green
· September 23, 2013 at 7:27 pm
I read the letter several times and have to agree with some of his points. I read your response to which I also agree on some things. History is a wonderful catchment of past realities, depending on which side of the event one is on. Colonialism has been on this planet of ours since the humans (or for that matter any animals) have existed. One group displacing the other. In many cases human communities have been absorbed either willingly or unwillingly into the new predominant group, and life carries on. Some communities refuse and try to continue their existence. It is the nature of the human beast throughout history!
There are superb examples where our First Nations have worked within the current laws of Canada and have flourished, there are also those FN’s that have not and are not flourishing. This is also true of other segments of our mosaic society.
The key for me is a process whereby all peoples achieve a consensus to move ahead in order for us all to work together in creating a successful and flourishing Canadian multicultural society for the benefit of all.
Can that fine vision be accomplished when institutionalised racism continues to ensure a lower living standard for indigenous peoples?
Can this fine vision be accomplished when people actually claim that what I’ve stated above is not true, despite the thousands of pages of research and findings which prove otherwise?
stephen Green
· September 23, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Not until the entire Indian Act (or whatever it is now called) is abolished. Not until ALL folks are treated the same for opportunities, education, taxation, health and welfare as may be required, and not until for certain the term ‘reservation’ is expunged from our system. And certainly not until cooperative consensus is achieved.
jbr
· September 24, 2013 at 12:41 am
Your ancestors worked for a living, so should you.
– Chief You know who.
Osoyoos
Cassidy
· September 24, 2013 at 2:36 pm
The whole point of the Canadian Mosaic is that we can be different. I think we are one of the very few countries in the world where we can have muslims, christians, europeans, asians, indians, and native people in a congruent and accepting atmosphere. This is because, after all, differences and diversity make us stronger.
And then we get this guy that says oh yeah what happened to you guys was crapy, but your own faults that your in the situation you in because they cling to their own ideas and identities.
That is complete and utter nonsense, and offensive nonsense at that. Native people do deserve special treatment in terms of schooling, health care, etc., because they had a genocide (yes it was a gigantic genocide) in acted against them by the government of Canada. The genocide has untold and unknown consequences of generations to come. It’s not cool to say we deserve no special treatment when the systematic racism of government policies, everyday Canadians, etc., all impact us deeply.
And the thing is, is that some of us didn’t even surrender, and we are still fighting for sovereignty, dignity, and acceptance within Canada and throughout the world. If he’s really going to tell us chin up and progress to be better Canadians he simply does not understand a word of what he saying. But what I find most offensive is the fact that he obviously thinks he is somewhat of a moderate. That makes me laugh the bitterest of laughs, because he is just a bigot in a moderate’s fur.
wynnwoman
· September 24, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Edit: “I went to a reserve once, people were mean, natives are racist against whites, waa waa waa someone called me a honkey once”.
Pete Smithins
· September 26, 2013 at 9:39 am
Bill, the only people who enjoy undeserved special status in Canada are Middle Aged White Men. You are an embarrassment to progressive thought.
[…] …As our country matured and demographics changed through massive immigration and the evolution of our society, however, the playing field began to level.” – Bill McRitchie, Nanaimo Daily News, September 23, 2013 […]
12 Comments
Tracey · September 23, 2013 at 4:41 pm
It’s a good thing you have this copy here as the article has been removed from their website!
âpihtawikosisân · September 23, 2013 at 5:14 pm
The last time this happened, someone had saved a screecap of the Olsen article, which came in super handy. I learned from that experience!
Mark · September 23, 2013 at 5:51 pm
There’s absolutely nothing wrong or untrue about the remarks made by Bill McRitchie. In fact, he brings a much needed breath of fresh air by indeed saying what so many are truly thinking.
âpihtawikosisân · September 23, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Uh…huh.
So you didn’t bother to read my article, which lays out precisely all of the things wrong with Bill McRitchie’s opinion piece (i.e. the fact that his opinion is based on total historical and contemporary inaccuracies)?
Stephen Green · September 23, 2013 at 7:27 pm
I read the letter several times and have to agree with some of his points. I read your response to which I also agree on some things. History is a wonderful catchment of past realities, depending on which side of the event one is on. Colonialism has been on this planet of ours since the humans (or for that matter any animals) have existed. One group displacing the other. In many cases human communities have been absorbed either willingly or unwillingly into the new predominant group, and life carries on. Some communities refuse and try to continue their existence. It is the nature of the human beast throughout history!
There are superb examples where our First Nations have worked within the current laws of Canada and have flourished, there are also those FN’s that have not and are not flourishing. This is also true of other segments of our mosaic society.
The key for me is a process whereby all peoples achieve a consensus to move ahead in order for us all to work together in creating a successful and flourishing Canadian multicultural society for the benefit of all.
âpihtawikosisân · September 23, 2013 at 7:34 pm
Can that fine vision be accomplished when institutionalised racism continues to ensure a lower living standard for indigenous peoples?
Can this fine vision be accomplished when people actually claim that what I’ve stated above is not true, despite the thousands of pages of research and findings which prove otherwise?
stephen Green · September 23, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Not until the entire Indian Act (or whatever it is now called) is abolished. Not until ALL folks are treated the same for opportunities, education, taxation, health and welfare as may be required, and not until for certain the term ‘reservation’ is expunged from our system. And certainly not until cooperative consensus is achieved.
jbr · September 24, 2013 at 12:41 am
Your ancestors worked for a living, so should you.
– Chief You know who.
Osoyoos
Cassidy · September 24, 2013 at 2:36 pm
The whole point of the Canadian Mosaic is that we can be different. I think we are one of the very few countries in the world where we can have muslims, christians, europeans, asians, indians, and native people in a congruent and accepting atmosphere. This is because, after all, differences and diversity make us stronger.
And then we get this guy that says oh yeah what happened to you guys was crapy, but your own faults that your in the situation you in because they cling to their own ideas and identities.
That is complete and utter nonsense, and offensive nonsense at that. Native people do deserve special treatment in terms of schooling, health care, etc., because they had a genocide (yes it was a gigantic genocide) in acted against them by the government of Canada. The genocide has untold and unknown consequences of generations to come. It’s not cool to say we deserve no special treatment when the systematic racism of government policies, everyday Canadians, etc., all impact us deeply.
And the thing is, is that some of us didn’t even surrender, and we are still fighting for sovereignty, dignity, and acceptance within Canada and throughout the world. If he’s really going to tell us chin up and progress to be better Canadians he simply does not understand a word of what he saying. But what I find most offensive is the fact that he obviously thinks he is somewhat of a moderate. That makes me laugh the bitterest of laughs, because he is just a bigot in a moderate’s fur.
wynnwoman · September 24, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Edit: “I went to a reserve once, people were mean, natives are racist against whites, waa waa waa someone called me a honkey once”.
Pete Smithins · September 26, 2013 at 9:39 am
Bill, the only people who enjoy undeserved special status in Canada are Middle Aged White Men. You are an embarrassment to progressive thought.
Fool me once: Colonialism denial finds a happy home in Canadian media · September 23, 2013 at 2:46 pm
[…] …As our country matured and demographics changed through massive immigration and the evolution of our society, however, the playing field began to level.” – Bill McRitchie, Nanaimo Daily News, September 23, 2013 […]