http://www.unicef.ca/en/policy-advocacy-for-children/leaving-no-child-behind

Hi Mike,

the above link is to a Unicef site that provides info, much of which you have included in your posts, and some other information as well.  I am pretty sure it will be helpful in this discussion.

Thank you for bringing this up; it is an extremely important issue for all Canadians.

St. Michael’s Hospital is a Catholic teaching and research hospital founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1892 to care for the sick and poor of Toronto's inner city.

Last year, its Centre for Research on Inner City Health published a study: Our Health Counts — Urban Aboriginal HealthDatabase Research Project. I's one we might all want to look at:

http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/crich/wp-content/uploads/our-health-counts-report.pdfI

Its findings included:

• Almost 80 per cent of the First Nations people living in Hamilton earn less than $20,000 per year and 70 per cent live in the poorest neighborhoods, compared with 25 per cent of the total Hamilton population.

• This poverty is accompanied by challenges in access to housing and food security. Ninety per cent of First Nations people in Hamilton have moved once in last five years and over 50 per cent moved three or more times in last five years.
First Nations people in Hamilton live with a disproportionate burden of chronic disease and disability. Rates of diabetes are 15.6 per cent – more than three times – that of the total Hamilton population.

• Compared to the general population, First Nations people living in Hamilton were more than twice as likely to visit an emergency room, 25 times more likely to report living in a crowded condition and had children who were more than twice as likely to have asthma.

This is sort of picture is hardly unique to Hamilton. 

And, if you do not find these disparities morally repugnant, don't forget that the political and constituional flaws that  generate situations like these are pulling dollars from you in taxation for health care. 

APTN news often does not make national news.

Back in September the goverment started the wheels in motion...

The news did not cover it did so in a blip nobody knew what it meant or the implications of it...

Things like this do not make the mainstream media.

http://intercontinentalcry.org/harper-launches-major-first-nations-termination-plan-as-negotiating-tables-legitimize-canadas-colonialism/

Why? Because media is about society's wants and what society cares about.... it is about ratings and appealling to an audience and their wants and needs....

Idle No More is a wide spread thing.

Supporters from Egypt to South Dakota are fasting with Cheif Spence.

I have mentioned Attawapiskat for years and years, even here on Wondercafe.

My letters have been sent and continue to be sent. My letters started before a hunger strike began.

I know, SG.  But why is it so hard to be heard on this issue?

It is crucial to the whole character of Canada… the residual toxins of colonialism and racism that gnaw away at Canada's soul.

Mike,

I think where we are trying to be heard matters.

I do not think many people tune into APTN news. Most folks want news that is close to home, local.... or they want covered what they think effects them or is of interest to them. It can be pretty narrow.

Wondercafe has not been the best place for me to be heard.

If someone would try to derail the conversation, in person, to addiction when I was talking about funding or discriminatory policy, residential schools... I would redirect.  If it got too stereotypical or angry or turned into a place to vent racism, I would ask them to stop or leave or I would ask those in charge to do the same

Wondercafe is a forum bascally run by the folks here. So, it is not like there is a facilitator, to keep it on task.... It is more a pub or diner chat and there are cops to call if it gets out of hand.  

As can happen with many issues, one has to overcome misinformation, stereotype, emotions, propaganda, lack of education.....

The problem surfaced in yet another form today when BC released a study on how Pickton got away with his murders for so long. The report said it was because the Vancouver police, because so many of the women were native peoples, would not take the murders seriously.

That's a national problem, and not one restricted to the police, by any means.

http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9ecfc4d0646e1736f945a8cd8&id=9c418bf...

This is an important document, I think (above).

Hi Mike

I've been reading archive  comments (692) on a Globe and Mail website plus others on the CBC in relation to Theresa  Spence's house  emergency appeal about this same time last year. If the comments are legitimate  and not a conspiracy as some posters appear to think there appears to be very little support in Canada  for the First Nations people. There is a lot of general  criticism  from A to Z so to speak.

In light of this in further disbelief  I am further surprised to read the link posted by SG about "Harper's proposed  termination plan" of First Nations as they now exist. I had no clue. Really? I have to take time to  read it and see what I can understand. I find myself perplexed sometimes about the issues which can be somewhat complicated. I have done a lot of reading on the net. I do hope to God for Theresa Spence and  all of our sakes that the current hunger strike will not go so far as to develop into a tragedy. It is serious.

Termination plan from S.G's post. Everyone should read this.

http://intercontinentalcry.org/harper-launches-major-first-nations-termination-plan-as-negotiating-tables-legitimize-canadas-colonialism/

See next post

"Chief Theresa Spence's fight for her people is similar to that labour movement and so many other groups - the fight for dignity, respect, and equality," said CEP National President Dave Coles. "It is urgently necessary that the government reach an equitable agreement with the First Nations people. As a country, we know all too well the reality of centuries of colonization, inequality and abuse.

"On behalf of more than 300,000 working women and men across Canada, we are urging the federal government to live up to its responsibility to aboriginal people and meet with Chief Theresa Spence and other aboriginal leaders," said Coles.

http://rabble.ca/news/2012/12/labour-unions-support-hunger-striker-theresa-spence-urge-federal-government-meet

Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan is offering to meet this week with a northern Ontario chief who started a hunger strike Tuesday out of frustration with the federal government.

They are angry over a number of bills before Parliament, including one that would force First Nations to disclose their financial statements and the salaries of chiefs and councillors.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1300523--attawapiskat-chief-theresa-spence-willing-to-die-to-improve-conditions

Send a  message of support:

http://apc-cpa.liberal.ca/blog/support-chief-spence/

Jan.2012 Housing - 22 (?) prefabs were shipped. A school is still promised for 2013.

Nov.2011 video - I don't believe very much has changed.

Off topic but there was good news  today in Manitoba:

A land " win win".... in Winnipeg Dec. 14/12

Winnipeg FN Budget protest Dec. 4/12 in Ottawa :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8EdQPSmMgnY

See the thread in Social called "Use Social Media" make your voice heard

This makes me weep.

stardust, your article was very depressing. I am not surprised though. Of course Harper's tactics of "my way or the highway" fit us all. If we support the Idle No More we support Canada.