[R-G] From Redbadbear list [Native situation in Canada and 'States]

[Hunter Gray]

Thanks much for your good note/query, Jacob.

Although the British treatment of Native Americans was for a long time purely horrific -- in most tribal instances -- a variety of factors came into play that eventually mitigated that considerably -- e.g., pragmatism re a turbulent "frontier"; and ,to a lesser extent, increasing expression of social concerns by various religious groups.  With a view  by Britain that a nation-to-nation approach was important in its Indian affairs, all of this reached fruition in the Crown Proclamation of 1763 which sought to protect Native lands from blatant colonialist seizures.  There were other relatively enlightened Indian policies in the Proclamation. And all of this was resented bitterly by American frontiersmen. The Crown Proclamation is felt by many historians to have contributed as much to the American Revolution as did the bitterly resented British taxation policies on the East Coast.  The  Proclamation continued to affect Canada which also had the relatively enlightened Indian policies of the French [fur trade, Jesuits, etc.] Canada has generally honored its treaties with the Native nations much better than has the United States,

That said, however, it's been very rough for Canadian Natives -- and still is.

The basic challenges/goals for Native people and tribal societies have consistently involved preservation of tribal nation [as one big family], preservation of the specific tribal culture, preservation of land and other resources, self-determination in the context of maintenance of treaty rights, and expansion of functional sovereignty.

Here are three Links to website pages of ours which you might find helpful

The first involves two articles of mine published in socialist journals several years ago.  Although a bit dated, they are still sound.  There are now many more tribal casinos than there were when I wrote -- and the Native population in the 'States is now approaching three million.  The 2010 census should be interesting and revealing.  http://hunterbear.org/nativeamericans.htm

The second Link goes into detail on such matters Federal Indian policies, sociology of tribalism,  challenges faced by Natives, etc.
http://hunterbear.org/NATIVE%20ISSUES%20AND%20OTHER%20MATTERS.htm

The third Link concerns the plight of the Lumbee Indian Nation in North Carolina -- which for ages has been seeking much needed and much deserved formal Federal recognition [with Federal Indian services.]  That long struggle will be won but the time-lines are still elusive, unpredictable. There are now, however, good grounds for optimism -- in the fairly near future.
http://www.hunterbear.org/lumbee_indians_of_north_carolina.htm

With a minimum of false modesty, I think you would find these references helpful.

All Best, H

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: j_richter_scale 
  To: Redbadbear at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 10:38 PM
  Subject: [Redbadbear] Louis Proyect


  http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/hunter-bear-on-john-gregory-bourke/

  Hunter, compared with Canadian First Nations groups, what can be done
  to redress the historical injustices visited upon the American First
  Nations? It really pisses me that, however flawed the Canadian
  responses are, they're miles ahead of the American responses.

  Regards,

  Jacob



HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq /St. Francis
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´
and Ohkwari'

Check out our Hunterbear website Directory http://hunterbear.org/directory.htm
[The site is dedicated to our one-half Bobcat, Cloudy Gray:
http://hunterbear.org/cloudy_gray.htm

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http://hunterbear.org/my_combined_community_organizing.htm

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And see Forces and Faces Along the Activist Trail: 
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