First Nations' myths vs. reality
There are many factions
within Canada’s First Nations, but the two principal blocs, for lack of
better labels, are the Realists and the Mythologists. They could also be
called the Pro-Development group and the
Blame-Everything-on-Whitey-and-Demand-More group.
Shawn Atleo, whose resignation two weeks ago as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) came as a shock, was a Realist. The Idle No More crowd are Mythologists.
The Mythologists have convinced themselves that everything that is wrong with First Nations communities is the fault of someone else – whites, white governments, white corporations, white society, lack of white money – and if only white governments and businesses would give them more money and autonomy everything would magically improve.
Shawn Atleo, whose resignation two weeks ago as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) came as a shock, was a Realist. The Idle No More crowd are Mythologists.
The Mythologists have convinced themselves that everything that is wrong with First Nations communities is the fault of someone else – whites, white governments, white corporations, white society, lack of white money – and if only white governments and businesses would give them more money and autonomy everything would magically improve.
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