I decided to write an article because some recent news was seriously pissing me off. (Actually my friend inspired me.)
This is an article about misconceptions on First Nations and Native Americans. I decided to show everyone how some of their ideals on native people are WRONG. (mostly in Canada, I don't know what goes on in America...)
I've had people ask me crazy things, and assume really STUPID things about natives that quite frankly are not true. How do I know? I'm a full native who's lived on a reservation her whole life. That's how.
If you comment on something you believe is true, then I'll answer the best way possible. here are some misconceptions:
Native people get free gas:
No. This is false. This was said by Justin Beiber. He thought he could get a free ride because he was supposedly "half inuit."
If he was, he should've known that natives have to pay for gas and taxes as well as anyone. I know I do. It doesn't matter if you have an indian status or not, you have to pay.
Natives are paid by tax payers:
also obviously wrong. A man asked on facebook why reservations are so poor since tax payers money is going to them. That isn't true.
The tax payer's money goes to pay these politions and "Indian affairs" peoples who "work" for the reservations.
Natives have never got their money from tax payers. EVER.
We get it from these business revenues that are mining on the land for oil. But they pay us such a short percentage that it can't even get us decent schooling. My school is paid 3x less than the white school in town just 20 minutes away. We're basically living in the french revolution; tax the poor to make the rich richer.
In fact, a lot of Reservations in Ontario don't even have clean running water or even, in fact, a school at all.
Native people have everything paid for:
Nope. SOME services are paid for... Like schooling if you live on the reserve. It really all depends.But the rights are limited. At the moment post-secondary is paid for; but it's because that's what Canada signed onto in the treaties. Most people I know wouldn't be able to pay for college or university. [including me.] But Canadian government is trying to get rid of the treaties. I won't be able to go to university if that happens. EVERYONE has a right to education the last time I checked.
All Indigenous peoples are drunks and teen parent drug-addicts:
Hell no. I'm not. My mom isn't. None of my relatives are. I only know one person who is. And I know quite a few people where I'm from. Not all indigenous peoples are like that. At all, actually. While yes, it's true that there are some Natives who drink and such; but we're not the only race that does that! There are TONS who don't do anything bad like that and are in fact very sucessful, and happy, and well-educated!
All Aboriginal people get money when they turn 18. :
Most young people who are registered on Reserve do not get a huge sum of funds whey they turn 18, in fact most do not get any funds. A few Reserves developed scholarships from the funds received from Oil companies working on their lands, this amount was held in trust until a young person became of age (18) and then given to the young person. Most had not had the education or understanding of what to do with the funds, so the money did not last long.
But we each get $5 every year. Yay, if you save up your $5 for 20 years you'll have $100! WOW! -note the sarcasm-
Natives Did not have any self-govermnent or Democracy prior to European Contact:
WRONG. We had democracy WAAAAAAAAAAY before anyone else did! For hundreds and thousands of years we had chiefs, leaders, councils and so much more! So no, Europeans did NOT bring us constitution and such.
While the Native treaties are written in English for the whites, the oral Native version constantly changes:
No again! I've been to such meetings that express and speak of the treaties; I understand my language, and every time I hear it it's exactly the same! But when the leaders say it in English, it's hard to explain because our languages are so vast and so beautiful with such meaning to each word that a lot of it isn't even translatable to english!
All Chiefs and Councils are conceited and selfish:
*sigh* I can't stress this enough! Yes, there are some Chiefs like that... But what about the white governments and leaders? Are they not also like that? *cough*Allison Redford...*cough*
***
Well, I think I've lectured you enough... Sorry, I was in a fit of passion, because lately a lot of some racist folks I know, and those online have been hating on my people. :( But I'm not a mean person, I promise. :) Just very assertive, and passionate....
If you want to have a debate with me, I'd be more than happy to. But keep it polite, and don't be rude or racist or I'll completely ignore you!
I hope now, you at least understand.... If you've got anything RACIST and mean to say, don't say anything. But if you have a question, or misunderstand something, do ask... I'll answer kindly.
Idle no more. And thank you, to those who support it. :))
Regardless of how IGNORANT some may be, I wish you all a life of happiness and understanding. Thank you for reading.
This is an article about misconceptions on First Nations and Native Americans. I decided to show everyone how some of their ideals on native people are WRONG. (mostly in Canada, I don't know what goes on in America...)
I've had people ask me crazy things, and assume really STUPID things about natives that quite frankly are not true. How do I know? I'm a full native who's lived on a reservation her whole life. That's how.
If you comment on something you believe is true, then I'll answer the best way possible. here are some misconceptions:
Native people get free gas:
No. This is false. This was said by Justin Beiber. He thought he could get a free ride because he was supposedly "half inuit."
If he was, he should've known that natives have to pay for gas and taxes as well as anyone. I know I do. It doesn't matter if you have an indian status or not, you have to pay.
Natives are paid by tax payers:
also obviously wrong. A man asked on facebook why reservations are so poor since tax payers money is going to them. That isn't true.
The tax payer's money goes to pay these politions and "Indian affairs" peoples who "work" for the reservations.
Natives have never got their money from tax payers. EVER.
We get it from these business revenues that are mining on the land for oil. But they pay us such a short percentage that it can't even get us decent schooling. My school is paid 3x less than the white school in town just 20 minutes away. We're basically living in the french revolution; tax the poor to make the rich richer.
In fact, a lot of Reservations in Ontario don't even have clean running water or even, in fact, a school at all.
Native people have everything paid for:
Nope. SOME services are paid for... Like schooling if you live on the reserve. It really all depends.But the rights are limited. At the moment post-secondary is paid for; but it's because that's what Canada signed onto in the treaties. Most people I know wouldn't be able to pay for college or university. [including me.] But Canadian government is trying to get rid of the treaties. I won't be able to go to university if that happens. EVERYONE has a right to education the last time I checked.
All Indigenous peoples are drunks and teen parent drug-addicts:
Hell no. I'm not. My mom isn't. None of my relatives are. I only know one person who is. And I know quite a few people where I'm from. Not all indigenous peoples are like that. At all, actually. While yes, it's true that there are some Natives who drink and such; but we're not the only race that does that! There are TONS who don't do anything bad like that and are in fact very sucessful, and happy, and well-educated!
All Aboriginal people get money when they turn 18. :
Most young people who are registered on Reserve do not get a huge sum of funds whey they turn 18, in fact most do not get any funds. A few Reserves developed scholarships from the funds received from Oil companies working on their lands, this amount was held in trust until a young person became of age (18) and then given to the young person. Most had not had the education or understanding of what to do with the funds, so the money did not last long.
But we each get $5 every year. Yay, if you save up your $5 for 20 years you'll have $100! WOW! -note the sarcasm-
Natives Did not have any self-govermnent or Democracy prior to European Contact:
WRONG. We had democracy WAAAAAAAAAAY before anyone else did! For hundreds and thousands of years we had chiefs, leaders, councils and so much more! So no, Europeans did NOT bring us constitution and such.
While the Native treaties are written in English for the whites, the oral Native version constantly changes:
No again! I've been to such meetings that express and speak of the treaties; I understand my language, and every time I hear it it's exactly the same! But when the leaders say it in English, it's hard to explain because our languages are so vast and so beautiful with such meaning to each word that a lot of it isn't even translatable to english!
All Chiefs and Councils are conceited and selfish:
*sigh* I can't stress this enough! Yes, there are some Chiefs like that... But what about the white governments and leaders? Are they not also like that? *cough*Allison Redford...*cough*
***
Well, I think I've lectured you enough... Sorry, I was in a fit of passion, because lately a lot of some racist folks I know, and those online have been hating on my people. :( But I'm not a mean person, I promise. :) Just very assertive, and passionate....
If you want to have a debate with me, I'd be more than happy to. But keep it polite, and don't be rude or racist or I'll completely ignore you!
I hope now, you at least understand.... If you've got anything RACIST and mean to say, don't say anything. But if you have a question, or misunderstand something, do ask... I'll answer kindly.
Idle no more. And thank you, to those who support it. :))
Regardless of how IGNORANT some may be, I wish you all a life of happiness and understanding. Thank you for reading.
