The Need for Drastic Reforms Governing First Nations in Canada

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Dear Canadian Taxpayers:  

“The greatest exploiters of Aboriginal People in Canada are Aboriginal leaders” —Pierre Elliot Trudeau   (According to the author of this article, Trudeau said this during a conference with Aboriginal/Indigenous chiefs in Ottawa in 1970, during the "Indian White Paper Crisis").

All of those things that you have been hearing about the monumental misuse and abuse of Canadian taxpayer resources by the First Nations’ Aboriginal leadership are true. And all of those things that you have been hearing about corruption and malfeasance within the First Nations Communities are also true. 

Living and raising a family on an Indian Reserve in Canada is terrible, scary and demeaning. People who don’t know all the facts believe that reserves are utopian and that Indian people are mystical, loving and close to nature. They also believe that human rights are respected and that elders are held in high regard and that gay and LGBTQ people are esteemed and accepted. They also believe that life on reserves is idyllic, peaceful and serene. However, nothing could be further from the real truth.  

Indian reserves in Canada are unnatural places to live in where there is a constant danger to life, limb and property. There is no rule of law, no respect for your personhood and the authorities routinely break all laws in pursuing their own self interests while subjugating the population at large. Indian reserves are filled with poverty-stricken people who struggle daily just to live while their leaders enjoy all of the benefits of multibillion dollar yearly funding and unlimited resources given without any oversight or accountability. 

For your information, the political and economic infrastructures which have been put in place by the federal and provincial governments over the past sixty years to address serious Aboriginal/Indigenous poverty and other concerns have done nothing but create a new cadre of Aboriginal/Indigenous millionaires and First Nation oligarchs in Canada. The great economic engine that is Canada has literally been turned into a lucrative cash cow, and a sustained money train for the Aboriginal/Indigenous political leadership. 

Since the establishment and introduction of bilateral and trilateral agreements/programs and processes by both levels of government, billions and billions of taxpayer dollars have poured into First Nations across Canada - literally unchecked and without any kind of credible oversight. This process, although well intentioned by both levels of government, has allowed chiefs, their families, proxies, councils, groups, organizations and favorites to become filthy rich with the contributions and financial resources intended to benefit ALL First Nations people in this country.     

The federal government is acutely aware, as are millions of taxpaying Canadians, that there is much corruption, secrecy, neglect, graft, greed, malfeasance and self-servitude in the governing of First Nations in this country. Aboriginal/Indigenous local, regional and national organizations have become nothing more than the proverbial “Indian Good Old Boys Clubs” and exclusive “For Members Only” Aboriginal country clubs for the newly rich. These organizations have become politically ineffective and have lost all credibility and relevance in the eyes of ordinary First Nations peoples, and speak for no one but themselves, their families, friends, political bagmen and their self-serving interests. Grassroots Aboriginals/Indigenous people are not allowed to voice their concerns about these Aboriginal mafia families at all. The poor ordinary “Indians” have been bullied and terrorized into virtual submission and silenced by these mafioso “leaderships” which now hold them in perpetual poverty and neglect.     

It is a shameful and embarrassing display to see, on national and local media, our so-called Aboriginal/Indigenous “leaders” and their councils and organizations masquerading as “the voice and the conscience of the poor grassroots Aboriginal/Indigenous people”. And all the while stealing from them and keeping them under tight control. The “system” under the Indian Act legislation allows chiefs, councils, their assemblies, and their favorites to have access to billions of dollars of funding, lucrative housing programs, tax royalties, the highest paying jobs, lucrative government contracts, communal property and capital, and natural resources projects all to themselves and for their families.   

This “system” is corrupt to the core and its continuing operation has quite literally stolen the future of Indigenous/Aboriginal nationhood in Canada. And, it has made modern day vassals and indentured servants of First Nations people in First Nation communities and Indian reserves.     

Under the current “system” chiefs, councils and their families receive: 

• Six and seven figure salaries. 

• An honorarium of $50,000/year.

• A job plus expenses. 

• A brand new house. 

• A business plus unlimited capital to start. 

• A cannabis dispensary and products. 

• Three or more paid vacations a year. 

• Government contracts for construction work. 

• A new vehicle (s) 

• A portion of band revenues from “Own Source Funds” plus Covid-19 funds. 

• A finder's fee of up to 10% for all incoming monies. 

• Quarterly bonuses and perks from gasoline and tobacco products. 

• Jobs for family members. 

• Gifts and bonuses for family members. 

• Protection from the law. 

• A portion of casino business and revenue. 

• Liqour licences and facility. 

• An honorarium from all Tribal Councils. 

And under the current system, Indian Reserves receive unconditional yearly grants from the Department of Indigenous Services from $12-24 million dollars. And on top of that, Economic Development Programs funded by the federal government have contributed significantly to major Forestry Projects, Sawmill Projects, Fishery Projects, Windmill Projects, Housing Projects, Construction Projects, Casino and Entertainment Projects, and Road Building Projects for First Nations. And these all generate a further $20-100 million dollars yearly for First Nations chiefs and councils exclusively. 

For your information, Indigenous Services Canada has contributed over $32 billion dollars to First Nations in Canada since the Covid-19 Pandemic began. And according to Statistics Canada there are 1.4 million status Indians who were in receipt of this. However, over 860,000 dwell off-reserve. That leaves 540,000 Indians on reserves receiving hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars every year. And again, only chiefs and councils and their families have exclusive access to all of this money. 

Also, the Canada Revenue Agency had estimated that over $4-5 billion dollars yearly could be recouped from First Nations if the tax exemptions for First Nations and Indian reserves were revoked.   

It is worth noting that many, if not all, of the chiefs and councillors were as poor as church mice before they became “elected”. And within a matter of a few years all of them are now worth millions of dollars, and they own many high end properties and businesses, and travel the world frequently and in the lap of luxury.  

In days long past, it was an absolute honor and privilege to be a leader, or chief of a community or a tribe. Back then, the qualities that were held in high regard to hold such a position were honesty, bravery, integrity, respectfulness, patience, fairness, discretion, sobriety, commitment and the compassion to help everyone - no matter who they were or what family they belonged to. But not any more. In this era of “Every man for himself or herself” on Indian reserves, there is a strong sense of “entitlement and ownership” to the perceived “free money” that comes to Indian communities from the federal and provincial governments. Chiefs, councillors and their families believe that this money belongs rightly to only them. And they believe they are owed much more, and that this money train should never ever stop. 

To them, this is “reconciliation”, and to them reconciliation is their ticket to getting rich and staying rich.  

For your information, there is no solidarity or “unity” on Indian Reserves and the communities are fractionated along family and personal lines. There are as many factions as there are families. People on Indian Reserves/First Nations do not like each other at all and abhor each other’s company and presence. There is much social upheaval on reserves because of this and there is much toxicity and resentment which permeates the workplaces, businesses, social gatherings, meetings, and even church masses. Entertainment venues and concerts all end up in violence and fist fights every time. There is much mental instability and unwellness at every level and there is much denial about this as well. 

There is a desperate need for help and support for social and spiritual development for Indian communities/reserves/First Nations from the greater Canadian society. The Aboriginal People could use help, guidance, and mentorship from all sectors of our pluralistic society. The Aboriginal leadership has totally lost its way and has compromised the spiritual, political and economic direction of its people.  

That is why accountability, professionalism, competence, civility, honesty, empathy, compassion, morality and support for fundamental human rights are missing on Indian reserves. And that is why this corrupt system only benefits a small handful of people. And, that is why there is a need for a drastic overall change and all of us must be involved. For if all Indian/Aboriginal people in Canada cannot benefit from the billions of dollars that is given out every year to prop up First Nations/ Indian Reserves, then no one should.   

In this corrupt system there is deep despair, danger, chaos, apathy, distrust, depression, mental unwellness, immorality, abject hopelessness, suicides, perpetual violence and much alcohol and drug abuse and addictions in daily affairs. The poor people on reserves see the chiefs and councillors getting richer and themselves getting poorer with each passing day. And there is no place to take our concerns or complaints. There is no freedom of speech or expression since the band councils have totally suspended the protection of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for everyone but themselves and their families.    

As you are aware, once total funding is cut off from the federal and provincial governments to Indian Reserves and First Nations communities in Canada, they will die. That is a fact. And only the chiefs and councils who have been milking the system for years and years and have created golden nest eggs for themselves and their families will survive. The rest will be homeless and without resources to do anything and they will become even more vulnerable and even more of a problem to this country.  

Further to that, Indian reserves and First Nations right now have no industrial infrastructure to manufacture or develop anything. Nor do they have any long-term economic development strategies in place for natural resource development for their community’s sustainability, growth and prosperity. They instead still rely exclusively on federal and provincial government handouts to get them by from year to year. Their “sustainability” and “continuity” as First Nation “Nations” hinges on how generous both levels of government are in any given year. The First Nations owe their very existence to this process and they do not want to change any of that. This “system” is what made many of the First Nations community “leaders” very rich, and they did this without them having to be accountable to their fellows, or to the tax payers of Canada and to both levels of government.    

And this is just the tip of an enormous iceberg. 

Even the election campaigns on Indian reserves are corrupt, shady and crooked. it is the most corrupt system in Canada and First Nation governments pay millions of dollars to keep it that way. For their protection, chiefs and councils are quick to use the proverbial “victim card” whenever questions or concerns are brought up by funding agencies or authorities. That and the Canadian privacy laws, as well as massive societal guilt are oftentimes overused by the chiefs and councils to attempt to cover up questionable policies and decisions on misspending and misuse of communal monies and resources.   

Indian reserves and First Nations are psychologically damaged and emotionally traumatized. And the leadership is reflective of this. And there really is a desperate need for “reconciliation” to occur within First Nations communities themselves. But none is forthcoming and this makes the situation even more crucial, critical and dangerous. That is why Indian reserves and their peoples sorely need outside support, guidance, mentorship and a lot of social development work to bring their communities up to snuff with modern Canadian society and its moral and ethical protocols and standards. The Indian Reserve system is at least 50 years behind the rest of Canada, and the Indian Act legislation has created a literal third world setting within a first world country. And like all banana republics, the priority for leadership is to line its own pockets rather than address desperate community needs.   

There cannot be forward movement into real “Nationhood” until drastic changes and reforms are identified, initiated and established. And in order to do this there have to be many partners committed to a new vision that includes benefits to all people in our Canadian society.  And this new vision must include new legislation, a new political format for First Nation leadership, an enforceable code of ethics, real social and economic development, and real sustainability and industrialization strategies. And also, bi-lateral and tri-lateral partnership venues in overseeing and monitoring huge amounts of money and fiscal resources to make sure that the whole process is fair, equitable and transparent.      

Again to reiterate, these are the suggested changes that must be looked at, assessed, discussed and a plan of action developed from: 

• Repealing the Indian Act and developing a new form of First Nations government structure based on real traditions, and that all Indian/Indigenous/Aboriginal people will have a hand and input into its support, formation and operation. 

• Holding a federal referendum on the revoking of all tax exemptions for First Nations unless their household income is below a certain level. 

• Holding a federal referendum on the proposed changes to the Indian Act. 

• Holding provincial referendums on the proposed changes under sections 92 & 93 of the Constitution Act. 

• Holding a federal referendum to change the wording to legislation for First Nations peoples (Section 35) so all can benefit equally and equitably from all monies and resources coming from Canada. 

• Passing legislation like the American RICO laws which prohibits racketeering and organized crime aimed at First Nations band councils. 

• Passing legislation which promotes the taxation of First Nations individuals and their companies. 

• Passing legislation to bypass band councils and to give direct financial help to First Nation  individuals and their families. 

• Revamping the Canadian Human Rights Code to include “familial discrimination” aimed at First Nations so that individuals and families could sue chiefs and councils and their subsidiaries. 

• Pass legislation to create an office of Auditor General to oversee finances going to Indian reserves and to have the power to lay charges and to enforce Canadian laws.  

It is important to understand that the First Nations People in Canada are a “kept race” of people and that the Canadian taxpayers are on the hook for paying the bill to keep them rolling in monies and resources with no end in sight. There is no long term plan or strategy for these First Nations in Canada to take the essential steps for them to be financially independent from the Canadian taxpayers in the near or far future. Nor is there anything on the financial horizon to indicate First Nations people in Canada want to achieve “nationhood”, self-determination and self-government for their constituents because it entails too much hard work. And it  will also mean ending the financial “gravy train” that has been flooding billions of dollars into the pockets of First Nations leadership for over 60 years. And it will also mean bringing in accountability, integrity, transparency and honesty into the governing of First Nations and in the fair dispersion of monies and fiscal resources to everyone.  

What is even sadder than watching Aboriginal banana republics spiral down into oblivion over greed, ignorance and avarice on the part of their “leadership”, is knowing that the Black Culture in the United States achieved their “nationhood” and contributed to help make the USA a world class leader without any government handouts. And they did this with their own blood, sweat and tears and they are still doing it. Aboriginal leadership and First Nations Peoples need to take a page or two from their book on how to achieve the impossible by working extra hard and using all of their resources and being selfless, rather than selfish.  

In light of all of this, it is time for a serious reset in relations between the country of Canada and the First Nations peoples. And it is also time to redo the whole framework of First Nations governments to include all of their people, their needs, ideologies and aspirations, rather than just the political and family favorites. If the Aboriginal/Indigenous people of Canada are to survive into the next century, it must be done with the inclusion and the help of everyone. And in order to attain true “nationhood” all partners must be willing to help, and to contribute and also to take the necessary steps together, no matter how painful they are, or may be. 

Canada the country will survive. But the First Nations Peoples without Canada will not. So far, it has been a long one-sided affair where the taxpayers have pumped in billions and billions of dollars and have received nothing to show for it in return.  Not even a gracious “thank you”. This is not reconciliation in any sense, and there needs to be a serious reckoning between the federal and provincial governments, the Canadian taxpayers and the Aboriginal/Indigenous peoples of Canada and a rethinking of how to proceed from here. Because clearly, none of this is sustainable or desired by the majority of Canadian taxpaying citizens. 

In closing, the current federal 2024 budget calls for up to $30.5 billion funding for 540,000 on-reserve First Nations people in Canada. And we already know who will benefit the most and who will get the least in this sad ongoing scenario.

Sincerely, 

The Elder Shaman 

 From Canada   

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Thanks for reading. For more on this topic read The Untold Story of Indigenous Child Neglect and Alcohol Abuse – The Firewater Complex

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