Media Removed for First Nations Reserve

[Thanato]

A Global News crew was escorted off the Attawapiskat reserve in northern Ontario and threatened with arrest after trying to do a story on living conditions in the community.

Jennifer Tryon, Global National's senior investigative correspondent, and

photojournalist Trevor Owens travelled to the area Tuesday afternoon, but were met with resistance minutes after they arrived.

"Well, we got to the airport and made it to our lodging without incident," Tryon told Global National anchor and executive editor Dawna Friesen over the phone.

When Acting Chief Christine Kataquapit asked Tryon and Owens to leave, the pair thought it was a joke at first. "But then (Kataquapit) said the chief (Theresa Spence) has asked you to leave the community – for all media to leave the community. And we sort of looked at each other, and we realized that it actually wasn't a joke, and they weren't going to allow anyone to speak to the media here."

Read it on Global News: Global News | Global News crew threatened with arrest in Attawapiskat

Having listed to whats going on up there and with Chief Spence, in my mind this is the final straw she just lost all Legitimacy. I believe that the RCMP should launch an investigation into the Reserve and find out what is going on. A year ago the nation answered the call for help, but now.

She's doing a show near Parliament to, I hate how the media keeps reporting it as a Hunger Strike. A hunger strike is where you waste your self away by drinking water. She is on a very healthy diet that will maintain a helathy body weight. Hell in the 1 month since she's started she lost 22 pounds. Which well is good for her, she needs to loose a few.

~Thanato

[Babe Ruth]

A pity, but a fine example of how the government and media constantly manipulate the public perception. The public is kept in the dark and fed manure, just like mushrooms.

[Stellar]

A pity, but a fine example of how the government and media constantly manipulate the public perception. The public is kept in the dark and fed manure, just like mushrooms.

Do you have any idea what you're talking about? What government is manipulating the public here?

[Babe Ruth]

Do you have any idea what you're talking about? What government is manipulating the public here?

The Attawapiskat government, for lack of a better word. According to the story, they were the ones who did not want the story written or filmed.

Sweep it under the rug. Did they learn the tactic from other governments?

I don't know, but maybe you do?

[Stellar]

The Attawapiskat government, for lack of a better word. According to the story, they were the ones who did not want the story written or filmed.

Sweep it under the rug. Did they learn the tactic from other governments?

I don't know, but maybe you do?

Yeah, sure. I have a strong suspicion that you were insinuating the Canadian government, up until I called you out on it. I've never heard of anyone refer to the police and mayor of a city the "government" and I doubt that you did.

[Corp]

Well band councils are governments on reserves and sadly many are corrupt as hell. So given that there's several governments involved in this case it might be an idea to be specific.

Edited January 9, 2013 by Corp

[acidhead]

Private property rights. Something the OP needs to brush up on instead of make ignorant accusations about a woman's appearance.

[+and-then]

P'raps someone's been stealing cookies from the community jar? If Attawapiskat is sovereign territory then I imagine it's no one's business what they do with grants given them by the Canadian government - hardly fair, but there you go....

[Bavarian Raven]

P'raps someone's been stealing cookies from the community jar? If Attawapiskat is sovereign territory then I imagine it's no one's business what they do with grants given them by the Canadian government - hardly fair, but there you go....

Except it seems that the chiefs keep all the money, while the people live in run-down rotting shacks, etc. But minor details! Hence the chief doesnt want to allow the media in to see that the funding went nowhere, or so seems the most likely case

[Stellar]

P'raps someone's been stealing cookies from the community jar? If Attawapiskat is sovereign territory then I imagine it's no one's business what they do with grants given them by the Canadian government - hardly fair, but there you go....

If Attawapiskat is sovereign territory, it shouldn't be on the map as part of Canada, nor should we feel obliged to give them any grants.

[acidhead]

If Attawapiskat is sovereign territory, it shouldn't be on the map as part of Canada, nor should we feel obliged to give them any grants.

I agree. We should also give them and the rest of the First Nation's all their land back.

[Stellar]

I agree. We should also give them and the rest of the First Nation's all their land back.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that. This generation of Canada did not take anything from that generation of First Nations. As such, I don't see why this generation should be required to give them anything as compensation for actions of a people long dead --- nor do I see this generation of natives as being owed anything (whether it be territory or otherwise). I consider them Canadians. They have been born into Canada. If they want to secede from Canada, they should go through the proper channels and through the same process as any territory of Canada would.

[Corp]

The reserves are still Canadian territory and are subject to Canadian laws. They just have special laws and government options as outlined in the treaties. So unless the news crew was breaking any laws they should have had the right to be on the reserve just like anyone else. However from what I understand many reserves don't like outsiders. Oh and giving back the land? Completely inpractical as well as unjust. I have no desire to hand the country over to less than 4% of the population and to governments more corrupt that what we have now.

Well seems now that Chief Spence is refusing to go to the meeting that she started her "hungry strike" for because the Governor General won't be there. She's even sent a letter to the Queen asking her to order the GG to attend. The reason he's not is because the meeting is about government policy, which he has no say in. Though maybe with Spence not there some serious ideas can be brought forward. She's taken up too much of the media's attention and her stunts so far, along with the leaked report that her reserve is horribily managed, has done far more harm than good. The Idol No More protesters have brought up several very good points that the government should be called upon. The Conservatives have seemed to have decided our water isn't worth protecting and the horrible conditions on the reserves have been ignored for far too long. These are issues that the government should be called upon and pressured to fix, yet stunts from corrupt band leaders like Spence make actual solutions less likely.

Edited January 10, 2013 by Corp

[Thanato]

Having been to a first nation (In the north, I wont even try and spell the name) but I spent 4 days there. I will tell you that I was horrified by what I saw. People were living in deplorable conditions, alcoholism and Drug use was rampant. It reminded me more of Afghanistan then a part of Canada. But the problem is, the government has little say on the reserves other then Laws. They can't really tell them how to spend their money. I was not impressed by what I saw. This reserves is going to be my Sons band, as soon as he gets his Status (which I will make sure he gets his status due to the benefit it will provide him).

Chief Spense ordered the media removed just after the audit was made public. Don't try and think the two don't have something in common. Well I hope she reaches a healthy weight on her diet.

[glorybebe]

Having been to a first nation (In the north, I wont even try and spell the name) but I spent 4 days there. I will tell you that I was horrified by what I saw. People were living in deplorable conditions, alcoholism and Drug use was rampant. It reminded me more of Afghanistan then a part of Canada. But the problem is, the government has little say on the reserves other then Laws. They can't really tell them how to spend their money. I was not impressed by what I saw. This reserves is going to be my Sons band, as soon as he gets his Status (which I will make sure he gets his status due to the benefit it will provide him).

Chief Spense ordered the media removed just after the audit was made public. Don't try and think the two don't have something in common. Well I hope she reaches a healthy weight on her diet.

I grew up near a reserve that won a huge land settlement from the government. New houses were built, everyone had new cars and money in their hand. Six months on, most of thethe houses were trashed, windows broken out of them, frames ripped up to burn in fires, cars smashed all to hell and the majority were broke. What did one guy say to me, 'oh, we will get more money and have new houses again'. The chief, yes, she managed her money and had a nice home. It is the mentality of the Natives that has to change. We are ALL Canadians and we ALL need to work at keeping all citizens healthy and educated. The fact that so many people abuse the system and then call it their rights just sickens me. How about this story:

The shooting of the dozen elk in one day also touched off a debate with racial overtones on social media about First Nations and Métis subsistence hunting rights and the need for the Manitoba government to bring in tougher hunting restrictions for elk, which are under pressure from harvesters with the continuing ban on moose hunting in some parts of the province.

Baiting and killing 12 Elk? For why? Just because they can!? This kind of thing happens way too many times. We have the Natives that truly steward the land and then we have the natives who want to take everything they can. If they want the Reserves to be self serving, then they had better get some structure and educate their people.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/province-probes-killing-of-12-elk-185513542.html

[Corp]

Well they had a big protest today and while it looked peaceful and fine when I walked by judging from what the CBC reported they were trying to block off the building there the meeting with the PM was going to happen and demanding that the AFN leaders refuse to take part. So you have all these problems you want to address, several that do indeed need to be looked at, and then you refuse to talk about it? All because of wanting the symbolism of having the GG there? Talking about cutting off your nose to spite your face. They also wanted Harper to come out and address the crowd. Somewhat doubt they'd listen to him if he did.

At the same time a band in Nova Scotia decided to block railways, forcing VIA to bus passangers around them. Ok I fully support the right to protest but block off railways? No. Fairly certain that's illegal. Plus it only harms your cause by making the public angry with you instead of taking an honest look at the issues you're trying to bring forward.

I really want to support the Idle No More group and I believe they have serious concerns that should be addressed, but their actions are making that really hard to do.

[redhen]

The reserves are still Canadian territory and are subject to Canadian laws. They just have special laws and government options as outlined in the treaties. So unless the news crew was breaking any laws they should have had the right to be on the reserve just like anyone else.

Section 30 of the Indian Act allows for trespassing charges for any non-band member they feel like.

The worst thing about the current system is the unnecessary neglect and abuse of children, and dogs.

There must be a way to stop people from constantly importing dogs and then neglecting them so that they die naturally (other dogs, starvation, freezing) or form dangerous packs that then have to be culled, every year.

It's not just Attawapiskat, it happens on most reserves in North America.

Edited January 13, 2013 by redhen