Canada calls them the First Nations, because this land was theirs before European settlers arrived and made it their home. But in terms of their living conditions, the First Nations are Canada's worst nations, leading to confrontations between them and the authorities in recent years. Five women have now initiated a movement that seeks a new relationship between them and Canada. Many Canadians support what they see as the Aboriginals' legitimate aspirations; others are opposed. Canada's various governments, although paying lip service to the Aboriginals' rights, have relegated them to inferiority. Now Aboriginal people say they want reforms without delay. Attawapiskat reserve Chief Theresa Spence began a liquid-only hunger strike on Dec. 11 to seek meaningful results. In October 2011 she had declared a state of emergency in Attawapiskat, a remote community of 1,800 people living in dreadful conditions in Northern Ontario. Her action forced the media to report that the Aboriginal community was no better than a Third World shantytown. What galvanized Aboriginals this time was the changes the government made to the Indian Act and Bill C-45 and C-38 which removed federal environmental protection from lakes and rivers across Canada and curbed their treaty rights. The Aboriginal people feel the government will flout the treaties they signed with the Crown even more and that this will lead to ruthless exploitation of their lands and waters by commercial interests without the Aboriginal people getting benefits or having any say. Four women started the protest in Saskatchewan in November 2012 and now it has become national. Protests erupted spontaneously and bands of Aboriginals disrupted rail, road and ferry lines, which could cost them public support. “We cannot and will not lose another generation to mistakes of the past or by continuing a broken system perpetuated by government unilateralism,” Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo stated. “If we have to shut down this economy then we will,” said Onion Lake First Nation Chief William Fox. Ontario's chiefs have promised to block every road and major line if need be. Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak said: “The Idle No More movement has the people and the numbers that can bring the Canadian economy to its knees.” When European settlers came to North America, the trusting Aboriginal people guided and shielded them and agreed to treaties of peace and friendship orally and in writing. The first agreements date back to 1701 - before Canada was created. Such treaties continued to be signed over the years. In some treaties Aboriginals gave up or agreed to share some of their land in exchange for assistance and land being reserved for them. Other treaties provided for access to natural resources on Aboriginal territory. There is still much land in Canada that was not ceded by the Aboriginals but became a part of the country. Since 1973, 24 land claims have been settled in the courts. More than 700 others are pending. Aboriginal people see the treaties as alliances between equals rather than as the surrender of a conquered people. The Aboriginals had agreed to let the newcomers share some of their traditional land. They did not sell or surrender their land. Canada's Constitution Act of 1982 “recognized and affirmed” existing Aboriginal and treaty rights. The Supreme Court said in 2004 that the government had a “duty” to consult Aboriginals and “accommodate their interests.” The Indian Act, enacted in 1876, is racist and controls all aspects of the lives of Indians while also conferring benefits on the Indians living on reserves. Its “continued existence in our law is a national disgrace,” wrote a columnist. “Reserves are incubators of misery.” The Indian population is 1.3 million with 868,200 registered Indians and 615 bands. Metis - with mixed European, Aboriginal ancestry - are 404,000 and Inuit (formerly called Eskimos) 53,000. The government regarded only Aboriginals living on the reserves as Indian. The Federal Court has ruled that all Aboriginals, Metis and Inuit must be considered “Indian” under the Constitution Act. Crowded on small reserves the Aboriginals lead a miserable life. Heart disease is 1.5 times higher than for other citizens, diabetes three to five times, tuberculosis infection rates eight to ten times, and hepatitis C six times higher. The suicide rate is 2.1 times higher among Aboriginals; among youth it is five to six times higher. Life expectancy at birth is 68.9 years for males and 76.6 years for females, 8.1 years and 5.5 years lower than other Canadians. Indigenous women are over five times more likely to die from violence. Youth are more likely to go to jail than to get a high school degree. The average salary for an Aboriginal is $13,000 compared to $30,000 for other Canadians. No wonder that the Aboriginals are losing hope and are desperate. Under pressure, Prime Minister Stephen Harper met some Indian chiefs while others kept away, saying they'd like a firmer commitment from the prime minister before they meet him. It remains to be seen whether he will rise to the challenge. — Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan is a retired Canadian journalist, civil servant and refugee judge. He has received the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario and the Queen's Diamond and Golden Jubilee awards
