In some ways that's true, Ebbie. And in some ways not.

I don't think I have ever slagged the USA. I have slagged your leadership, but not your people. I live in your country and made a living there for about 4-5 years. I like the US. I can't take it on myself and apologize because someone misquoted a web site somewhere and put down that the zipper and Velcro were Canadian inventions. It may even have been me about the zipper. It's not a matter of great import to me, frankly. Superman came from here but didn't become the 'superstar' he was to kids until he found an American publisher. Ask most people where Superman's from and they'll say the US. Same thing with basketball. These too are non-issues to me. As to the 'unbrella': Yes, the US has provided some security for my country. It has also provided some insecurity. The nukes that would have been involved in an exchange of missiles were geared to go over Canada--that is, the missiles from both the old USSR and the USA. Not every cloud has a silver lining.

Gnu, I agree we have thrown money at the situation to do with First Nation peoples. Lotsa money. And while we did that we have allowed it to go to corrupt Band councils. Most Reserves: I could walk down a street and point to houses and let you know who is connected to the members of the council. They are usually the nice places. The cruddy places? They belong to people who are not connected to the chief and the council. They get the leftovers when the 'upper' class has done with the accounting. So, we have spent our money stupidly. We have give the cash to people who by and large have little formal education. And we have expected them to invest that money wisely. Four of my nephews are Indian as defined by the Act. They all come from my sister and her ex--the same father for all four kids (adults now). Nephews 1, 3 and 4 are Treaty. Nephew 2 isn't. Ten friggin' years of paperwork and he's still not Treaty. I do understand your anger about disrupted fishing grounds and the unfairness of that situation. Very much so. But I would also suggest that it has been very stupid on our part to give millions of dollars and accept crappy accounting procedures from the Bands. I agree that no one owns the Earth. But look at any map and you'll see that is not the reality.

BM