One of my nephews--he was nominated for "Native Youth of the Year" a while back--worked with the kids from Davis Inlet who'd been sniffing gasoline. Bloody tragedy all around.

Gnu, I do understand your frustration. I'd like to hamstring a few bastsrds for their mishandling of 'Native issues'. Some of those bastards are Native. Some not.

I don't think you offended anyone. (Maybe better to speak for myself. You didn't offend me at all. I have often said what you did--but not as nicely.)

This country has treated first nations people like garbage. Of my four nephews--all from the same mom and dad--nephews one, three and four are Treaty. Nephew two can't get a treaty card. Years of talk with the bloody feds and Indian Affairs has resulted in bugger all. Even the chief from their dad's home reserve (a term that makes me think we're herding livestock there) will do nothing (because the kids are half/half, and because they are males, and because each is entitled by law to a piece of land on that reserve) will NOT get off his ass and get him a treaty card because then it's one more person taking a small piece of land from a 'shrinking' land base on that reserve.

We wonder why there is frustration amongst First Nations people. I can sum that up in a few words. Too many self-serving bastards in Ottawa and too many self-serving bastards on band councils.