Like 999, gnu and, possibly, Ed T, I am an old-stock Canadian with aboriginal relatives. Like them, I am deeply distressed by the dysfunctional relations between the First Nations and the federal government of Canada. Like them, I believe that shrill railing from beyond our borders will do the square root of zero good.

Prime Minister Harper is not particularly sensitive to the daily variations in public opinion; he has a majority government to indicate the opinions of those who matter -- the people who voted in this country on the last election day. Because he has scheduled a meeting with First Nations leaders, and invited Chief Spence, I assume that his Cabinet colleagues and close advisors have recommended this course of action. I note that the agenda for this meeting covers some difficult ground -- specifically, where so much federal government money went with so little to show for it -- as well as some important governance and liaison issues.

The blockade tactics adopted by First Nations protesters have achieved nothing of benefit to anyone. Yes, the situation of many bands is completely unacceptable, but that won't change because the VIA Rail train was stopped on the main line between Toronto and Montreal, or the traffic was prevented from crossing the Peace Bridge at Cornwall.

What had more influence on bringing an end to the U.S. involvement in Viet Nam: the Weather Underground blowing up banks, or middle-class people telling Congress in hundreds of different ways that they wanted the troops home?