I do not believe any group of people deserve a distinct group of benefits. Racist biases? You mean believing everyone should be treated equally under the law, with the same rights and privileges regardless of birth?
Ahh yes, such a racist concept, as opposed to a blood quantum based accident of birth system that grants specific rights and privileges to certain people others will never be able earn or achieve.
My son is native. He has all sorts of special privileges and benefits a regular child wouldn’t have access to. Some of which are likely going to be extremely useful for him with the various issues he has. And that is wrong. In my opinion everyone should have access to the same benefits.
I know bad things happened to the various native populations. I am well acquainted with their history (and I say acquainted because there is such a large and expansive history trying to learn all of it would be a huge undertaking with so many different tribes and histories), and it is truly sad much of what has been done.
That being said bad things have happened to all sorts of people all around the world for all of history. Its only a matter of picking a time and a place. Some of those bad things were done by various native groups as well. Slavery, war, all the various evils mankind has inflicted on each other, all has been embodied by one group or another.
To me the only way to truly move forward is to make everyone equal and provide equal treatment. How we get there still has to be determined, but that should be the end goal for all.
As far as your "everyone should be treated equally under the law, with the same rights and privileges regardless at birth" song and dance is concerned... You must think you're discussing this matter who has no idea about the long and dark history of the Canadian Government's treatment of Indigenous Peoples, or the most common written sleights-of-hand used by conservatives to disguise their socially-unacceptable opinions on matters of race.
The first reason your pipe dream is not only an example of anti-Indigenous, bigoted rhetoric, is the simple fact that we're about 200 years too late to simply throw everyone onto a level playing field, and just play the game, free of any sort of handicaps, or head-starts. You coyly position your stance in a manner, which to the ignorant or uninformed would almost appear to be, what your type almost obsessively refers to as "woke". But, even slight scrutiny will reveal the absolutely devastating effect a level playing field would unleash upon those in marginalized groups.
Unquestionably, the most devastated of those groups would be Indigenous Peoples.
This segment from one of my previous replies, explains this a bit more in depth...
The truth is, the benefits were never intended to help Indigenous people "get a leg up". The purpose of the benefits, was to remove their autonomy, and self-sufficiency. The government wanted them to stop living off the land, because that was such a large part of their culture and identity. The general belief of early governments was very much that the Indigenous population were, indeed savages who posed a genuine threat to both settlers and their plans of colonization.
The problem which now exists, is the sheer number of broken and defeated individuals within the Indigenous community. Remember, this is the legacy of over two centuries of government programs designed to fail, and intended to inflict pain and suffering upon an entire population. Although much of the implementation and enactment of said policies were sloppy and even botched, the government always knew the underlying intended outcome. Also remember the original plan was complete genocide.
Not surprisingly, the main problem which makes true equality a complete impossibility at this time, or at any time in the medium-range future, is the very real, and severe physical and mental toll which more than two centuries of mistreatment has taken on the Indigenous population in Canada. As I mentioned yesterday, the broken and defeated state of the Indigenous population in Canada, is, in no way whatsoever, the fault of Indigenous people.
Although, it might be possible for a person who is ignorant of our nation's rather sordid history, and actually deplorable record in the area of basic human rights, to see Indigenous individuals inebriated on the street, and figure they are simply living their chosen kife anyone who has a grasp of the general summary of events, should have no issue, at all, deciding where the blame and responsibility lies, when it comes to the broken and defeated state of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Anyone who both knows the facts, and is free from any ulterior agendas, or bigoted opinions of Indigenous Peoples, should be able to easily see the unmitigated disaster which your idea of true equality would create for the Indigenous population.
Here is another pertinent passage I posted in an earlier reply...
Realistically, even with the full support of government, the generational nature of the pain and intense trauma with which Indigenous Peoples must deal, dictates the absolute need for a long-term approach, using long-term solutions, spanning multiple generations. Repairing the damage done would require not months or years, but multiple decades.
I'm not sure how many here are familiar with the concept of generational trauma, but when a society or culture is repeatedly traumatized in a mass sense, for an extended period of time, it becomes so ingrained in the people of that society or culture, it begins to take on a hereditary nature, because it actually can cause genetic changes within those who directly experienced the trauma, first-hand. Those genetic changes are then handed-down to their children, continuing the cycle. This occurs whether or not that next generation experiences similar levels of trauma, or not. Add to that, the common fact that people dealing with intense trauma rarely make for the best parents, and the environmental side of the inherited trauma is complete.
The task of reversing the negative effects of more than two-hundred years of what must have, and still likely feels like inescapable government-inflicted trauma, is a monumental undertaking, to say the least. But, before anyone starts suggesting we should abruptly end the now inherent governmental reliance which was forced upon Indigenous Peoples by past Canadian Governments, the deep trauma inflicted by those very same governments must be addressed, and, at minimum, an effective trauma recovery action plan must be in place.
Indigenous People's biggest mistake, was assuming that the new settlers with whom they were interacting, were doing so in good faith.
In a nutshell, I am not stating that a level playing field is universally undesirable and problematic. In fact, I feel the exact opposite. I view a level field of equality for all citizens of Canada, or even the world, as being the ideal model for any society. However, the government's prolonged misuse, and straight-up abuse of Indigenous Peoples resulted in the vast majority within that group sustaining serious damage to their mental and physical well-being. To even consider sweeping changes to the way of life, and reliance upon social systems, something which was pushed upon them by the government, is beyond unreasonable.
Correct me if I am wrong, but you're against anyone catching a break, for which they didn't "earn" through "sluggin' their guts out". Aren't you?
Instead of being glad that one less person had to take "the hard road", anytime someone strikes it lucky, and gets to skip one of life's various proving grounds, it burns your ass. I'd imagine the concept of free college tuition makes your blood boil.
Or, you possibly only possess an extremely simplistic understanding of equality. The policies which aim to create a society which is equal, are far more complex than "everybody starts at zero". Such policies would place Indigenous Peoples at a massive disadvantage, compared to basically everyone else. Considering they aren't to blame for their plight, you are either incapable of grasping just how completely broken this sector of the population actually is, or you straight-up just don't care.
The situation couldn't be more clear, and neither could the historical facts. Indigenous culture within Canada, and the people of whom it's comprised, have been gutted by the actions of every Canadian Government ever elected. You don't disagree with that much, do you?
You are correct in your claim that many cultures and races have had terrible atrocities committed against their people. I'm just at a loss as to why you would ever bring that up, presumably to excuse some of the child rape and murder, or not even giving enough of a fuck to ensure all Indigenous communities have the very most basic necessities, like clean running water?
Make no mistake, The atrocities which have been committed by every Canadian Government for literal centuries, rank quite high on the all-time list. The fact that nearly every atrocity was designed, and intended to take as large of a negative toll on Indigenous Peoples, as possible, is bad enough. What is even worse however, is the fact these horrific things, and unspeakable crimes happened right here in Canada... A nation which, for decades, stood proud as the bright beacon on the hill. A bastion for human rights.
The cover-ups, attempts at revisionist history, and endless lies, allowed Canada to larp as one of the few countries deserving of it's first-world status, a blueprint for multi-culturism done right. An example for the entire world to follow. Basically, total bullshit. Those in charge were clearly adept in the art of deception and illusion.
Yep... Everyone knows everything now. The truth just keeps piling up, and very little has been the type which will begin the long road to repairing Canada's reputation, and the manner in which we are perceived by the international community.
Despite the nation's reputation being in the worst shape since it was formed, Governments, along with staunch anti-Indigenous bigots continue to drag their feet on drinking water, and searching landfills. While I understand 200 year habits die-hard, but yoo-hoo... The fucking world is now watching. The continued bare-minimum attitude toward Indigenous Peoples, and their desires, truly speaks volumes.
I was hopeful the discovery of the residential school mass graves, would finally be enough of a jolt to finally make enough Canadians realize the harsh reality that Canada was built upon violence, murder, hatred and the blood of Indigenous and Chinese people.... and for a week or two, people genuinely appeared to give a fuck. Then, their rage returned to the same indifference which is responsible for much of the heavy lifting, absolutely essential in facilitating the still-ongoing two-hundred year, slow-motion genocide. Fortunately, the true values held by the first Canadians have softened over the past two centuries. That doesn't mean we solved the massive misconceptions, and ignorance which continue to cause an uncommon reliance upon bullshit stereotypes to this very day.
The earliest immigrants to Canada were nothing more than slightly cunning thieves. Early-day squatters, who had an undeniably strong penchant for violence and murder. I'm glad that unlike the shitty governments we've all had a hand in electing, the stereotypical Canadian's perception of Indigenous Peoples has improved substantially, over the past quarter-century.
It is my sincere hope that this very positive upward trend is just the beginning, of what will become a groundswell movement of unprecedented support, for Indigenous Peoples. A movement possessing the level of support required to assist every Indigenous person, who needs a caring and guiding hand back to their feet.
Once a good percentage of the Indigenous population is actively involved in whatever form of therapeutic rehabilitation is best suited to their unique set of personal traumas, the new Indigenous cultures will rise again, and begin to define the modern Indigenous people. Once they are shown that they are loved, and respected, they should begin to view themselves in the same way.
Self-love & Self-respect > Self-loathing & Self-destruction
