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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1970-12-03, Page 246 t opt iu u .ST xNA al* AR, TI 1 RSDAY,. DECEMBER, )1970 7 GbCI Geography seniors study Canada's Indians, Grade 13 Geography stridents of Gr,D,C,I. spent part of the fall term studying Canada's Indians and Eskimos and the problems facing these native peoples throughput the country. From the study, it became apparent that the problems of the Indians and - Eskimos have many similarities. yet have many differences. Furthermore, the problems varied. throughout the coptry. Among the resource materials used in the study were a book entitled "The ,Unjust Society", ' by Mr. Harold Cardinal; President of the Indian Association of Alberta and a series of newspaper articles by Mr. Joe McClelland of the London Free Press collectively entitled "The Indian Challenge of - 70's." In both of these sources many "charges" were made against the white man and against the present government at Ottawa. ' In Mr. McClelland's articles the following were among many "charges" levied—against---the government: "Indians, .far better informed about their affairs than most people think, have pointed to the astonishing similarity between the progressed new federal Indian policy and one introduced the United States in 1953, and abandoned in 1958 because of theincalculable harm it did." "The failure of the Indian Affairs I3ranch sterns from their preoccupation with doing for people instead of doing with. them - a preoccupation that destroys the dignity and arouses the hostility of. the people who are supposed to be helped." "A series of recent studies of both Eskimo and northern Indian students "suggests that present education practices jeopardize the continuity,` vitality and cultural integrity of Indian and Eskimo life." At . stake, 'the research reveals, is the psychological integrity of the native northern peoples, but the • white agencies and • their personnel have been committed _to. a policy of "cultural replacement." `'Two principles are, essential - for reducing the identity conflict. among northern Indian and Eskimo youth, the anthropologists conclude. These are the validation of the student's self-image and the strengthening of his self-esteem as Indian - or Eskimo, and effective involvement of Indian and • Eskimo adults in formulation of education policy for their children." "While the present system teaches students to devalue their own race and heritage, it leaves them lacking in confidence in their ability to, cope with the white alternative; and they fall frit() intense feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness." The.above were among some 30 "charges" made against the government and for the "system". The students circled' the "charges" in a copy of the paper, mailed this to/ Ottawa, and asked that the Honourable Mr. Jean Chretien or his assistant reply. This week a reply from Special Assistant and the Minister, Mr. William J. Mussell, including the following passages Was received: "First ' I should like to comment on the Government's present policy on Indian affairs. Following a series of Canada -wide consultation meetings with.. Indian representatives, a policy proposal statement was issued on June 25, 1969 by this Department on behalf of the ._Government. I am including a copy of this statement in the publications sent to you, and some comments made upon it i_by Mr. Chretien and by . the Press. As you may know, these proposals were not well --received by the Indian people, and their negative reaction' • led to a meeting on June 4, 1970 between the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet on .the one hand and Indian leaders on the other. Statements made at that 'meeting . by the Prime Minister and by Mr. Harold St. Mary's Scoop Boys' Volleyball: The teams were Green and Blue., Green won 3a.to 24. In girls' volleyball, the teams were Brown and Orange. Orange won28to25. _- Girls' Girls' Volleyball: Teams were Yellow and Purple. Purple won 15 to 8. In Girls'. Dodge Ball, Yellow and Brown. Brown won 16 to 10. CLASSROOM NEWS Kindergarten had touch and finger painting and saw a, film on finger painting. By the looks of them they had fun! In • Open Area for Math they were measuring things for charts. • They measured tables, walls. desks, etc. They saw a film on "birds." After seeing the film they -made nests. SMOKE GETS 1M YOUR EYES ...and mouth, and nose, and lungs, and larynx- Smoking also leads• to illness and death. 30,000 Canadians die prematu- rely every year because of smoking. A million 'Canadians have already quit smoking. Join them. And support your Christ- mas Seal Campaign. Christmas Seals aid the fight against smoking... and emphysema, tuberculosis and other respira- tory diseases. • Grade Four: On november 18 we read a book and made a book report. Now they are n)akjng book covers. D Grade Five: We were making puppets and now are making a puppet theatre. We also have a play. Grade Six and Seven: On November 19 we went to a reef and two pig farms. We saw hay, corn and silage.Mike. Cummings. tracked the hay all around and you could see everywhere he went. Grade Eight: For their history they are bringing in different things. A few • things are: horse bells, gas lamps, a horse whip; a two man saw, a sickle to cut hay. 'grass, corn, etc., a drawn Ilnife, a gun used for hunting (It is one of the first repeaters: It holds six shells at- a time.) and a photo display--. taken at the museum. ST. MARY'S REPORTERS, Mark Bowers, Tom De Jong., Robertson School BY BRENDA MOHRING Mrs. Dowds' grade 7 class won the UNICEF contest, collecting a total of S13.52. Mrs. Shaddick's Grade 8 class did a school -to -school project with Grenada in the West Indies. Mr. Schade's Grade 6 class made globes of paper mache and planted some plants. Mr. Schade's Grade 6 class and Mrs, Dowds' Grade 7 class displayed the meaning of Cardinal, President of the Indian Association of Alberta, are also being sent, and you will see from Mr. Trudeau's statement that the present Government policy is one of consideration' of the.. countet proposals of the Indian Associations, a search for common ground, and an attitude of general flexibility. "There are a number of fundamental differences between our Government's proposals of June 25, 1969, and the so-called "termination policy" of the United States Government temporarily applied in the nineteen fifties. The United States policy made no allowance for the fact of Indian tribal identity and , cultural heritage; it sought to bring the reserve land system to an end and to make Indian lands taxable like any other; it left Indian communities to provide social services for themselves from the tax base within their own communities, and it was imposed upon the tribes without their consent and without adequate preparation. . "Our 1969 policy proposals indicated support of Indian tradition, culture, history and art forms, and the recognition of Indian bands as legal entities through the, maintenance of the band membership lists; we suggested an Indian Lands Act, preserving the Indian lands and, confirming the band's exclusive rights over them; land taxation was to come about only if the Indian bands chose to accept taxation with the • benefits it would bring; soeial services were td come from the same levels of government as those of non -Indian people, but ensured and financed by the Federal Government; and, finally, the proposals were not be forced on the Indian people but represented h stage in the • dialogue between them and the Government and were to come about only after consultation with the Indians; You may wish to obtain further information on the United States Indian policy from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20242, and compare the two policies for yourselves. "One of your clippings has referred to the need for larger numbers of Indians -in the employment of this Department. I am sure you will be pleased to know that the Department has 1,125 Indian employees and an additional 87 of Indian origin but of non -Indian status. These figures do not include a large number of Indians employed in . the Northwest Territories. We are actively recruiting and training Indians and we hope to have these figures 'increased in the near future. Of the 1,125 Indians employed 129 are teachers. This Department assists • Eskimos needy Indian students who wish to train for teaching and other vocations. However, not all of those so trained wish to return to their reserves to practise their professions, and we believe they are entitled to decide where they wish to live and work, as are non -Indians. Indian teacher aides are in charge of our kindergarten classes, to assist . the Indian children to adjust to school life before entering grade one of the provincial or federal schools. I may point out that , various universities such as the University of Western Ontario and Trent University are now providing courses for the non -Indian teachers of Indian children so that these teachers may assist the children to bridge - the gap between the two cultures. "This Department certainly agrees that Indians should be represented on School boards in those areas where numbers of Indian children attend the schools, and we are actively encouraging such representation wherever possible. It has been our experience that Indian children who attend integrated provincial schools are in a better position later to obtain well paying employement and to share in the benefits of modern society than - are those who are educated' in non-integrated schools. "Certain sections of the present Indian Act (which is also being forwarded to you) are certainly outdated and it was. with this in mind that the Government proposed to repeal the Act, as you will note in the policy proposals statement of 'June 4, 1969. However, the Indians have indicated that they do not wish to see the Act completely repealed, and in the meantime certain obsolete clauses are being allowed to lapse in practice. Such a clause is Section 34(2) which technically .permits an Agency Superintendent to go ahead with projects on an Indian reserve without consultation with the Band. In practice, the Indian Band Council is consulted by the Superintendent." In addition to the above direct replies, Mr. Mussell sent the students a file of printed matter including the Annual Report of the Minister, copies of speeches by Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Chretien, and the Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy, 1969. The hope -Jai-- Mr Rittinger, teacher of the Grade 13 Geography Class, is that having some of the points of view of both government and of some of the Indian people, students would be better able to gain insight into a complex problem and better assess reports of the media on Indian and Eskimo affairs. ARENA SCHEDULE MONDAY Hockey TUESDAY 2-3:30 - Pre -School Skating 3:30-5 -- Lions Club Free Skating 8-10 - Figure Skating WEDNESDAY 4-8 - Figure Skating 8:30 - C.H.H.L. Hockey 50c THURSDAY 2-3:30 - Pre -School Skating 3:30-5 - Lions Club Free; Skating FRIDAY 8-10 - Public Skating SATURDAY „8-10 - Squirt Hockey 10-12 - Mite Hockey , 12-1 - Power Skating 1:30-5: 30 - Figure Skating SUNDAY o. 2-4 - Family Skating 4:30 - Midget Hockey 7. and 9 - CSFH.L. Hockey Games . Admission 50c L IONEL'S SUNOCO Remembrance ha-ing a play :Nov. 10. Robertson School is making.a float for the Santa Claus parade Dec. 5 and every classroom is busy on this float. Our school is collecting old eyeglasses for children in the Caribbean. To date we have collected 54 pairs. If anyone has a pair to- donate, please send them to our school, or telephone 524-8972 and they will be picked up. Rogers Majestic STEREO YEAR' END CLEARANCE • LIMITED) SUPPLY Top Left PALETTE - A "Y" strap in silver at only $9.95; matching handbag $9.95. Front SANDAL in either gold or silver at only $9.95 Centre NAPOLI .- A foot flattering instep strap in gold $15.95. Right SLING -- That is available in gold or silver with a tittle, heel. $9.95 MODEL WEARING STARS - A very dance all night sling. Available in silver only. Sizes'to 11. $1495. MODEL 8919 Here's a cabinet of unusual distinction. Solid, Erlchty-designed front panels slide away to :reveal the tastefully selected grille cloth of a treii planned piece of furniture. End gables e heavy, wood veneers. The legs are pf the Comer post type --- a single unit, no screw -on vices, which makes for a richer appear- inco and more durable construction. A. „MODEL R849 iNot Illustrated), Solid Wood Cabinet In Contemporary Styling OTHER MODELS AVAILABLE AT SIIV'lILAR SAVINGS — REG. $339 X259°° The music invites you`... come dance 'til dawn ... for this is your hour to shimmer and shine. Indulge your spirit for romance in this gala holiday whirl of parties, dinner -and -dancing with a quite special choke from our collection. SPROULE SHOE 1iMAi3O St,0 524.95516 M M. 4 h —4 sr 4 44 4