In canada the first nations are asking for help with its substance abuse problems!?

Question is they blockade roads and disrupt traffic ,take over towns and still want more! As a taxpayer my heart doesnt go out to them ! how about your thoughts?

A lot of the problems First Nations have on the reserve is due to "white society" offering "help". I think it is past the point where society in general needs to back off and let First Nations decide how we can best help them and then they can ask for it. The problem with this is that requires getting along and seeing a bigger picture than just your self interest and no matter who you are that is really hard. Problem is that has to happen.

Personally I would like to see our elected leaders start saying to FN blockaders and rights activists that something is owed back to larger society in return for the gestures needed to bring about self government. We need to start seeing demands for democracy and government transparncy on reserves. We need to see the oligarchies broken and some truly public government on reserves. Problem is you'll never see that either cause the "white" leaders would have to clean up their own mess first.

I am insanely torn on the issue of native rights.

Their is a huge problem with access to resources such as rehab and medical services on reservations, and their clearly is a substance abuse problem in many native communities. This is exemplified by the recent loss of two toddlers who froze to death in the care of their intoxicated father.

However I look at the ongoing occupation of Caledonia and I am somewhat enraged.

A part of me looks at the native community as one that is currently lost. The sense of pride and tradition which once bound the community and made them proud and strong in non existent. This has lead to widespread problems with violence, drug abuse, crime. However to what extent is it the Canadian governemnt's obligation to restore the community?

I will certainly concede that programs such as rehab, family outreach and support need to be more widely available to isoloated communities to hopefully curb some problems. However getting the community to take advantage of said programs is a whole other issue.

I wish to see any community thrive, not only becuase it is good for the nation to not have so many people dependent upon social program, but becuase it restores a sense of pride. In that respect yes, it would be nice to be able to offer more out reach.

However how many times can you (to be a little cliche) "bit the hand that feeds you?". In many respects it seems as though the native community does not want to play by the rules yet still wants all the benefits.

Unfortunately there is no real way to answer this fully, as there are so many different side to this issue. The history of native relations is checkered and complex.

~"They have been hurt by us in the past, but continue to hurt us."
"Thoughts?"

We have dishonored their ancestors; but if we repay the descendants, they may well adapt a sense of entitlement rather than restitution.

We should just back off them entirely. Give them their land back and cut connections with them. They have demonstrated that "if individuals want to expatriate, they will: otherwise, back off!"

Just stop taking money from them, and stop giving services to them. Let them go back to their way of living. It only takes one generation to change the course of history, and two or three to forget it. Just let go, and let it be.

Soften the blow, by encouraging native scholars and elders to move to the communities and re-teach the traditions. Again, it only takes one generation to relearn them [the alternative is freeze and starve], two or three generations to forget you ever lived without the traditions.

Forget electricity, sno-mobiles, four-wheelers; let them keep the firearms 'til they run out of ammunition; don't let anyone sell any modern goods ESPECIALLY alcohol; and just let it be.