So, let me get this straight.
The only way Guy Lonechild, the grand chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, could get his job back was to appeal to a court that’s theoretically, in aboriginal governance philosophy, outside the jurisdiction of aboriginal government. And the people who tried to turf Grand Chief Lonechild refused to follow the rules of their own government in order to purge somebody for blatantly political reasons.
I’m going to go and shake my head … (CBC Saskatchewan)
There are a lot of problems with putting the concept of aboriginal self-government into practice. Both indigenous and non-indigenous governments are prone to treating the treaty process like an inkblot psychological test – they read into it whatever they want. But the concept is further exacerbated thanks to politicians – especially in Indian country – who regard the political arena not as an instrument to better aboriginal peoples but as a way of feathering their own nests. (Especially considering the close proximity of Dutch Lerat, who 10 years ago as the CEO of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (CBC Saskatchewan) couldn’t tell the difference between his personal spending and the authority’s coffers, to the current mess inside the FSIN by the coup-plotters). (FSIN website)
To the detriment of aboriginal peoples, the FSIN is resembling more and more Spence’s Republic. You know. The Grand Republic of Manitobah (No, I didn’t mis-spell it. This time.) What! You don’t remember the cartoons in lieu of commercials on CBC TV on Saturday mornings?
