The Best Winter Driving Award Goes To …

The first snowfall of the year arrived over the past few days, and social media has been filled with photos and comments about how the snowfall has affected people.  Most photos, comments, and memes talk about the beauty of the first snow fall or about how fierce Mother Nature can be.  However, some comments and memes are anything but nice.

You know the memes and comments I’m talking about, right? The ones that denigrate how people are dealing with the snowfall.

There are northerners laughing at southerners about how they are struggling with having to drive through a few inches of snow while crowing about the prowess of northerners to be able to navigate a couple feet of snow without too much difficulty.  Instead of arguing my opinion versus their opinion, it made more sense to research the facts.

First off, let’s share a map of what constitutes the southern states in the U.S.

Now that we have established what are southern states as opposed to northern states, let’s continue with a few more facts.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for 2019 through to 2021, with adjustments for vehicle miles traveled and the total winter fatalities per state, the most dangerous state for winter driving was a northern state: Michigan.

The second most dangerous state was Alaska followed by Ohio, Pennsylvania, Montana, and Illinois.

Now you would think that a southern state would rank in the Top 10 but that’s not what the facts indicate, and that’s interesting all in itself because South Carolina has the third-worst drivers in the US according to the information on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  First and second place go to Montana and New Mexico respectively.

So when someone from a northern state claims that southerners don’t know how to drive when it snows, the facts indicate it’s actually northerners who struggle with knowing how to drive when it snows (because it obviously does snow in nearly all of the southern states and it even snows in Texas).

Florida is the only state that can be discounted in this discussion as it’s rare to see any amount of snow in that state but even if there was snow that fell in Florida, the majority of residents in Florida aren’t Floridians by birth (that title goes to only 36% of the population).  The number one source of Florida transplants come from New York followed by New Jersey, Georgia, Illinois, and California.

Getting back to the point of this blog entry, when northerners decide the cautious attitude of southerners when it comes to snowfalls and snowstorms is something worth ridiculing, maybe it’s time to step back and consider the data about how northerners deal with driving in the snow.

Instead of pointing fingers and laughing at drivers living in southern states, maybe a few things can be learned by those doing the finger pointing.

And at the end of the day, if you really want to challenge your driving skills, maybe it’s time to visit Japan and Canada which are noted for having the most snow every year.  Yes, on Japan’s main island of Honshu lies a city known as Aomori that averages 311 inches (nearly 26 feet) of snow every year. Second and third place go to Sapporo (Japan) and Toyama (Japan) respectively, and fourth place goes to Woody Point, Newfoundland (Canada) that averages more than 21 feet of snow every winter.  Forest Montmorency, Quebec (Canada) is a close second with an annual snowfall total of 20 feet.

But just coming from a place where a lot of snow falls every year doesn’t guarantee good winter driving skills.  It just means the person knows what a lot of snow looks like at any given time during the season.

So let’s take a break from disparaging others for their driving habits and start focusing on how we drive those snowy roads.  If you’re a great driver, that’s fantastic. If you’re less than stellar when it comes to driving under certain circumstances, put effort into improving your own driving skills.

Driving through snow and snowstorms isn’t easy, and sometimes the best way to deal with snow and snowstorms is to not drive through them at all.  Stay home instead.  Make some hot chocolate and work from home (if you can) or hang out with loved ones (pets count as loved ones).  If you have a roof over your head, be grateful (not everyone can lay claim to that).

And be kind.

Elyse Bruce
16 January 2024

Idle No More: 250 Years Ago Today

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 set clear guidelines with respect to where settlers could set up on Aboriginal territories in North America. It is a seminal documented point in history and after 250 years, one would think the descendants of King George III and the federal and provincial governments in Canada would respect and honor this treaty.

For those of you who insist that the Aboriginal communities across Canada show accept the current situation, does it bother you to know that over the generations, your side of the agreement was never honored?

Wouldn’t you say that the Aboriginal communities across Canada have been generous and patient as they worked to have the Royal Proclamation of 250 years ago respected and honored and enacted?

Food for thought.

Elyse Bruce

Idle No More: The Myth of the Lazy Indian (Part 2)

Earlier this month, I took on the myth of the lazy Indian. To recap, the question posed was this: If a Native was earning $364 year in 1890 (the equivalent of $28,246 in today’s money), where did the myth of the lazy Indian originate?

To understand the answer, it’s important to understand what happened with North-West Rebellion of 1885 and the restrictions imposed on First Nations and Metis peoples by Sir John A MacDonald.

The North-West Mounted Police had been formed in 1873 and within a year of being established, they spread out to the Canadian west to set up and maintain “British-style law and order.” The policing force pushed into communities of established First Nations and Metis peoples whose insistence that the treaties, Native land holdings and institutions be recognized as more and more settlers from the East with their families and possessions.

More and more, the government of Canada set up reserves for First Nations peoples, sent out Indian agents to administer these reserves, and gave these Indian agents the ability to control the movement of all First Nations peoples as well as to control all agricultural equipment and expenditures by the bands under their jurisdiction. Nobody, however, checked with First Nations peoples to see if they were in agreement with these executive and arbitrary decisions made by the government of Canada.

More and more, the governments that originally recognized the rights of First Nations and Metis peoples began to ignore them as was the case with the Manitoba Act of 1870 where the Metis saw their rights eroded to nothing. And so it was with all peoples with Native American Indian blood living in Canada back in 1884.

A Revolutionary Bill Of Rights was adopted in March of 1885 by a small group of Metis and Native people who were dissatisfied with how the government of Canada was dealing with land, religion and the language of instruction as it pertained to Native peoples. With some spin doctoring from politicians in Ottawa, the government of Canada convinced most settlers that the best society for the West was one that was English-speaking, Protestant, and non-Native.

Within months, some of the most restrictive policies and legislation was concentrated on breaking up the tribal system and assimilating al First Nations peoples. The three major influences that drove these changes were Canadian Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald; Indian Commissioner of the North-West Territories, Edgar Dewdney; and Assistant Indian Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Hayter Reed. After Hayter Reed drafted the “Memorandum on the Future Management of Indians,” the document became the template for Indian policy. Among the many recommendations made by Hayter Reed was the creation of passes for First Nations and Metis peoples.

Although originally the pass system was to be issued to “rebel Indians” only, Sir John A. MacDonald insisted that the system be applied to all First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserves. And so, in early 1886, books of passes were printed, and they were sent to all Indian agents with instructions on how the passes were to be approved.

The introduction of the passes meant that all First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserve could not leave their reserve unless they had a pass signed by the Indian agent. It wasn’t enough to just have a pass with a signature. The pass also had to describe when the person named could leave, where the person named could go, and when the person named had to return to the reserve.

Interestingly enough, the pass system was never passed into legislation which means the passes were never legal. The rights of First Nations and Metis peoples were negated by those passes. But even though the passes were never passed into legislation, the federal and provincial governments enforced the use of those passes well into the 1940s.

From the moment Indian agents began to issue passes to First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserves, the government of Canada and its agents systematically demotivated, demoralized and disempowered as many individuals and groups of individuals as possible in an attempt to make them bend to the government’s will.

Threats were used against First Nations and Metis peoples. Decisions and changes that impacted on First Nations and Metis peoples directly and indirectly were made without involving them in these decisions and chances. First Nations and Metis peoples were told what to do, and were expected to as they were told without questioning on whose authority these demands were being made. When decisions and chances were made, little to no support or guidance was provided to at least explain what the government of Canada was hoping to achieve with their decisions and changes. Appropriately negative language was used to marginalize First Nations and Metis peoples and if any objections were raised, the government of Canada and its agents resorted to more threats against First Nations and Metis peoples.

And then the government of Canada and its agents kept a close eye on every move, with frequent surprise visits by Indian agents that made sure that First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserves knew that their every move was being tracked by the government of Canada and its agents. In this way, the government of Canada and its agents hoped to drive home to First Nations and Metis peoples that the government of Canada was in control.

Now that you have a very basic history on the topic of freedom of movement for First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserves, is it any wonder that employment off reserve was scarce, if not impossible to secure and maintain?

Is it any wonder that the government of Canada, through these actions, forced First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserves to rely on monies paid out by the government of Canada from trust monies belonging to First Nations peoples?

It’s not that Indians became lazy. It’s that the government of Canada chose to:

1. Demotivate First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserves by forcing the illegal pass system onto then;
2. Demoralize First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserves by subjecting them to a form of domestic abuse; and
3. Disempower First Nations and Metis peoples living on reserves refusing them their sovereignty.

Abuse in today’s terms is defined as the physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions by one person or a group of persons that influences another person or a group of persons.

And while the passes disappeared in the 1940s, the abuse that was a large part of those passes continued in the decades that followed. After all, the last of the residential schools was finally closed down in 1996 … less than a generation ago.

Elyse Bruce

Idle No More: More About That FN Trust

There’s been a lot of talk about how much money is being held in trust for First Nations peoples.  Some say non-Native people are footing the bill 100% for First Nations peoples.  Others say that Native people are paying their own way 100%.  But most people don’t know what to believe about who pays for what, or how much money is being held by the federal government that belongs to First Nations peoples.

I’ve done serious research on the matter for weeks now, and I thought I’d give readers and followers alike a taste of what I’ve learned courtesy of federal government documents.

Let’s start with this quote from Collections Canada:

“[quote] The amount at the credit of the various Indian bands and of individual Indians, for whom the Government hold moneys in trust, aggregated in principal and interest on the 30th June, 1890, $3,479,200.99 [end quote].”

So there was almost $3.5 MILLION dollars already being held in trust for First Nations peoples back in 1890.   No, the date isn’t a typo.  I didn’t mean 1980.  I meant 1890.  And no, the amount isn’t a typo.  It’s right there in the federal government archives and supported by proper documentation from 1890.

Now pay attention to the first part of that sentence:

The amount at the credit of the various Indian bands and of individual Indians, for whom the Government hold moneys in trust, …

Take a look at these two important parts of the first part of the sentence:

The amount at the credit of the various Indians bands and of individual Indians …

and

for whom the Government hold moneys in trust …

That’s very clear as to how much money was being held in trust and for whom.

Now let’s take that $3,479,200.99 (and just that amount) at a compounded interest rate of 2% per year, to calculate how much that amount from 1890 would become by June 2013.

(SPECIAL NOTE:  I’ve included the math for those who doubt that the figures are correct.)

Year 1, compounding time #1

Current principal is $3479200.00
Interest earned on $3479200.00 is $3479200.00 × 0.02 = 69584.00
This makes your new principal $3479200.00 + $69584.00 = $3,548,784.00

Year 2, compounding time #1

Current principal is $3548784.00
Interest earned on $3548784.00 is $3548784.00 × 0.02 = 70975.68
This makes your new principal $3548784.00 + $70975.68 = $3,619,759.75

Year 3, compounding time #1

Current principal is $3619759.75
Interest earned on $3619759.75 is $3619759.75 × 0.02 = 72395.20
This makes your new principal $3619759.75 + $72395.20 = $3,692,155.00

Year 4, compounding time #1

Current principal is $3692155.00
Interest earned on $3692155.00 is $3692155.00 × 0.02 = 73843.10
This makes your new principal $3692155.00 + $73843.10 = $3,765,998.00

Year 5, compounding time #1

Current principal is $3765998.00
Interest earned on $3765998.00 is $3765998.00 × 0.02 = 75319.96
This makes your new principal $3765998.00 + $75319.96 = $3,841,318.00

Year 6, compounding time #1

Current principal is $3841318.00
Interest earned on $3841318.00 is $3841318.00 × 0.02 = 76826.36
This makes your new principal $3841318.00 + $76826.36 = $3,918,144.25

Year 7, compounding time #1

Current principal is $3918144.25
Interest earned on $3918144.25 is $3918144.25 × 0.02 = 78362.88
This makes your new principal $3918144.25 + $78362.88 = $3,996,507.25

Year 8, compounding time #1

Current principal is $3996507.25
Interest earned on $3996507.25 is $3996507.25 × 0.02 = 79930.14
This makes your new principal $3996507.25 + $79930.14 = $4,076,437.50

Year 9, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4076437.50
Interest earned on $4076437.50 is $4076437.50 × 0.02 = 81528.75
This makes your new principal $4076437.50 + $81528.75 = $4,157,966.25

Year 10, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4157966.25
Interest earned on $4157966.25 is $4157966.25 × 0.02 = 83159.32
This makes your new principal $4157966.25 + $83159.32 = $4,241,125.50

Year 11, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4241125.50
Interest earned on $4241125.50 is $4241125.50 × 0.02 = 84822.51
This makes your new principal $4241125.50 + $84822.51 = $4,325,948.00

Year 12, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4325948.00
Interest earned on $4325948.00 is $4325948.00 × 0.02 = 86518.96
This makes your new principal $4325948.00 + $86518.96 = $4,412,467.00

Year 13, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4412467.00
Interest earned on $4412467.00 is $4412467.00 × 0.02 = 88249.34
This makes your new principal $4412467.00 + $88249.34 = $4,500,716.50

Year 14, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4500716.50
Interest earned on $4500716.50 is $4500716.50 × 0.02 = 90014.33
This makes your new principal $4500716.50 + $90014.33 = $4,590,731.00

Year 15, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4590731.00
Interest earned on $4590731.00 is $4590731.00 × 0.02 = 91814.62
This makes your new principal $4590731.00 + $91814.62 = $4,682,545.50

Year 16, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4682545.50
Interest earned on $4682545.50 is $4682545.50 × 0.02 = 93650.91
This makes your new principal $4682545.50 + $93650.91 = $4,776,196.50

Year 17, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4776196.50
Interest earned on $4776196.50 is $4776196.50 × 0.02 = 95523.93
This makes your new principal $4776196.50 + $95523.93 = $4,871,720.50

Year 18, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4871720.50
Interest earned on $4871720.50 is $4871720.50 × 0.02 = 97434.41
This makes your new principal $4871720.50 + $97434.41 = $4,969,155.00

Year 19, compounding time #1

Current principal is $4969155.00
Interest earned on $4969155.00 is $4969155.00 × 0.02 = 99383.10
This makes your new principal $4969155.00 + $99383.10 = $5,068,538.00

Year 20, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5068538.00
Interest earned on $5068538.00 is $5068538.00 × 0.02 = 101370.76
This makes your new principal $5068538.00 + $101370.76 = $5,169,909.00

Year 21, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5169909.00
Interest earned on $5169909.00 is $5169909.00 × 0.02 = 103398.18
This makes your new principal $5169909.00 + $103398.18 = $5,273,307.00

Year 22, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5273307.00
Interest earned on $5273307.00 is $5273307.00 × 0.02 = 105466.14
This makes your new principal $5273307.00 + $105466.14 = $5,378,773.00

Year 23, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5378773.00
Interest earned on $5378773.00 is $5378773.00 × 0.02 = 107575.46
This makes your new principal $5378773.00 + $107575.46 = $5,486,348.50

Year 24, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5486348.50
Interest earned on $5486348.50 is $5486348.50 × 0.02 = 109726.97
This makes your new principal $5486348.50 + $109726.97 = $5,596,075.50

Year 25, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5596075.50
Interest earned on $5596075.50 is $5596075.50 × 0.02 = 111921.51
This makes your new principal $5596075.50 + $111921.51 = $5,707,997.00

Year 26, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5707997.00
Interest earned on $5707997.00 is $5707997.00 × 0.02 = 114159.94
This makes your new principal $5707997.00 + $114159.94 = $5,822,157.00

Year 27, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5822157.00
Interest earned on $5822157.00 is $5822157.00 × 0.02 = 116443.14
This makes your new principal $5822157.00 + $116443.14 = $5,938,600.00

Year 28, compounding time #1

Current principal is $5938600.00
Interest earned on $5938600.00 is $5938600.00 × 0.02 = 118772.00
This makes your new principal $5938600.00 + $118772.00 = $6,057,372.00

Year 29, compounding time #1

Current principal is $6057372.00
Interest earned on $6057372.00 is $6057372.00 × 0.02 = 121147.44
This makes your new principal $6057372.00 + $121147.44 = $6,178,519.50

Year 30, compounding time #1

Current principal is $6178519.50
Interest earned on $6178519.50 is $6178519.50 × 0.02 = 123570.39
This makes your new principal $6178519.50 + $123570.39 = $6,302,090.00

Year 31, compounding time #1

Current principal is $6302090.00
Interest earned on $6302090.00 is $6302090.00 × 0.02 = 126041.80
This makes your new principal $6302090.00 + $126041.80 = $6,428,132.00

Year 32, compounding time #1

Current principal is $6428132.00
Interest earned on $6428132.00 is $6428132.00 × 0.02 = 128562.64
This makes your new principal $6428132.00 + $128562.64 = $6,556,694.50

Year 33, compounding time #1

Current principal is $6556694.50
Interest earned on $6556694.50 is $6556694.50 × 0.02 = 131133.89
This makes your new principal $6556694.50 + $131133.89 = $6,687,828.50

Year 34, compounding time #1

Current principal is $6687828.50
Interest earned on $6687828.50 is $6687828.50 × 0.02 = 133756.56
This makes your new principal $6687828.50 + $133756.56 = $6,821,585.00

Year 35, compounding time #1

Current principal is $6821585.00
Interest earned on $6821585.00 is $6821585.00 × 0.02 = 136431.70
This makes your new principal $6821585.00 + $136431.70 = $6,958,016.50

Year 36, compounding time #1

Current principal is $6958016.50
Interest earned on $6958016.50 is $6958016.50 × 0.02 = 139160.33
This makes your new principal $6958016.50 + $139160.33 = $7,097,177.00

Year 37, compounding time #1

Current principal is $7097177.00
Interest earned on $7097177.00 is $7097177.00 × 0.02 = 141943.53
This makes your new principal $7097177.00 + $141943.53 = $7,239,120.50

Year 38, compounding time #1

Current principal is $7239120.50
Interest earned on $7239120.50 is $7239120.50 × 0.02 = 144782.41
This makes your new principal $7239120.50 + $144782.41 = $7,383,903.00

Year 39, compounding time #1

Current principal is $7383903.00
Interest earned on $7383903.00 is $7383903.00 × 0.02 = 147678.06
This makes your new principal $7383903.00 + $147678.06 = $7,531,581.00

Year 40, compounding time #1

Current principal is $7531581.00
Interest earned on $7531581.00 is $7531581.00 × 0.02 = 150631.61
This makes your new principal $7531581.00 + $150631.61 = $7,682,212.50

Year 41, compounding time #1

Current principal is $7682212.50
Interest earned on $7682212.50 is $7682212.50 × 0.02 = 153644.25
This makes your new principal $7682212.50 + $153644.25 = $7,835,857.00

Year 42, compounding time #1

Current principal is $7835857.00
Interest earned on $7835857.00 is $7835857.00 × 0.02 = 156717.14
This makes your new principal $7835857.00 + $156717.14 = $7,992,574.00

Year 43, compounding time #1

Current principal is $7992574.00
Interest earned on $7992574.00 is $7992574.00 × 0.02 = 159851.47
This makes your new principal $7992574.00 + $159851.47 = $8,152,425.50

Year 44, compounding time #1

Current principal is $8152425.50
Interest earned on $8152425.50 is $8152425.50 × 0.02 = 163048.50
This makes your new principal $8152425.50 + $163048.50 = $8,315,474.00

Year 45, compounding time #1

Current principal is $8315474.00
Interest earned on $8315474.00 is $8315474.00 × 0.02 = 166309.47
This makes your new principal $8315474.00 + $166309.47 = $8,481,783.00

Year 46, compounding time #1

Current principal is $8481783.00
Interest earned on $8481783.00 is $8481783.00 × 0.02 = 169635.66
This makes your new principal $8481783.00 + $169635.66 = $8,651,419.00

Year 47, compounding time #1

Current principal is $8651419.00
Interest earned on $8651419.00 is $8651419.00 × 0.02 = 173028.38
This makes your new principal $8651419.00 + $173028.38 = $8,824,447.00

Year 48, compounding time #1

Current principal is $8824447.00
Interest earned on $8824447.00 is $8824447.00 × 0.02 = 176488.94
This makes your new principal $8824447.00 + $176488.94 = $9,000,936.00

Year 49, compounding time #1

Current principal is $9000936.00
Interest earned on $9000936.00 is $9000936.00 × 0.02 = 180018.72
This makes your new principal $9000936.00 + $180018.72 = $9,180,955.00

Year 50, compounding time #1

Current principal is $9180955.00
Interest earned on $9180955.00 is $9180955.00 × 0.02 = 183619.09
This makes your new principal $9180955.00 + $183619.09 = $9,364,574.00

Year 51, compounding time #1

Current principal is $9364574.00
Interest earned on $9364574.00 is $9364574.00 × 0.02 = 187291.47
This makes your new principal $9364574.00 + $187291.47 = $9,551,865.00

Year 52, compounding time #1

Current principal is $9551865.00
Interest earned on $9551865.00 is $9551865.00 × 0.02 = 191037.30
This makes your new principal $9551865.00 + $191037.30 = $9,742,902.00

Year 53, compounding time #1

Current principal is $9742902.00
Interest earned on $9742902.00 is $9742902.00 × 0.02 = 194858.03
This makes your new principal $9742902.00 + $194858.03 = $9,937,760.00

Year 54, compounding time #1

Current principal is $9937760.00
Interest earned on $9937760.00 is $9937760.00 × 0.02 = 198755.20
This makes your new principal $9937760.00 + $198755.20 = $10,136,515.00

Year 55, compounding time #1

Current principal is $10136515.00
Interest earned on $10136515.00 is $10136515.00 × 0.02 = 202730.30
This makes your new principal $10136515.00 + $202730.30 = $10,339,245.00

Year 56, compounding time #1

Current principal is $10339245.00
Interest earned on $10339245.00 is $10339245.00 × 0.02 = 206784.89
This makes your new principal $10339245.00 + $206784.89 = $10,546,030.00

Year 57, compounding time #1

Current principal is $10546030.00
Interest earned on $10546030.00 is $10546030.00 × 0.02 = 210920.59
This makes your new principal $10546030.00 + $210920.59 = $10,756,951.00

Year 58, compounding time #1

Current principal is $10756951.00
Interest earned on $10756951.00 is $10756951.00 × 0.02 = 215139.02
This makes your new principal $10756951.00 + $215139.02 = $10,972,090.00

Year 59, compounding time #1

Current principal is $10972090.00
Interest earned on $10972090.00 is $10972090.00 × 0.02 = 219441.80
This makes your new principal $10972090.00 + $219441.80 = $11,191,532.00

Year 60, compounding time #1

Current principal is $11191532.00
Interest earned on $11191532.00 is $11191532.00 × 0.02 = 223830.64
This makes your new principal $11191532.00 + $223830.64 = $11,415,363.00

Year 61, compounding time #1

Current principal is $11415363.00
Interest earned on $11415363.00 is $11415363.00 × 0.02 = 228307.25
This makes your new principal $11415363.00 + $228307.25 = $11,643,670.00

Year 62, compounding time #1

Current principal is $11643670.00
Interest earned on $11643670.00 is $11643670.00 × 0.02 = 232873.39
This makes your new principal $11643670.00 + $232873.39 = $11,876,543.00

Year 63, compounding time #1

Current principal is $11876543.00
Interest earned on $11876543.00 is $11876543.00 × 0.02 = 237530.86
This makes your new principal $11876543.00 + $237530.86 = $12,114,074.00

Year 64, compounding time #1

Current principal is $12114074.00
Interest earned on $12114074.00 is $12114074.00 × 0.02 = 242281.47
This makes your new principal $12114074.00 + $242281.47 = $12,356,355.00

Year 65, compounding time #1

Current principal is $12356355.00
Interest earned on $12356355.00 is $12356355.00 × 0.02 = 247127.09
This makes your new principal $12356355.00 + $247127.09 = $12,603,482.00

Year 66, compounding time #1

Current principal is $12603482.00
Interest earned on $12603482.00 is $12603482.00 × 0.02 = 252069.64
This makes your new principal $12603482.00 + $252069.64 = $12,855,552.00

Year 67, compounding time #1

Current principal is $12855552.00
Interest earned on $12855552.00 is $12855552.00 × 0.02 = 257111.03
This makes your new principal $12855552.00 + $257111.03 = $13,112,663.00

Year 68, compounding time #1

Current principal is $13112663.00
Interest earned on $13112663.00 is $13112663.00 × 0.02 = 262253.25
This makes your new principal $13112663.00 + $262253.25 = $13,374,916.00

Year 69, compounding time #1

Current principal is $13374916.00
Interest earned on $13374916.00 is $13374916.00 × 0.02 = 267498.31
This makes your new principal $13374916.00 + $267498.31 = $13,642,414.00

Year 70, compounding time #1

Current principal is $13642414.00
Interest earned on $13642414.00 is $13642414.00 × 0.02 = 272848.28
This makes your new principal $13642414.00 + $272848.28 = $13,915,262.00

Year 71, compounding time #1

Current principal is $13915262.00
Interest earned on $13915262.00 is $13915262.00 × 0.02 = 278305.22
This makes your new principal $13915262.00 + $278305.22 = $14,193,567.00

Year 72, compounding time #1

Current principal is $14193567.00
Interest earned on $14193567.00 is $14193567.00 × 0.02 = 283871.34
This makes your new principal $14193567.00 + $283871.34 = $14,477,438.00

Year 73, compounding time #1

Current principal is $14477438.00
Interest earned on $14477438.00 is $14477438.00 × 0.02 = 289548.75
This makes your new principal $14477438.00 + $289548.75 = $14,766,987.00

Year 74, compounding time #1

Current principal is $14766987.00
Interest earned on $14766987.00 is $14766987.00 × 0.02 = 295339.72
This makes your new principal $14766987.00 + $295339.72 = $15,062,327.00

Year 75, compounding time #1

Current principal is $15062327.00
Interest earned on $15062327.00 is $15062327.00 × 0.02 = 301246.53
This makes your new principal $15062327.00 + $301246.53 = $15,363,574.00

Year 76, compounding time #1

Current principal is $15363574.00
Interest earned on $15363574.00 is $15363574.00 × 0.02 = 307271.47
This makes your new principal $15363574.00 + $307271.47 = $15,670,845.00

Year 77, compounding time #1

Current principal is $15670845.00
Interest earned on $15670845.00 is $15670845.00 × 0.02 = 313416.91
This makes your new principal $15670845.00 + $313416.91 = $15,984,262.00

Year 78, compounding time #1

Current principal is $15984262.00
Interest earned on $15984262.00 is $15984262.00 × 0.02 = 319685.22
This makes your new principal $15984262.00 + $319685.22 = $16,303,947.00

Year 79, compounding time #1

Current principal is $16303947.00
Interest earned on $16303947.00 is $16303947.00 × 0.02 = 326078.94
This makes your new principal $16303947.00 + $326078.94 = $16,630,026.00

Year 80, compounding time #1

Current principal is $16630026.00
Interest earned on $16630026.00 is $16630026.00 × 0.02 = 332600.50
This makes your new principal $16630026.00 + $332600.50 = $16,962,626.00

Year 81, compounding time #1

Current principal is $16962626.00
Interest earned on $16962626.00 is $16962626.00 × 0.02 = 339252.50
This makes your new principal $16962626.00 + $339252.50 = $17,301,878.00

Year 82, compounding time #1

Current principal is $17301878.00
Interest earned on $17301878.00 is $17301878.00 × 0.02 = 346037.56
This makes your new principal $17301878.00 + $346037.56 = $17,647,916.00

Year 83, compounding time #1

Current principal is $17647916.00
Interest earned on $17647916.00 is $17647916.00 × 0.02 = 352958.31
This makes your new principal $17647916.00 + $352958.31 = $18,000,874.00

Year 84, compounding time #1

Current principal is $18000874.00
Interest earned on $18000874.00 is $18000874.00 × 0.02 = 360017.47
This makes your new principal $18000874.00 + $360017.47 = $18,360,892.00

Year 85, compounding time #1

Current principal is $18360892.00
Interest earned on $18360892.00 is $18360892.00 × 0.02 = 367217.84
This makes your new principal $18360892.00 + $367217.84 = $18,728,110.00

Year 86, compounding time #1

Current principal is $18728110.00
Interest earned on $18728110.00 is $18728110.00 × 0.02 = 374562.19
This makes your new principal $18728110.00 + $374562.19 = $19,102,672.00

Year 87, compounding time #1

Current principal is $19102672.00
Interest earned on $19102672.00 is $19102672.00 × 0.02 = 382053.44
This makes your new principal $19102672.00 + $382053.44 = $19,484,726.00

Year 88, compounding time #1

Current principal is $19484726.00
Interest earned on $19484726.00 is $19484726.00 × 0.02 = 389694.50
This makes your new principal $19484726.00 + $389694.50 = $19,874,420.00

Year 89, compounding time #1

Current principal is $19874420.00
Interest earned on $19874420.00 is $19874420.00 × 0.02 = 397488.41
This makes your new principal $19874420.00 + $397488.41 = $20,271,908.00

Year 90, compounding time #1

Current principal is $20271908.00
Interest earned on $20271908.00 is $20271908.00 × 0.02 = 405438.16
This makes your new principal $20271908.00 + $405438.16 = $20,677,346.00

Year 91, compounding time #1

Current principal is $20677346.00
Interest earned on $20677346.00 is $20677346.00 × 0.02 = 413546.91
This makes your new principal $20677346.00 + $413546.91 = $21,090,892.00

Year 92, compounding time #1

Current principal is $21090892.00
Interest earned on $21090892.00 is $21090892.00 × 0.02 = 421817.84
This makes your new principal $21090892.00 + $421817.84 = $21,512,710.00

Year 93, compounding time #1

Current principal is $21512710.00
Interest earned on $21512710.00 is $21512710.00 × 0.02 = 430254.19
This makes your new principal $21512710.00 + $430254.19 = $21,942,964.00

Year 94, compounding time #1

Current principal is $21942964.00
Interest earned on $21942964.00 is $21942964.00 × 0.02 = 438859.28
This makes your new principal $21942964.00 + $438859.28 = $22,381,824.00

Year 95, compounding time #1

Current principal is $22381824.00
Interest earned on $22381824.00 is $22381824.00 × 0.02 = 447636.47
This makes your new principal $22381824.00 + $447636.47 = $22,829,460.00

Year 96, compounding time #1

Current principal is $22829460.00
Interest earned on $22829460.00 is $22829460.00 × 0.02 = 456589.19
This makes your new principal $22829460.00 + $456589.19 = $23,286,050.00

Year 97, compounding time #1

Current principal is $23286050.00
Interest earned on $23286050.00 is $23286050.00 × 0.02 = 465721.00
This makes your new principal $23286050.00 + $465721.00 = $23,751,772.00

Year 98, compounding time #1

Current principal is $23751772.00
Interest earned on $23751772.00 is $23751772.00 × 0.02 = 475035.44
This makes your new principal $23751772.00 + $475035.44 = $24,226,808.00

Year 99, compounding time #1

Current principal is $24226808.00
Interest earned on $24226808.00 is $24226808.00 × 0.02 = 484536.16
This makes your new principal $24226808.00 + $484536.16 = $24,711,344.00

Year 100, compounding time #1

Current principal is $24711344.00
Interest earned on $24711344.00 is $24711344.00 × 0.02 = 494226.88
This makes your new principal $24711344.00 + $494226.88 = $25,205,570.00

Year 101, compounding time #1

Current principal is $25205570.00
Interest earned on $25205570.00 is $25205570.00 × 0.02 = 504111.38
This makes your new principal $25205570.00 + $504111.38 = $25,709,682.00

Year 102, compounding time #1

Current principal is $25709682.00
Interest earned on $25709682.00 is $25709682.00 × 0.02 = 514193.62
This makes your new principal $25709682.00 + $514193.62 = $26,223,876.00

Year 103, compounding time #1

Current principal is $26223876.00
Interest earned on $26223876.00 is $26223876.00 × 0.02 = 524477.50
This makes your new principal $26223876.00 + $524477.50 = $26,748,354.00

Year 104, compounding time #1

Current principal is $26748354.00
Interest earned on $26748354.00 is $26748354.00 × 0.02 = 534967.06
This makes your new principal $26748354.00 + $534967.06 = $27,283,322.00

Year 105, compounding time #1

Current principal is $27283322.00
Interest earned on $27283322.00 is $27283322.00 × 0.02 = 545666.44
This makes your new principal $27283322.00 + $545666.44 = $27,828,988.00

Year 106, compounding time #1

Current principal is $27828988.00
Interest earned on $27828988.00 is $27828988.00 × 0.02 = 556579.75
This makes your new principal $27828988.00 + $556579.75 = $28,385,568.00

Year 107, compounding time #1

Current principal is $28385568.00
Interest earned on $28385568.00 is $28385568.00 × 0.02 = 567711.38
This makes your new principal $28385568.00 + $567711.38 = $28,953,280.00

Year 108, compounding time #1

Current principal is $28953280.00
Interest earned on $28953280.00 is $28953280.00 × 0.02 = 579065.56
This makes your new principal $28953280.00 + $579065.56 = $29,532,346.00

Year 109, compounding time #1

Current principal is $29532346.00
Interest earned on $29532346.00 is $29532346.00 × 0.02 = 590646.94
This makes your new principal $29532346.00 + $590646.94 = $30,122,992.00

Year 110, compounding time #1

Current principal is $30122992.00
Interest earned on $30122992.00 is $30122992.00 × 0.02 = 602459.81
This makes your new principal $30122992.00 + $602459.81 = $30,725,452.00

Year 111, compounding time #1

Current principal is $30725452.00
Interest earned on $30725452.00 is $30725452.00 × 0.02 = 614509.00
This makes your new principal $30725452.00 + $614509.00 = $31,339,960.00

Year 112, compounding time #1

Current principal is $31339960.00
Interest earned on $31339960.00 is $31339960.00 × 0.02 = 626799.19
This makes your new principal $31339960.00 + $626799.19 = $31,966,760.00

Year 113, compounding time #1

Current principal is $31966760.00
Interest earned on $31966760.00 is $31966760.00 × 0.02 = 639335.19
This makes your new principal $31966760.00 + $639335.19 = $32,606,096.00

Year 114, compounding time #1

Current principal is $32606096.00
Interest earned on $32606096.00 is $32606096.00 × 0.02 = 652121.88
This makes your new principal $32606096.00 + $652121.88 = $33,258,218.00

Year 115, compounding time #1

Current principal is $33258218.00
Interest earned on $33258218.00 is $33258218.00 × 0.02 = 665164.38
This makes your new principal $33258218.00 + $665164.38 = $33,923,384.00

Year 116, compounding time #1

Current principal is $33923384.00
Interest earned on $33923384.00 is $33923384.00 × 0.02 = 678467.69
This makes your new principal $33923384.00 + $678467.69 = $34,601,852.00

Year 117, compounding time #1

Current principal is $34601852.00
Interest earned on $34601852.00 is $34601852.00 × 0.02 = 692037.00
This makes your new principal $34601852.00 + $692037.00 = $35,293,888.00

Year 118, compounding time #1

Current principal is $35293888.00
Interest earned on $35293888.00 is $35293888.00 × 0.02 = 705877.75
This makes your new principal $35293888.00 + $705877.75 = $35,999,764.00

Year 119, compounding time #1

Current principal is $35999764.00
Interest earned on $35999764.00 is $35999764.00 × 0.02 = 719995.25
This makes your new principal $35999764.00 + $719995.25 = $36,719,760.00

Year 120, compounding time #1

Current principal is $36719760.00
Interest earned on $36719760.00 is $36719760.00 × 0.02 = 734395.19
This makes your new principal $36719760.00 + $734395.19 = $37,454,156.00

Year 121, compounding time #1

Current principal is $37454156.00
Interest earned on $37454156.00 is $37454156.00 × 0.02 = 749083.12
This makes your new principal $37454156.00 + $749083.12 = $38,203,240.00

Year 122, compounding time #1

Current principal is $38203240.00
Interest earned on $38203240.00 is $38203240.00 × 0.02 = 764064.81
This makes your new principal $38203240.00 + $764064.81 = $38,967,304.00

Year 123, compounding time #1

Current principal is $38967304.00
Interest earned on $38967304.00 is $38967304.00 × 0.02 = 779346.06
This makes your new principal $38967304.00 + $779346.06 = $39,746,652.00

For those who doubt that my math is sound but who suffer from a form of dyscalcula (from mild to severe), I located a compound interest calculator on the Royal Bank of Canada website.  Just click HERE and you can input any number up to $999,999 CDN at an estimated rate of between 2% and 20% for anywhere between 1 to 99 years.

In other words, choosing 2% interest compounded once a year over the past 123 years was a conservative (pardon the pun) interest rate to choose.

At any rate, the amount of money “at the credit of the various Indian bands and of individual Indians, for whom the Government hold moneys in trust” in 1890 should have grown to at least almost $40 MILLION as of June 30, 2013.

With the additional monies that have been deposited into various trust accounts “at the credit of various Indian bands and of individual Indians” over the years, it becomes easier and easier to understand that the total amount of all those trust funds could easily add up to billions of dollars.  After all, inflation rates and years when the interest was much higher than the 2% used to calculate weren’t taken into account, and neither were additional deposits made to those accounts thanks to various business agreements, leases, et al.

Is it so difficult to believe that with money like that in the bank, that First Nations peoples aren’t paying their own bills?  Do the math.  Talk to your financial adviser.  See your bank manager.  Present them with this scenario and ask them if it’s more likely than not that almost $3.5 MILLION can become almost $40 MILLION at 2% interest compounded annually over 123 years.

Elyse Bruce

Business As Usual

Yesterday, I decided to try something a little different with regards to my schedule. I have an agenda book that my son refers to as my “Bible” because it’s a 9 inch by 12 inch hard-cover book with a golden ribbon to divide the book in half between days that have passed and days yet to come, and it has everything that needs to be kept track of on the pages of that one book.

The problem is, however, that it doesn’t give me much of an overview of the month and while it’s an accurate representation of where my time has been, is and will be allotted during any given day, it really only provides a one-day-at-a-time snapshot of my life. I decided that I would create a overview for the month of July … a large 11 inch by 17 inch page that I could fix to the wall just to the right of my office desk.

I decided that this 31-day overview would only have the large projects and appointments marked off and so I set about marking when the Elyse Bruce, Midnight In Chicago and Idiomation blog articles would be posted. I marked off when the Midnight In Chicago podcasts would be posted and, starting in July, when the Elyse Bruce and Idiomation podcasts would be posted. I marked off when important documents were to be received in my office and who was to send them to me, and I marked off all the important information pertaining to my soon-to-be-released CD “Dreamtime.” In other words, I thought I was marking off just a few things.

Imagine my surprise when I looked at the 31-day overview and realized that it was already quite busy!

Now in between all that I had written, I had to mark off Lewis’ appointments and I had to mark off deadlines I have to meet in July. Now the 31-day overview was looking very, very busy. I took a red marker and circled Monday, July 18th because that’s Lewis’ 16th birthday. It wouldn’t be right to not set that day aside just for him and so that day was marked “taken” to ensure that no one would try to book anything important — other than Lewis — on that day.

In smaller lettering, I marked off the projects that Lewis has scheduled for July, some of which require my assistance and I marked off days when I would be doing targeted marketing for my business. Now the 31-day overview looked like a detailed map of some small European country with all sorts of decipherable lines and squiggles and words marked all over the page.

It was at that point that I realized I was going to have to break out the fluorescent highlighters if I was to make sense of this overview in the upcoming 4 weeks. And so yellow and pink and green and blue and purple were added to this formerly black-and-white page. I sat back and looked at my work of art; what else could I possibly call this creation?

Picking up my agenda book, I leafed through it casually at the months that had already passed and I realized that July wasn’t any busier than any other month had been. This was business as usual. And so I smiled a tired smile, closed my agenda book and set it back down on my desk, leaned back in my chair and thought to myself, “If I ever ask myself again where Lewis gets his hyperfocusing superpowers from, I’ll have to remember to create another 31-day overview with projects and activities that need doing and appointments and meetings that need keeping.”