Republished in West Coast Native News HERE.
Reblogged by J. Halladay HERE.
Two weeks ago, this message was sent to my blog by Cindy. Her comments were riddled with a number of incorrect comments and negative stereotypes that I felt needed to be addressed in a calm and rational way. Here’s an unedited screenshot of what Cindy wrote:
Rather than put it through on the messages, I thought I’d address the inaccurate claims made by Cindy in a blog article.
Why don’t natives get jobs just like everyone else in Canada?
One of the most widespread myths is that First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples are lazy bums who don’t work for a living. The fact of the matter is that I’ve addressed this issue in previous blog articles. Not only do First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples have jobs like everyone else in Canada, many of them run their own successful businesses.
SUGGESTED READING
Idle No More: On Again, Off Again
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/idle-no-more-on-again-off-again/
Idle No More: Myths v Facts
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/idle-no-more-myths-v-facts/
It’s not your land, your ancestors either sold it or lost it.
Signing a treaty isn’t the same as selling land, and it’s not the same as being conquered in a war and losing it. The fact of the matter is that I’ve addressed this issue in previous blog articles as well.
SUGGESTED READING
Idle No More: What’s A Treaty?
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/idle-no-more-whats-a-treaty/
Idle No More: 250 Years Ago Today
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/idle-no-more-250-years-ago-today/
Idle No More: How To Steal Treaty Land
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/idle-no-more-how-to-steal-treaty-land/
You’re lucky to be getting anything from the government.
And this, too, has been addressed in previous blog articles. The Federal government are giving First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples money that belongs to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples.
SUGGESTED READING
Idle No More: About That FN Trust
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/idle-no-more-about-that-fn-trust/
Idle No More: What This White Man Thinks Indians Deserve
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/idle-no-more-what-this-white-man-thinks-indians-deserve/
Idle No More: On Again, Off Again
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/idle-no-more-on-again-off-again/
Idle No More: Playing By The Same Assistance Rules
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/idle-no-more-playing-by-the-same-assistance-rules/
Idle No More: Who’s On The Hook For FN Programs
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/idle-no-more-whos-on-the-hook-for-fn-programs/
Idle No More: Starve Those Indians
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/idle-no-more-starve-those-indians/
Why should I go to work to pay your way?
The question should be this: Why should money being held in trust by the Federal government for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people pay the way of anyone who isn’t a First Nations, Metis, or Inuit person?
But aside from that, what many people fail to understand is that if someone is a Status Indian who lives and/or works off reserve (this accounts for more than half of all Status Indians in Canada), then that person is filing and paying Federal and provincial taxes.
If that person is a non-Status Indian, then that person is filing and paying Federal and provincial taxes.
And if that person is Metis or Inuit, that person is also considered a regular taxpayer, so that person is filing and paying Federal and provincial taxes.
So when a non-Native alleges that non-Natives pay the way for all First Nations, Metis, and Inuit persons by paying taxes, they are gravely mistaken in that assertion. First Nations, Metis, and Inuit work and pay taxes.
Just to be clear, Natives also pay HST, PST, and GST where applicable, just like non-Natives.
SUGGESTED READING
Idle No More: Show Me The Money
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/idle-no-more-show-me-the-money/
Idle No More: Myths v Facts
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/idle-no-more-myths-v-facts/
Idle No More: On Again, Off Again
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/idle-no-more-on-again-off-again/
Idle No More: Playing By The Same Assistance Rules
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/idle-no-more-playing-by-the-same-assistance-rules/
Idle No More: Who’s On The Hook For FN Programs
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/idle-no-more-whos-on-the-hook-for-fn-programs/
I’m a single mother and I have to support your asses. I don’t get anything near $10,000 a year …
Cindy claims she isn’t getting anything near $10,000 a year. However, she also isn’t in receipt of welfare otherwise as a single parent of at least one child, she would be getting more than $10,000 a year as the figures from Statistics Canada prove.
In 2012 single employable welfare recipients in Newfoundland and Labrador received a base minimum amount of nearly $11,000 CDN per year, and slightly more than $20,000 per a single parent with one child.
In 2012 single employable welfare recipients in Prince Edward Island received a base minimum amount of nearly $10,000 CDN per year and just a few dollars shy of $18,000 CDN per year for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in Nova Scotia received a base minimum amount of close to $8,000 CDN per year and $16,000 CDN per year for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in New Brunswick received a base minimum amount of nearly $7,000 CDN per year and slightly more than $16,000 CDN per year for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in Quebec received a base minimum amount of just over $8,000 CDN per year and four dollars short of $19,000 CDN per year for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in Ontario received a base minimum amount of just over $8,000 CDN per year and just over $18,000 CDN per year for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in Manitoba received a base minimum amount of $7,000 CDN per year and $15,000 CDN per year for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in Saskatchewan received a base minimum amount of a hundred dollars shy of $9,000 CDN and under $18,500 CDN for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in Alberta received a base minimum amount of just over $7,500 CDN and almost $16,500 for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in British Columbia received a base minimum amount of almost $8,000 CDN per year and $17,500 CDN for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in the Yukon received a base minimum amount of just over $16,000 CDN and slightly more than $26,000 CDN for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in the Northwest Territories received a base minimum amount of just almost $17,500 CDN and over $26,500 for a single parent with one child.
In 2012, single employable welfare recipients in Nunavut received a base minimum amount of $10,000 CDN and $15,000 CDN for a single parent with one child.
According to Statistics Canada, in 2013 the poverty level for one person was set at just dollars below $13,000 CDN in rural areas and slightly under $20,000 CDN in metropolitan centers per year. A single parent with one child would have to be living on just under $16,000 CDN in rural areas and slightly more than $24,000 CDN in metropolitan centers per year.
Since Cindy claims she isn’t getting even $10,000 per year (below the poverty level for a single parent with one child), she should strongly consider applying for welfare in the province in which she and her child/ren live.
Additionally, since Cindy claims she isn’t getting even $10,000 per year, she isn’t paying income tax since she doesn’t have sufficient income. Of course, that information is from government sources as well as tax preparers such as H&R Block and tax programs such as TurboTax. That’s right, all Canadians need to earn enough money to pay taxes, otherwise they pay no taxes. When you live under the poverty level, you don’t pay taxes.
In fact, if she does her taxes, chances are between tax credits and personal exemption amounts (as well as equivalent-to-spouse exemption amounts), she’s getting a tax refund.
What this means is that Cindy isn’t supporting anyone else, never mind the “asses” of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples.
No one is stopping you from getting educated, getting a job, and being part of society just like anyone else.
Cindy seems to be implying that First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples are uneducated, unemployed, and set apart from non-Indigenous society, and that First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples have always been uneducated, unemployed, and set apart from non-Indigenous society. The reality of the situation is that education doesn’t always come out of another culture’s textbooks, unemployment is something that can happen to anyone, and when a group oppresses another group, the oppressor is responsible for setting people apart.
The myth of the lazy Indian has been around for generations but it’s far from the truth.
SUGGESTED READING
Idle No More: The Myth Of The Lazy Indian (Part 1)
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/idle-no-more-the-myth-of-the-lazy-indian-part-1/
Idle No More: The Myth Of The Lazy Indian (Part 2)
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/idle-no-more-the-myth-of-the-lazy-indian-part-2/
Idle No More: On Again, Off Again
https://elysebruce.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/idle-no-more-on-again-off-again/
Final Note
So you see, Cindy – and all the Cindy’s of the world – your views are based on misinformation, disinformation, myths, and stereotypes. Perhaps if you educated yourself on the facts and realities of Indigenous peoples, you wouldn’t have the negative attitude your comment to this blog so clearly demonstrates.
Elyse Bruce
Elyse Bruce 