His grandparents are from Reykjavic.. buh-bye..
One has to sympathize with the citizens of the Samson Cree reserve at Hobbema, Alberta, where innocent children have been shot and killed through the walls of their homes as a result of ongoing gang violence.
But the recent vote by the Hobbema Band to approve a policy to "banish" trouble-makers from their reserve is more than a little troubling.
Because it begs the question, "Where will they be banished to?"
One imagines that the new murder capital of Canada, Edmonton, Alberta, will be a favorite for the banishees. So then - the solution appears to be to send potential murderers and drug dealers to other communities to deal with.
Nice.
And the suggestion that those who might harbor the banishees might themselves be banished is also a little troubling.
Imagine the stress on an Indian family who is faced with a child who wishes to come visit his or her parents after being banished. Do you turn your back on your child, or do you comply with the direction of the Band.
Consider, as well, the reality that for many First Nations people, issues of nepotism and corruption have been a significant problem as well.. so one might, reasonably, question whether decisions regarding banishment for those who “present a danger to the health or safety of the community" could possibly be used to further the inappropriate interests of Band Counsel members, their friends and family. Need access to a new home for your adult child - well, just banish someone from their home.. problem solved.
And it's also an interesting question, which might be more broadly considered, as to whether or not ANY community in Canada might have the right to banish trouble-makers to their own "sovereign nation" of origin - whether that Nation is Somalia, Iran, Germany, France... or to the Samson Cree Nation.
1 comments:
Reality is that Hobema residents have been voting with their feet for some time: their people are moving off-reserve and the surrounding towns and cities are having to take up the slack.
Better the offenders are forced off-site so there is peace on the reserves. At the very least, the policing off-reserve is more effective in catching offenders.
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