I love my country. And I have NEVER disassociated myself from it, despite all its blemishes: the treatment of early Chinese workers; the internment of our Japanese citizens; the turning away of desperate Jewish refugees; the denial for far too long of equal rights for women and homosexuals; and the failure as yet to achieve full reconciliation with so many of our aboriginal population.
But even though we took too long to achieve justice in many of the areas above and still toil frustratingly in others, almost no one in those groups above would deny their citizenship or country.
Almost none of them.
But this Canada Day, I can’t help but reflect on an interview aired last Sunday on the U.S. television show 60 Minutes. It was a revealing look at the shady world of Internet gambling, complete with corrupted gaming schemes and millions of dollars in questionable gambling activities.
And one of the locales zeroed in on by 60 Minutes as a source for on-line gambling sites was the Kahnawake (formerly the Caughnawaga) Reserve just outside Montreal.
It is not my purpose here to debate the validity or legality of any of the gaming activities conducted on or via that reserve or any other locale: but I was quite miffed at a statement by Chief Michael Delisle when the American reporter wondered whether Internet gambling activities were legal in Canada?
“We’re not Canadian,” Delisle responded, explaining that his reserve members are aboriginals, not Canadians.
What a crock of crud!
So the people of Kahnawake are NOT Canadians? Then why do Canadian taxpayers pour millions of dollars EACH YEAR into services on the reserve? Why do Canadian governments shell out millions more to educate Kahnawake children? Why do Kahnawake residents rush to Canadian hospitals for free health care, including the most sophisticated medical assistance this country has to offer. Etc. Etc.
What a pile of crud!
But the worst part for me, this Canada Day, is that it brings back memories of similar sentiments expressed by someone viewed by many as a Great Canadian: Bill Reid.
And I have it on tape!
It was in 1989 when the Museum of Man in Paris featured a six month display dedicated to aboriginal history and life in North America. And to kick off the fantastic exhibition, the Museum sponsored a two week long-canoe journey by BC Haida G’Waii natives down the Seine River from Rouen to Paris.
I accompanied that expedition, along with a BCTV cameraman … one of the best assignments of my career. The Haida paddled only a few miles each day, stopping each night in a town along the way, where they were celebrated guests, wined and dined by the local population, literally dancing for their supper in return.
It was a great experience … and great aboriginal Canadian artist Bill Reid was along for the ride. Reid had supervised the carving of the great 15-metre-long canoe… the Lootas … three yeasrs earlier, for Expo 86.
As my stories at the time reported, accompanying the native canoe and crew along their river journey was a large river barge, supplied by the Museum, complete with changing rooms, an office area, rest rooms. supplies and areas for accompanying staff/officials.media. etc.
But there was a problem as the convoy left Rouen: as a gesture of welcome, friendship and respect, the French had raised a Canadian flag atop the barge.
Bill Reid ordered it removed.
And when I questionned him about this, on camera, Reid explained he and the others were not Canadian, but Haida, first nations.
Not Canadian, I wondered?
“Well, have you ever accepted grants from the Canada Council?”, I asked. Or other Canadian government grants for Canadian artists, I queried.
“What’s that got to do with it,” Reid answered. My further questions went nowhere. He was quite angry with my impertinence.
But I felt good.
I don’t like people like Reid and Delisle who I see as little more than Canadians of conveniece: seems to me they deny their country, until they want something from it … usually help, money, commissions or glory.
There are many Canadians of convenience.
Remember the thousands of “Canadians” in Lebanon who pleaded their citizenship to get the federal government to spend $90 million on ship charters to get them out of that country when war engulfed it.
Many, many of them hadn’t been in Canada for decades, and returned to their real homes in Lebanon as soon as things calmed down. But they never denigrated their Canadian citizenship: they celebrate it, even if mostly for selfish reasons.
And how many residents of Hong Kong and China (or other countries) hold Canadian passports as more a matter of convenience, in case things turn sour over there. But even they too do not deny or denigrate their Canadian citizenship.
Those who do DENY it, REJECT it and INSULT it are entitled to do so… legally.
But maybe this Canada Day, if they really believe they are NOT Canadian, these ingrates should also start doing the honorable thing … stand on their own feet and turn down the millions upon millions of dollars for education, health funding, housing, social services etc etc … Canada provides them so generously.
But of course, as Canadians, they won’t.
Vive le Canada!
Harv Oberfeld
13 responses so far ↓
1 DMJ // Jun 30, 2009 at 5:02 am
Shall we rid ourselves of that vast bureaucratic black hole of Indian Affairs? I would wager the collective scream from those “who are not Canadian, but first nation” could be heard across the Atlantic Ocean.
2 AJ // Jun 30, 2009 at 5:41 am
No Kidding! Great post HO.
3 Postnational? // Jun 30, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Maybe it’s a good thing to not identify as Canadian? How many now in the grand experiment that is the EU now think of themselves as Europeans first and Germans or Poles second? Certainly the USA could do with much less nationalism, especially in that uniquely bloodthirsty American form.
4 Gary E // Jun 30, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I have to ask Harvey. Was that interview with Bill Reid broadcast? I don’t ever remember seeing it. If it wasn’t can you give us the reasons why?
(Response: Sure was. It was part of the five-piece series I did on BCTV after travelling with the Haida in France for two weeks. h.o.)
5 Patrick Bell (Not the MLA) // Jun 30, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Great post Harv! I am totally on you side with this one. I have the maple leaf on my right shoulder…
6 Fred // Jun 30, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Gee, if they are not Canadian, then stop the gravy train of free houses, free education, free health care, free everything.
Cut their liplock on the public teat.
7 Norman Farrell // Jun 30, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Nationalism passes too easily into chauvinism so I prefer the Canadian tendency to be proud but not fanatic. Chauvinism is at the root of too much violence and tragedy throughout history.
That said, I wonder why we trade our citizenship so readily. If we really valued it, we would protect it from exploitation. Many have come here, qualified by cash in hand, established “roots” and returned to the homeland, willing to use whatever citizenship is most convenient. The idea of dual citizenship is illogical.
Same for Aboriginals. Although badly treated throughout earlier times, they should be careful about drawing from the common well while preventing their own stream from contributing to it. If the present system worked, it might be worth preserving but tragedy and poverty prove it does not. Any structure that works against self sufficiency will prolong the pain.
8 Brian Lord // Jul 1, 2009 at 7:18 am
Although one cannot deny the pleasure Reid has given us through his art, you are correct Harv, in your over-all assessment. I am a Canadian who lives in SE Asia and never refer to Canada as anything but home and in speaking with fellow Canadians always use the term “we”. For those who denounce Canada, for whatever reason, they should understand how life is played out in a foreign country. Having lived in four foreign countries, including the USA, I would not trade any of them for my Canadian Citizenship.
9 Leah // Jul 1, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Harvey, you’ve said exactly how I’ve felt for many a year…just far better than I could have said it myself.
If you’re not going to admit to a Canadian citizenship when recognized by the government as being one – then keep your hands in your pockets come goodies time.
10 Treble Citizen // Jul 2, 2009 at 3:08 am
Dual citizenship illogical? Huh. I’d have thought the idea of ‘loving’ a country more illogical. Why do people feel the need to treat a rag atop a flagpole as a holy icon?
11 Laurel // Jul 3, 2009 at 1:46 am
Well said Harvey!! I’ve been saying for years that if our ‘first nations’ people want self government – then give it to them….but remind them they are also no longer on the bus with a free ride ticket. The worst thing our forefathers ever did was put people on reservations. The ‘first nations’ people should have been integrated into the ‘white mans’ society right from the start and been paying their way like the rest of us, rather than being paid for.
12 Mike // Jul 3, 2009 at 1:53 am
Proud Canadians should know at least that this country is seen by others like Israel as a model of how to dispossess, subjugate and segregate a conquered people. If the natives lack of gratitude for handouts taken offends you consider what they have lost and are still losing. And while you are at it, consider that Canada is in the process of being owned and governed by the US. Will you be celebrating the 4th of July? or rightously refusing their handouts.
(Response: Sadly no one has given me handouts. I had to pay whopping taxes for all the 38 years I worked, and still do even after retiring, and no one ever awarded me any kind of grant, gave me a house, paid my plumbing bills, provided me free presecriptions or health care without paying premiums. Of course, though, what makes me feel best is that I didn’t need any of that …and was able to not only pay my way, but also contribute to help those who can’t. I just don’t like when those, on the take, denounce our country, instead of thanking it. h.o.)
13 ElenaLisvato // Aug 4, 2009 at 6:38 pm
my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght at the end there, not leave it with ‘we leave it to you to decide’.
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