Temagami News Reports Tilted

brennain@web.apc.org
Sun, 10 Apr 1994 13:44:00 PDT


The newspaper articles about Temagami that have been uploaded as
item 201 to 206 offer good examples of how difficult it has been
for people outside the native community of n'Daki Menan (Temagami
area) to follow events within the community, and Ontario's position
with respect to the negotiations, in an informed manner, if we are
to rely on the media to provide us with that information. The
articles use loaded language, are packed with assumptions, and
speak volumes by ommision, in addition to containing a number of
factual errors.

As a non-native person living in the area, I have found it
difficult to follow events, and have gained only a limited
understanding of developments and dynamics amongst all of the
players. But the understanding that I _do_ have is quite different
from what the media reports would provide, and has been gleaned
from conversations, correspondence, a long-term interest in the
area, and a very basic level understanding of aboriginal and treaty
rights. I can't do a thorough critique of the articles that were
posted, but would like to raise at least a couple of points or
offer a few clarifications for each.

I've loaded responses to some of the comments contained in the
articles, but have done far from a complete job, given both the
limits to my time and to my understanding. It would take a lot to
do a very thorough critique, which is what needs to be done.