I came across the following at the new website of a Canadian publication
called New Socialist -- http://www.web.ca/~newsoc
THE NEW NATIVE MILITANCY
This past summer saw militants in Ontario and British Columbia square off
against government and police over Native land claims. What are the roots of
this new militancy and what is its potential for bringing about real social
change for Canada's Native peoples?
by Deborah Simmons
The summer of 1995 was "the summer of their discontent," according to the
Globe and Mail. Aboriginal militants in British Columbia and Ontario kept
the struggle for land rights in front page news, in defiance of the Canadian
legal system and at times in defiance of their own official leaders.
In southern Ontario, the occupation of Ipperwash Provincial Park culminated
in the fatal police shooting of Anthony (Dudley) George. Over a thousand
aboriginal mourners, some from as far away as Saskatchewan and the United
States, attended the burial of the Chippewa militant. Following the shooting
death, Minister of Indian Affairs Ron Irwin magically produced a letter
written in 1937 which legitimized the claim of the protesters.
In British Columbia, a 30-day armed standoff at Gustafsen Lake followed
upon a wave of aboriginal blockades across the province. "Blockades work,"
Shuswap band leader Kenneth Dennis said from a blockade at Adams Lake in
June. "More and more First Nations are planning to use our strategy."
By the end of the summer, polls ranked aboriginal land claims as the number
one political issue in the province. The NDP government used the conflict
at Gustafsen Lake to restore its flagging popularity by taking a tough stand
against protesters in an abrupt about-face on its professed support for
aboriginal land rights.
FAILED NEGOTIATIONS
None of the conditions of dispossession and oppression which have sparked
protest over the past eight months are out of the ordinary. What is
remarkable is the ineffective role played by Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
Chief Ovide Mercredi in each case. From the Mohawk rebellion at Oka in 1990
to British Columbia in 1995, Mercredi has consistently opposed the militant
strategy in favour of constitutional change and peaceful negotiations. But
the long years of failure on both counts have taken a serious toll on his
legitimacy. This was already evident following the Oka rebellion, when
Canada's secret service agency (CSIS) reported a dramatic growth of militant
aboriginal organizations across Canada. In an interview this September, Tony
Hall, professor of Native Studies at the University of Lethbridge, explained
that aboriginal militants "don't see the AFN as a legitimate Indian voice.
It is the creation of a foreign instrument of oppression [the government of
Canada]."
The rise of an independent and militant aboriginal movement in Canada is to
be supported and celebrated. Militancy does force the government to make
concessions which could not be achieved through negotiations alone. It is no
coincidence that Minister of Indian Affairs Ron Irwin recently made a public
promise of immediate action to fulfil promises made as part of the federal
Liberal election platform. (The promise was made on the occasion of a Sacred
Assembly organized by Manitoba Liberal MP Elijah Harper - so it had the
appearance of being disconnected from the events of last summer).
The erosion of special aboriginal rights is a key element in the federal and
provincial government restructuring agenda. In order to compete on the world
market, Canada must reduce funding for aboriginal peoples, and erode their
collective land rights.
Such a project in Mexico gave rise to the Zapatista rebellion, which
inspired massive solidarity from the Mexican labour movement.
RACISM
Unfortunately, the weakness of the Canadian labour movement and the sellouts
of the NDP have left the door open for aboriginal peoples to become the
focus of racist scapegoating. Insofar as labour and aboriginal peoples have
successfully been pitted against each other, the cutback agenda which
affects us all has gained in strength and momentum. Such divisions lead to
the isolation of aboriginal fightbacks, and limits their effectiveness.
Without the active support and solidarity of the labour movement, the sparks
of aboriginal militancy have often ended in demoralization. Each defeat in
the aboriginal struggle for self-determination represents a major setback
for the movement against the cuts.
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Comments from NativeNet listowner, Gary Trujillo (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us):
I'd like to mention that I heard a very interesting story on the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation's "World at Six" nightly news program a couple of
weeks ago about how Ovide Mercredi had been visiting Indian to learn about
the non-violent philosopy of the late Mahatma Gandhi, who used passive
resistance so successfully in driving the British out of his country and
paving the way for a return to self-rule. I did manage to tape the story,
and hope that I will find time to give more details about the subject in
the future.
For now, however, I'd like to mention an urgent situation that I learned
about a month ago. I have been meaning to alert you all too in hopes that
you would take a moment of your time to help. The essence of the situation
is that the government of Canada has announced plans to shut down the short-
wave transmitters and satellite services of Radio Canada International (RCI)
for good at the end of March, 1996 as part of a package of cost-cutting
measures (the budget of the CBC has been trimmed substantially as well, as
has that of the BBC in the U.K. and NPR/PBS in the United States - non-
commercial broadcasting all over the world seems to be in jeopardy just now).
I would like to ask for your help in protesting this decision to the Prime
Minister (see details below).
Radio Canada International is one of the most valuable sources of news and
information about what's going on in Canada and the world news from a
Canadian perspective - for fifty years. I have found RCI to be an
invaluable resource for information about the First Nations peoples of
Canada (even if there may be something of a bias to their reporting on
occasion). Every night that I am able, I tune in to the CBC "World at Six"
news program, and often stay tuned for the 90-minute "As It Happens" news
and feature program from 6:30 until 8:00 (eastern Canada/U.S. time zone).
The RCI shortwave service is an important resource for me as a one-time
resident of Canada and as someone who still holds the land and the people of
that country very dear.
Well, my own time right now is dear, since I'm going away for a few weeks,
so let me simply pass on some information about how you can learn more about
RCI about the protest that has been organized to attempt to preserve it.
The best source of information about RCI is the Web page maintained as part
of the CBC informational resources. That page can be located at:
http://www.radio.cbc.ca/radio/rci/rci.html
>From that page, you can locate program schedules for RCI broadcasts in
various languages to various parts of the world. The bulletin on the
planned RCI shutdown and efforts to save it can be found at:
http://www.radio.cbc.ca/radio/rci/closure.html
Here is the text of that bulletin, and that of an e-mail message I got when
I sent a message to the "rci@cam.org" address mentioned in the bulletin:
COALITION TO RESTORE FULL RCI FUNDING
c/o SCFP Local 675, 1250 de la Visitation,
Montreal, Quebec H2L 3B4
TEL: (514) 844-2262 FAX: (514) 521-3082
E-Mail: rci@cam.org
1995 - 50th ANNIVERSARY YEAR
SHUTDOWN OF CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL RADIO SERVICE
On the 31st of March 1996, Canada's voice abroad, Radio Canada
International, will be silenced. If no new financing is found before
then, Canada will become the only industrialized country not to have
an international radio service to project its culture and interests
abroad. Currently, 126 countries have an international radio service,
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the federal government say
they are no longer interested in financing Radio Canada International
even though it costs each Canadian less than 0.75$CAN a year.
(1 US dollar = 1.37 Canadian dollar)
Radio Canada International is the only service which assures continuous,
up-to-date Canadian Information both to Canadians abroad and to several
million other listeners who have an interest in Canada.
If you feel it is unacceptable to close down RCI, contact your federal or
provincial Member of Parliament or contact Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
Let them know why it is important for Canada to keep RCI on the air. Only
you and your support can help us prevent the 50th anniversary from being
our last one. Please write or fax to:
The Right Hon. Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
Ottawa, ON CANADA
K1A 0A6
FAX: (1)-613-957-5556
or send an E-Mail at the following address:
remote-printer.Jean_Chretien@0.0.9.6.1.4.9.3.1.6.1.tpc.int
RCI Coalition would appreciate receiving a copy of your communique at
rci@cam.org
Regards,
The coalition to restore full RCI funding:
Daniel Black : Bureau : (514) 597-7577 Res. : (514) 495-9030
Wojtek Gwiazda : Bureau : (514) 597-7350 Res. : (514) 844-2262
E-mail: rci@cam.org
=================================================================
MORE INFO:
RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL
- is the voice of Canada to the world through radio - on
shortwave, by satellite, Internet, and "placement" or rebroadcast on
domestic stations in target countries.
- has nine transmitters in Sackville, N.B., and relay exchanges
with England, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Korea, Japan, and China.
- provides a 24-hour satellite service in English and French to
East and West Europe on Eutelsat II - F6.
- operates the Canadian Forces Network with programs in English
and French on shortwave plus a 24-hour satellite service to Canadian
contingents in Bosnia, Croatia, Golan Heights, Rwanda, Haiti, and
Canadian staff at NATO headquarters in Casteau, Belgium and Brunssum,
Netherlands.
- the Forces Network broadcast includes daily personal messages
from loved ones in Canada (via a l-800 number) and hockey and baseball
games broadcast "live" from major cities in Canada.
- provides the only daily link with Canadians travelling or
working overseas.
- produces programs on Canadian technological and business
achievements in English - "Innovations" - and in French "Eureka."
- is one of Canada's "more effective mechanisms to tell the
world" that we have "competitive products, services, and technology
to offer" according to the Canadian Exporters' Association.
- "creates and enhances awareness of Canada" thus generating
"demand for Canadian goods and services" - Business Council on National
Issues.
- broadcasts on shortwave more than 240 hours a week in English,
French, Ukrainian, Russian, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, and Creole.
- broadcasts "live" each evening by satellite on the national
network of Ukraine and that country's cable system which is connected to
12-million homes.
- has negotiated "live" by satellite broadcasts of Russian
service programs in Russia to St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don,
Petrozavodsk,and Stavropol; in Moldova on the national network, in
Ukraine in Russian-speaking cities of Sevastopol and Simferopol - to
start in early l996.
- is negotiating satellite (Intelsat 702) coverage of Africa with
commitments for carriage of French language programming in several cities
with planned start in early l996.
- is negotiating satellite (AsiaSat 2 launched Nov.28) coverage
of Asia - including China, Japan, Hong Kong, India, etc. To start in
spring of l996.
- broadcasts English lessons on local stations in China in 16
cities (all lessons based on Canadian themes).
- broadcasts a program on Canadian and Chinese business in
Cantonese on local network in Guangzhou which covers Pearl River Delta,
Hong Kong, and Macau.
- has recently signed an agreement with the national network -
China National Radio - for broadcast on its network of 26 programs
starting in l996 on Canadian themes - medicare, arts, business,
technology etc.
- has produced with CIDA English and French lessons now being
broadcast on the national networks of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
- produces English lessons in Spanish which are broadcast on 30
local stations in Latin America.
- produces English lessons on Canadian themes which are broadcast
on 25 local stations in Russia, and on the national networks of
Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Mongolia, Kyrghzstan, Ukraine, and in Namibia in Southern Africa.
- has produced a popular 'self-help" program in Russian on
democracy, entrepreneurship and the environment which is broadcast on a
national network in Russia, plus Moldova, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia,
on radio stations in Russian-speaking areas of Ukraine.
- distributes Canadian pop music, English and French, to 300 local
stations around the world each month.
- has negotiated broadcast of special classical music programs
recorded by Canadian artists and orchestras on networks in Russia,
Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, four cities in China, Santiago, Chile, Buenos
Aires, Argentina, Montevideo, Uruguay, and San Jose, Costa Rica.
- has an estimated shortwave audience of five-million plus an estimated
10-million or more listening to RCI programs on local stations or via
satellite.
=============================================================
COMPARISONS (Canadian $)
COUNTRY BUDGET 95-96 STAFF LANGUAGES
Radio Canada Int. $ 16.5 million 120 8
Radio France Int. $ 179.7 million 578 16
Radio Nederland $ 68.8 million 267 4
Radio Australia $ 27.8 million 163 9
Swiss Radio Int. $ 49.5 million 134 8
Deutsche Welle $ 373.2 million 2,000 39
(Germany)
BBC World Service
(Radio only) $ 286.1 million 2,100 42
Voice of America $ 359.3 million 1,800 47
(These figures from a 1995 study by Radio Australia)
RCI 1995-96 funded 50% by Foreign Affairs' Minister Ouellet.
Note: Broadcast industry estimates there are more than 600
million shortwave receivers in operation worldwide.
There are 126 international radio broadcasting organizations, of
which governments fund 101, religious organizations the other 25.
======================================================
PRESS RELEASE CBC/SRC:
December 13, 1995
The following news release is being issued to the media yesterday:
OTTAWA -- In accordance with the Canada Labour Code, CBC today
gave notice to the employees of Radio Canada International
that the Corporation will terminate RCI services effective
March 31, 1996.
"Given our limited resources," said CBC President and CEO,
Perrin Beatty, " we have no choice but to concentrate on our
domestic services."
CBC's international service was formally launched on February
25, 1945. Its mandate is to reflect Canadian life and the
spectrum of Canadian opinion to an international audience,
including programming for Canadians abroad.
RCI currently broadcasts a minimum of 232 hours a week in
eight languages (English, French, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic,
Spanish, Chinese and Creole) to North and South America, the
Caribbean, Africa, Europe, Asia, Russia and the other
successor states to the USSR.
RCI also provides 24-hour daily satellite radio service for
Canadian Forces in Bosnia, the Golan Heights, Rwanda and
Haiti, and NATO bases in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
RCI's studios and main office are situated in Montreal, with
bureaus in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Edmonton and
Quebec City, transmitters in Sackville and a monitoring
station in West Carleton (Ottawa). Its staff includes
125 permanent employees.
From 1991 to 1995, RCI operated as a distinct component of CBC
funded by annual grants from the government of Canada. This
practice changed with the February 1995 federal budget which
directed CBC to assume costs for RCI starting in 1995-96.
Communications and Public Affairs
Head Office
=====================================================
RECENT PARLIAMENTARY NOTES ON RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL
1. "....The Committee concludes that RCI is run effectively
within its budgetary constraint and represents money well spent,
but is underfunded."
(Pg.20 English text, Report of Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications, June 1994).
2. " The Committee recognizes the importance of programs such as
Radio Canada International...Every effort should be made to exploit
more fully the potential of RCI in particular to project Canada abroad."
(pg.71 English text, "Canada's Foreign Policy: Report of the
Special Joint Committee Reviewing Canadian Foreign Policy November 1994).
3. "The government takes note of this recommendation that every
effort be made to exploit the potential of Radio Canada
International...."
"Indeed, by portraying Canada and Canadian values abroad, RCI can
play an important role in promoting international peace and
understanding. Dialogue and compromise; promoting democracy, human
rights, economic and social justice; caring for the environment;
safeguarding peace; and respect for diversity are values which RCI is
eminently well-placed to project abroad."
"Moreover, RCI and other free media, have an important role to
play in ensuring truth, transparency, and justice through the interplay
of free and diverse sources of information."
(Pg.91 English text, Government Response to the Recommendations
of the Special Joint Parliamentary Committee Reviewing Canadian Foreign
Policy, Feb.7, l995).
The Broadcasting Act proclaimed June 4, l99l, in the section
covering the activities of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation says
under "International Service" Article 46 (2)
"The Corporation shall...provide an international service in
accordance with such directions as the Governor in Council may issue."
=================================================================
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 16:12:08 -0500
Message-Id: <199512202112.QAA17089@Nimbus.CAM.ORG>
To: gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us (Gary S. Trujillo)
From: rci@cam.org (RCI Coalition)
Subject: Re: RCI shutdown
> Hello.
>
> I heard a couple of nights ago on "The World at Six," which I listen to as
> often as possible on RCI, about the shutdown planned for the end of March.
> I just wanted to know that I have downloaded your ".../rci/closure.html"
> information file and plan to write a letter to "the powers that be" when I
> have time to let them know how much RCI means to me. I lived in Canada for
> three years during the mid-70s and still have a great deal of affection for
> the country. Listening to RCI keeps me in touch with the spirit of the
> place, as well as providing up-to-date information. I hope this great
> tragedy can be averted.
>
> Best wishes...
> --
> Gary S. Trujillo gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us
> Somerville, Massachusetts {wjh12,bu.edu,spdcc,cdp}!gnosys!gst
===========================================
Thanks for your support Gary !
Be sure that the email address you have to contact canadian Prime Minister
is ok. It is:
remote-printer.Jean_Chretien@0.0.9.6.1.4.9.3.1.6.1.tpc.int
As we say: 50 years ... it's too young to die !
Merry Christmas.
RCI Coalition :)