"Forked tongue"

That's what natives used to accuse the white man of, but things have definitely changed.  Perry Bellegarde, the latest grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations to take up the fight with Ottawa and the provinces, is warning of dire consequences if natives are not consulted more about the many energy projects currently on hold thanks to...well...native intransigence.

But wait a minute, wasn't poor old Shawn Atleo dumped because he wanted to consult with the government over educational reform?  Yeah, come to think of it, he was.  It's actually sad to see natives eat their own time and time again.  Nothing is more pressing than educational reform for native communities and that's what the federal government and Mr. Atleo were trying to do.  And just as pressing for all of Canada is to get our resources to world markets -- even though they have to pass over disputed (for hundreds of years, by the way) land to get there.  But native leaders just dig in on both files at every turn.  Why?  Because.  That's why.   

The latest boiled-over brouhaha is because the RCMP has released data which show that about 80% of murdered native women are done in by men in their own communities and family circles.  Why is this fact so "outrageous" to native leaders?  It's the same in any other race or culture.  Did the leaders think it was predominantly "white" men who were killing their women?  Yes, they probably did, but no, it's usually an intimate of the victim who pulls the trigger, wields the knife, or pummels with fists. 

"We demand an independent investigator to collect all information and data of missing and murdered indigenous women held by Statistics Canada and the RCMP," railed Bernice Martial, grand chief of treaty six.  She disputes the official figures.  Really?!  As a boss of mine used to say, "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind's made up."  

"We've studied this enough," said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt.  "Now is the time for action.  It's up to native leaders on reserves to get a handle on the problem." 

Amen. 

Wanna bet that's not going to happen?  Another file where "the government" will be to blame.