This'll be a real mess

So, the brilliant Carolyn Bennett, minister of "something Indian", has put her empty head together with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and come up with a deal to transfer power to the latter, thus disenfranchising elected leaders and every band member who voted for them.

What a stupid idea.  Of course, Bennett, who has gone native herself and now sports beads and fringes and other Indian accoutrements, has obviously forgotten the basic principles of democracy -- the same principles by which she was elected, instead of someone who lived down the street in her riding, but whose relatives had put down stakes in the neighbourhood before Bennett's.

The memorandum of understanding covering this mess contains a requirement for a six-month "reunification strategy" in a lame attempt to unite band members behind the hereditary leadership.  It will never work.  Never.  And why should it?  How can a bunch of members come out of the woodwork and confront elected leaders in a show of power?  And how can the government side with the un-elected chiefs?  Furthermore, isn't it odd that when band leadership wants to confront one another, one side suddenly sidles up to a government they have always opposed?

This is all about the old chiefs opposition to the Costal GasLink pipeline.  Remember the rail blockades across the country that cost us billions?  Yeah, the same bunch.  "Reunification will be tough," said elected chief Maureen Luggi.  How about impossible.  "The MOU consultation process has lacked any semblance of credibility," the elected chiefs said.  "The federal government, the provincial government and the hereditary chiefs have completely ignored many clan members and elected chiefs.  These discussions have not included openness and respect for all parties."

Even Bob Rae has a problem with transferring power willy-nilly to the hereditary chiefs.  "What concerns me is there are many others who will look to this MOU and use it as precedent.  Why are they negotiating this agreement and not band councils?"  For once, the ever-accomodating leftie Rae has it right.

The hereditary chiefs say they "are aware of concerns raised by the elected chiefs and will be reaching out to them to discuss them."  I'd say they'll be facing more than concerns.  This is not over by a long shot and Canada's energy sector will bear the brunt of the mess.  Here the victorious strut: