Manitoba's First Nations buy museum kiosk space

So the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) has decided to "donate" $1-million to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR). Because, according to Grand Chief Ron Evans, it "is a great opportunity for us as First Nations to educate the citizens of the world, not only on the historical injustices that we continue to endure, but also the resilience of our people, the teachings we can offer related to peace and justice, and the great progress we have achieved in protecting and advancing our rights.''

Yeah, okay.... but the donation is, nevertheless, a mistake.

Look, First Nations leaders repeatedly and rightly are critical of Ottawa's "irresponsible" appraoch to their needs. Further, they are constantly calling on Ottawa stop perpetually underfunding First Nations bands who wish to protect their communities from such things as flooding. As such, the AMC should put its money where its mouth is and spend this $1-million elsewhere? Hmm, ... like perhaps on Manitoba's Peguis reserve that just suffered "$1 million in damages to several hundred homes"? No?

Well, if this is the current reality on First Nations Reserves:

• On the Human Development Index, First Nations on-reserve would rank 62^nd, some experiencing Third World conditions, while Canada as a whole consistently ranks near the top.
• Almost half (47%) of First Nations people on reserve live in poverty, with an income of less than $10,000; three out of five Aboriginal children under six years of age live in poverty.
• Unemployment and poverty rates are three times those in the non-Aboriginal community.
• Suicide is now among the leading causes of death among First Nations children and youth.
• The suicide rate is 40 per 100,000 among First Nations as compared to the national average of 13 per 100,000.
• The First Nations population is increasing by 2.3% annually.
• Aboriginal children die at three times the rate of non-Aboriginal children.
• First Nations birth rate is two times the comparable rate for Canada.
• Canadians have one of the world's highest life expectancies but Aboriginal people can expect to live a decade less on average.

THEN how the fuck can the AMC possibly rationalize using money raised from its gambling enterprises to buy a kiosk at the CHRM? Talk about "irresponsibility" - the donation reflects badly on all concerned.

The AMC's misplaced priorities in this matter speak volumes about the sad disconnect between what passes for First Nations political leadership in this province and the ongoing plight of those who have a right, a human right, to expect more from their elders. The AMC's Grand Chief Ron Evans should give his head a shake and reconsider the donation. He should do the right thing and immediately redirect the funds in question to where they are needed most - on Manitoba's First Nations reserves.

Let the insular social elite running this museum find funding for their vanity project elsewhere. Christ what's next? A picture of Gail Asper accepting donations from starving Sudanese school children and/or underage Thai hookers? Bloody absurd.