REZ RULES - A Book Report

Near the Alberta-BC Border (photo by V.A. McMillan)

 

Title: Rez Rules – A Book Report

 

Rez Rules – My Indictment of Canada’s and America’s Systemic Racism Against Indigenous Peoples (2021) by Chief Clarence Louie, Osoyoos Indian Band.

B.L.U.F. – Should you read this book? YES. Why? That will take a bit more time to explain…

Rez Rules by Chief Clarence Louie (photo by V.A. McMillan)

Did I like the book? Yes and no. This also will take a bit more time to explain…

Disclosure, I am not an Indian, as Chief Louie refers to himself and other First Nations Peoples. I will likely use First Nations or similar while explaining my thoughts from reading the Chief’s book. No reference will be made to insult anyone. If you do not like the terms I use and you have not read Chief Louie’s book, mind your tongue as you have not earned a place in this discussion.

I am nine-years younger than the Chief and remember a different time in Canada than the one currently being experienced here in Canuckistan. I was aware that Indian Residential Schools existed, that they came into being in a collaboration between government and the churches. I was told in school that the purpose of those schools was to help get the “savage” out of the Indian to help them better integrate into Canadian society. That was way back in elementary school, and I do not recall any deep or insight discussion on the right or wrong. It was information presented as facts. I was also aware that Native children forced to attend these schools did not always have a positive experience, I was not aware until years later how bad the negative experiences were for some. I also recall hearing that when Canada experienced epidemics for diseases that the Residential Schools were not spared and students there died of disease just like every other community across the country, save one…Natives rarely had the financial resources to have the bodies of their children shipped home. The government refused to send the bodies back, and the churches did their best at the time to give the children a final resting place. Chief Louie visits this topic a number of times through his book, and it is a topic that needs to be discussed in an open, honest conversation.

Chief Louie also addresses the issue of professional and amateur sports teams using symbols, icons, and images with a First Nations origin. Unlike, soapbox pundits who proclaim these teams as proof of cultural theft, the Chief expressed his pride in seeing his Peoples’ culture being displayed to the world at large. The Chief also shared that so long as the cultural images are being used in a respectful manner his does not see a problem. He even commented that he enjoyed the comradery of the sports fans wearing their jerseys to games and even had no issue with Atlanta Braves fans performing the Tomahawk Chop in support of their team. On the other hand, the Chief would prefer to see the rivers, lakes, mountains, and similar geographical landmarks get their Traditional names back. Chief Louie is a strong supporter of team sports and sees the positives in being a player and being a coach. Teamwork is important!

Now, I first heard Chief Louie’s name back in the early 1990’s when I was in school learning about a career in corrections. The Chief was identified as being the motivating force that was bringing business to the Osoyoos Indian Reserve and getting his People out the dependency cycle with the Government of Canada. When you read Rez Rules you will quickly find the Chief is a modest fellow who credits his entire team at the Osoyoos Indian Band with the success of bring business, employment, and financial stability to their Nation. A good leader does that, he shares the credit or even transfer the credit. That is humility and that is a quality of a great leader.

Indian Pride is also expressed throughout this book. The Chief expresses his pride in seeing Indian Pride being expressed and shared by all First Nations Peoples. He knows the importance of saving language, traditions, shared experiences, and passing those on to future generations (seven generations forward.) The Chief is also quick to point out that boot-to-ass needs to happen to those who are dragging their culture down – no place on the Reserve for drugs, alcohol, or lazy-ass bums who won’t go to work and earn a living. And that is incumbent of those of the Reserves to punt out the gangs and gang members who terrorize some of the Native communities. Chief Louie shares that what he and his team has done on the Osoyoos Reservation in creating a business park, and leased land projects that benefit his People, can be repeated on other Reserves across the country…just elect a Band Council and Chief that want to get down to business and stop depending on the government handouts.

Where I truly differ with the opinion of the Chief is when we get into the discussion of Treaties and what that will mean today and tomorrow. While no one reading this was around when those Treaties were signed, there is no witnesses except the Treaties themselves to convey what was agreed to. There is one huge problem…bigger than the problem of resolving 17^th, 18^th, & 19^th century problems viewed through a 21^st century lens…and that problem, which no one seems man enough to mention is that nobody at the negotiation dealt in good faith. NO ONE. The tales passed down suggest the First Nations entered into agreement to “sell” land, that their own beliefs said could not be “owned”. The new arrivals, tried to “trade” for land with disease ridden blankets, glass beads, knives, and axes. These Europeans were trying to break their past behaviours of using Total War to capture and take the land. Under the old rules of European dynasty making, a war was fought, and the victor killed every man, woman, and child in the land to ensure future land claims did not occur. Or that is my understand of the old ways of grabbing land. So, what value is there in Treaties that were negotiated in bad faith by all parties??? Where would the reconciliation begin?? Whose truths would be more true?? These are serious questions, with serious implications. And nobody wants to hear these questions, and no one wants to work through to find the answers. Chief Louie does an admirable job of presenting this issue from the First Nations’ point of view. Which is entirely right, his People were screwed over, royally. The fact the First Nations got screwed over is not in question.

My other bone of contention is the inference that all people in Canada who arrived from Europe are racists. By labelling all white people as racists, is that not a racist comment to make?? Hating a person based on the physical appearance, colour of skin, language, or whatever is bigotry. And certainly, can be racial motivated in some people. Not all people are the same. And that cuts both ways!! If a person engages with a person at the individual level and either likes or dislikes that person, even if they are of different races does NOT mean one or the other is racist. When an entire group of people is identified and marginalized based purely on visual appearance, that is racism. When that oppression continues generation after generation that would be systemic racism. Saying the federal government is systemically racist…the behaviour observed would support this. And it would also support that the federal government is oppressive, but that occurs to a broader spectrum of Canadian society. Now some of the people that arrived in the New World were forced off their Traditional lands to make way for sheep. These people were starved. Beaten. Raped. Burned to death. Taxed into ruin. And finally, given the option to take a boat ride across the North Atlantic to have the opportunity to die in another world and maybe, just maybe, make a new life. The descendants of these people who live across every region of Canada would make worthy allies with the First Nations Peoples. However, in my opinion, the First Nations are still in pain and still progressing through the grief cycle and are not ready to find allies. The pain is still too raw. I can respect that. Let more time pass and we can talk when the time is right.

Finally, I really like Chief Louie’s perspective on business. He has many great ideas that he shares, and he has seen many ideas put into practice on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve which has rewarded his People with a better life and a future free from the purse strings of the Indian Agents. The Chief’s commitment to seeing a portion of earnings or profits set aside for future generations is fantastic. Seven Generations planning should be adopted everywhere. That would take sustainable business, business continuity, and emergency preparedness to a whole new level, looking that far ahead.

So, should you read Chief Louie’s book?? I can say, unreservedly, yes. This book tells a tale that needs to be heard in every corner of Canada, whether it is painful to read or not. Does a discussion need to happen?? Yes, one day. Some are ready and other not so much, yet. Chief Louie’s book gives a firm foundation for that future discussion…maybe that will lead to Truth and Reconciliation?!?

Where can you find your own copy?? If you are not boycotting Amazon, it can be found there: https://www.amazon.ca/Rez-Rules-Indictment-Americas-Indigenous/dp/0771048335/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Y40Q0D9A9TZ0&keywords=rez+rules+by+chief+clarence+louie&qid=1664579992&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjUzIiwicXNhIjoiMC40NyIsInFzcCI6IjAuNjEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=rez+rules%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-1 .

Until next time…Read a good book…

Even if you do not like what it has to say!

Mountainman. 

To Re-Vegetate the Sahara...A Thought Exercise

Near Cadomin, Alberta (photo by V.A. McMillan)

 Title: To Re-Vegetate the Sahara…A Thought Exercise

Time to ponder big ideas. What if it was possible and feasible to re-vegetate the Sahara Desert? Should we pursue such an undertaking? How could it be accomplished? That is what we will explore in this post.

First, let’s have a look at the map of North Africa, shall we:

From Google Maps

The problem

We can see from this captured image from Google Maps (above) that the northern regions of the African continent are dry, hence the lack of green across most of the top of Africa. Why is that? The answer is a lack of water which plants need to grow and a temperature extreme that is hard on all living things – plants and everything else. How would you change that?

The solution

The solution is to hydrate the region, as in add water. However, I am not suggesting wasting potable drinking water from the subterranean water table. What I am suggesting is much, much simpler.

My original thought was the winds generally blow from west to east across the continent and thus, building desalination plants in Western Sahara and Mauritania (see map below) shown as red rectangles would be the first step. This would provide employment to build and operate the desalination plants and provide a source of sea salt for export to enhance the local economies. As the ocean waters evaporated from the desalination tanks the humid air would follow the air currents cooling the air over the Sahara Desert and when the condensation had reached sufficient concentrations it would rain down to the east, likely in Niger and Chad. Over time this process would increase the local humidity allowing for plants to re-establish themselves in the desert. Further down the road, this new green space would temper the local climate and reverse the desertification. Only one problem…

From Google Maps & Modified by Mountainman

The winds across Northern Africa do not traverse from west to east. In fact, according to Britannica (see maps below) the winds travel from the Mediterranean Sea for part of the year and from the South Atlantic Ocean in other parts of the year.

From Britannica

Therefore, to adapt my concept, just changes the start location. So, instead of desalination plants in Western Sahara and Mauritania, they would go along the coasts of Tunisia and Libya as indicated by the red line (see map below). Again, the evaporated water would rise up and rains would fall likely in Mali, Niger, and Chad. Regional and local wind patterns would direct the exact locations that would receive the rains. Over time vegetation would return, the local climate would be moderated, and desertification would be slowly reversed.

From Google Maps & Modified by Mountainman

The Crux

What could go wrong?? Sounds like a perfect plan. The economy in African countries is enhanced. Locals get good paying jobs and the ability to buy goods, build homes, and generally become self-sufficient. This is awesome. What could go wrong??

Global climate modification and the law of unintended consequences…if man starts playing God with the weather, even with the best intentions of helping our fellow man, what balance are we toying with? And what are the ramifications of pursuing such activities before knowing how changing the humidity in the Sahara Desert will impact the rest of the planet? I do not know the answers to these key questions, but the answers are worth finding. If solving desertification could be as easy as building desalination plants upwind of the desert so humidity can be added to the region and increase local rainfall, that would be excellent for everyone involved. However, at this time there are too many unknowns concerning tinkering with global weather patterns and releasing the daemons of Pandora’s Box.

Maybe by posting this conversation, folks much smarter than I, will find the answers.

Until next time…think deep thoughts,

Mountainman.