Watched this back in January, but it still feels fresh. Some notes/excerpts: How did we end up with the wrong mythologies of ourselves? Canada compares itself to Europe (were so proud to be a second-rate imitation), but its far less European than, say, the U.S. which has really run with the whole monolithic, Westphaian state model moreso even than modern European states. Europe wants access to the U.S., because the U.S. is Rome, and what England/France/etc are competing for is to play the role of Athens. Were trying to explain the nature of the most federalized nation in the world to nations that are against decentralization and against complexity. Judeo-Christians wanted to go build Eden; and were horrified to find that the majority of the First Nations people had never been ejected from Eden. There was something psychotic about the residential schools. What works in the Canadian civilization cant really be traced back to Europe. However, pretty much everything that doesnt work can be traced back to Europe. Every time we try to do something in the Westphalian tradition, its completely wrong and a disaster. Canada is the oldest continuous democratic federation in the world, and its fundamentally aboriginal; the first immigrants and First Nations created a whole new people, the Métis. Complexity is more interesting than clarity. You cant say that the founding pillar is aboriginal if it is weak and endangered. The stronger the aboriginal role in Canada, the better our mythology for everyone will work. We have to fire any civil servant who claims theyre saving money by dragging out settlement negotiations for years. We have to stop worrying about how much land [aboriginals] are going to get. You should be thrilled that there are Canadians willing to care for a few hundred thousand acres of land that would otherwise be abused or ignored. Do you think First Nations will make mistakes about land management? Sure. Will they be worse than the Ontario Municipal Board? There were 2 million aboriginals when the Europeans arrived. After collapse, weve gotten back to where today there are 1.2 million; isnt that good news? Isnt it wonderful that were getting a second chance? We should ensure that they have a stake in the country, we should ensure that they are our leaders. There are 53 other languages in Canada; about 45 of which are in danger of disappearing in the next 20 years. These are part of our broader culture. 30-35% of GDP comes from the middle north of Canada. Initial proof of the primitiveness of First Nations peoples were that they lacked widespread use of the wheel. The first technology the Europeans abandoned in Canada? The wheel, for the canoe. Hudsons Bay Company/Scots were under instructions to negotiate marriages with daughters of local chiefs; Europeans married up when they came to Canada. Family/community/belonging to a particular place: this, not racial identity, is primary. Supreme Court: The oral memory was more accurate than the written! The political philosophy of Canadian aboriginals is more interesting to Canadians than that of Rousseau, who operated under the premise of a country that could be physically controlled. The mistake is thinking that good ol Brits established Peace, order and good government; Loyalists fleeing the United States who didnt believe in individualism, aboriginals, freed slaves....and then the English. And the original motto? Peace, welfare and good government. If you want to understand Canadian law, read it in the French. The necessity of translation means that the laws must be make unmistakably clear. One of the earliest laws passed was an Act to create a fund enabling immigrants to proceed to their destination and receive some support while they got on their feet. If you want to be here, youve got to indigenize.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 21:21:16 +0000
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