I have been reflecting for the past few months on my treaty stance. I believe that instead of just stating the negative side of signing a treaty in its current form, I should also provide alternatives to explore deeper. One topic that keeps coming up in my mind is economic development. Coming from a business background I can understand the concepts, but when it comes to treaty negotiations I have yet to transform these words into action in the real world. It seems to me that the number of job possibilities that are talked about in treaty discussions may be clouding our judgment. It is almost like some spontaneous event will make us economically free from government handouts - if we just get this treaty signed. I wonder if this is the case… A good question to ask is: will these jobs be around for our children? Because signing a treaty is more than what is immediately in front of us. More than a $10,000 cheque. More than lofty promises that have no plan to be achieved because, as we know, promises have been made in the past. It is about forever prospering on our own lands with our own resources. At least it should be.
I do not believe that the current Canadian-style consumer society we live in today is the answer to our long term survival as Kwakwaka'wakw. How can spending all of our hard earned resources outside of our territories, from non-Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, help us to become the wealthy nation we once were? We were respected by our neighbours because of the strength we had in unity. Our potlatch system allowed us to support one another by sharing our wealth within the Kwakwaka'wakw nation. We became rich and powerful because the great chiefs before us spent this wealth supporting their community in exchange for witnessing birthrights and inheritances. Let me say this: I don't think 'going back to the bush' is going to bring back some perfect life that we left behind. Things were very tough, but they were also very rewarding. There is a way to balance our ways with sustainable economic development. Let us take care of our environment, be leaders and stewards of our territories and instead of buying products and services from others, lets consider supporting one another by buying locally and from fellow Kwakwaka'wakw people whenever possible.
What is economic development from a Kwakwaka'wakw perspective? I do not claim to have the answers that will solve our valid concerns for the future. I do, however, want to discuss it fully and be a part of what my unborn children will live through. May that future provide prosperity as Kwakwaka'wakw people. Our choices now will directly impact the next generation and the generations to come. Let us come together and support one another.
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2 comments:
I could say more, but I'm on the run and have very little time.
The question should nt be poised of "eco-dev", but of wealth creation. Wealth distrobutions is easy. It is written in the laws of our ancestors. "It is a good law", right? haha
Most of the discussions around economic development have come from colonizers or indians who are colonized. I think wealth creation, not just in monetary means, but all kinds of wealth, both concepts from anceient times and new forms of wealth, must be nurtured and created.
Like I said, more can be said on my part. But the trading of DIA to Economic development is a odd trade. After being home for a bit too, I have more thoughts on this.
You are right that most discussions about economic development comes from those who wish to better imitate capitalist "success" through more jobs (majority of which exploit our depleted natural resources), less taxes (which we should not be participating in) and less government involvement in their lives (when no outside government should have a higher say other than our own). I understand your adverse reaction to the loaded term economic development itself, which is why I wanted to explore it further and not shy away because of its potential to lead us down the wrong path. As it stands now, it seems to me that economic development cannot and will not be counteracted through alternative means of wealth distribution without some paradigmatic shift in thinking amongst us and while I completely agree with stepping back from the current consumerist economics, this will not happen over night. Capitalist exploitation is one of the main driver's of our colonization and it must be challenged and its negative influences completely destroyed. But up to and including this shift of resources, our fridges will be filled with imported foods, gas tanks will need to be filled and the gradual move to a more sustainable traditional understanding of our economics as Kwakwaka'wakw will present many difficult changes along the way that will have to be carried by all.
Say the goal is to explore wealth creation - which I would say can be encompassed by economic development - can we completely turn away from Canada's insidious economic trade system? If so, how? The term eco-dev - I want to explore as well. I dare to use Western terms because it is a language that is little understood but utilized frequently by those who currently hold power in Band politics. Another aspect of us returning to traditional ways is to address the inequalities inherent in the band system currently and in any future Kwakwaka'wakw governance. Economic development has a negative connotation amongst Indigenous revolutionaries because it seems to be more of the same. Trading one system of exploitation for another, in which we are the ones exploiting, does not seem to solve any of our current problems and it I would argue that it definitely does not. But is that what economic development means? Do we have to continue our struggle through the creation of an unending number of new terms or can we take the most general of phrases - eco-dev - and make it our own?
If we had a more isolated position away from the consumerist culture I would be more confident in a smooth transition, but the fact of the matter is that our non-kwak neighbours with their influential means of capitalism are here to stay and will need to be addressed. I would say we are nurturing a revival of our ways through potlatch and other cultural events. This is the old way of economics that in many ways is still is very relevant to our current circumstances and provides the perfect pathway to realizing a more traditional economy. This being said, we have to acknowledge that not all of our people subscribe to the potlatch. Another thought is that when the wage economy became the norm in the early 1900s, potlatching increased dramatically and those that had more money, were able to achieve higher ranks. On the one hand this could have the impact of focusing more on the wage economy and other exploitative practices than the overall betterment of all members and on the other, it could result in the overall distribution of wealth among our members through the potlatch system itself. These are a few of the many things that we have to consider and I want to look into more.
As it pertains to Treaty, one of the central thrusts and arguments from chief and some council members of completing this negotiation as soon as possible is the economic benefits that it may present our members through jobs and perhaps a payout. Of course the longer we take, the more in lawyer's fees and debt repayment we will have to give - yet another unjust part negotiating with Canada's governments. I want to challenge our people to create wealth and share it primarily amongst ourselves at every opportunity. Our unity has always been our greatest asset to Kwakwaka'wakw identity. Through this shift in thinking I believe the communal understanding of what economic development means to us and how we can utilize our wealth to further strengthen our culture will be realized.
I look forward to your thoughts when you get more time, my friend. Especially considering you have been wrapped in our culture these past weeks.
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