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    Bears for PresidentEllie Shechet
    12/09/15 11:37am

    It’s obviously a good first step but I have a sneaking suspicion that what we’ll eventually land on is that the three major factors playing into the disparity are the relative poverty in First Nations communities, the ingrained racism in Canadian society(and particularly law enforcement) and the relative isolation of some of these communities.

    Bringing those subjects to light will help but they’re all pretty big challenges to actually solve.

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      Ken Yadiggit, AdiosBears for President
      12/09/15 11:41am

      Definitely a good first step, showing that the PM actually cares. Because before it literally just felt like no one did, and it breeds that sort of contemptuous energy you described. Gotta make change to change, right? It’s gonna be a long, hard one but I think it can be done (or at least lessened....and even lessened is good right now cause things are fucking awful)

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      JokoBears for President
      12/09/15 11:42am

      Alcoholism is another serious issue on reserves.

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    Brad GatesEllie Shechet
    12/09/15 11:25am

    Here here.

    I was just as unaware that Canada had Aboriginals as I was that they were being murdered by the dozen. Odd how the last guy failed to even mention it [not really, and good riddance].

    And, while I have truly enjoyed the Obama presidency, I do feel that he has not done enough to combat violence against transgendered women here in America. Crime against transgendered women is rising at the fastest pace in its recorded history, more than twenty years.

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      Ken Yadiggit, AdiosBrad Gates
      12/09/15 11:28am

      “I was just as unaware that Canada had Aboriginals”

      ...........really?

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      DashleyinCaliKen Yadiggit, Adios
      12/09/15 11:31am
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    This is Bat CountryEllie Shechet
    12/09/15 11:28am

    OT: It’s so unfair - Canada’s political dynasty results in Justin Trudeau and ours results in George W. Bush. And also Jeb.

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      SpringSprungThis is Bat Country
      12/09/15 11:34am

      No kidding. And I think there’s a 3rd generation getting ready in Texas somewhere, if I recall correctly.

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      texassholeSpringSprung
      12/09/15 11:36am

      George P.

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    SleepyJeanEllie Shechet
    12/09/15 11:34am

    What is this weird and unfamiliar emotion I am feeling all of a sudden?

    Oh, right. It’s called hope.

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      Slay.douché - (dreams to be a puppy)SleepyJean
      12/09/15 11:47am

      IKR?

      That in spite of all the evil scourge, apathy and placeholder cynicism, some people still rise up and try to bring some good to the world.

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      Nom de pixelSleepyJean
      12/09/15 12:11pm

      I am feeling jealousy. Canada gets much better leaders than we do.

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    Slay.douché - (dreams to be a puppy)Ellie Shechet
    12/09/15 11:43am

    Dang, what kind of a monster jerk (former) PM glibly says murder epidemics aren’t high on their radar?

    Yay that this Trudeau fellow seems to be the real deal.

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      MisskissstaSlay.douché - (dreams to be a puppy)
      12/09/15 12:17pm

      Harper was a douchecanoe. A douchecanoe of the highest order. I hope we never hear from him again.

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      benjaminalloverSlay.douché - (dreams to be a puppy)
      12/09/15 12:25pm

      Harper did not make any efforts to hide his contempt for FNC people, partly because his base are racists. Over and over again, he publicly insulted and dismissed them. It was mortifying for Canadians, and I’m sure very angering for FNC. A group of aboriginal youth walked 1600 km from Northern Quebec to Ottawa to make their case for their community in crisis to Harper, and he refused to meet them, instead doing a photo op with Panda bears the Chinese lent to us after some sort of secret energy deal.

      http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/nishiyu...

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    Ladyheatherlee 2016 EditionEllie Shechet
    12/09/15 11:35am

    I have confidence in Jody Wilson-Raybould. Can’t say that about too many politicians. I’m so glad we have a government willing to go beneath the surface level effects to investigate the root causes. Consider the sad opinion of Con MP (sadly re-elected in my city’s northern riding) Bob Zimmer:

    “We have tried to do things where we bring economic activity or jobs to reserve, and different other legislation to see that through. And ultimately, when people have a job, they’re not in despair and they can stay on reserve and that’s where we want them to be. We want them to be happy where they live. And go from there with their families.”

    Err. I mean jobs are cool. But ummm...Sigh. Different other legislation.

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      deerlady83Ladyheatherlee 2016 Edition
      12/09/15 11:42am

      Jobs take care of one issue. There are so many other things that need to be done, too.

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      Ladyheatherlee 2016 Editiondeerlady83
      12/09/15 11:48am

      Problem 1: job training anyone??? And I like where he says “we have tried” as in we tried, but they fucked it up so it didn’t work. Not our problem.

      And don’t even get me started on the “they can stay on reserve and that’s where we want them to be”. Shouldn’t you want them to be where they want to be? That place isn't going to be the same for every person. I’m hoping he just can’t speak in public and didn’t mean for that to sound like it does.

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    MostlyKelp ( Now, you people get that oven, or die trying. You hear that, Stormy? DIE.)Ellie Shechet
    12/09/15 11:25am

    An active Prime Minister who is actually getting shit done. Just keep it rubbing it in Canada:

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      CatAssEllie Shechet
      12/09/15 3:52pm

      Am I wrong for feeling like this is a pretty bangable politician? Help me out, my gentle neighbors to the north!

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        WanderlustedCatAss
        12/10/15 5:57pm

        you most certainly aren’t! his bangability quotient is quite highly regarded here in the great white north (great wet north for me, here in Vancouver)

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        BrittanyCatAss
        12/10/15 11:56pm

        He’s not my type, but I did get a selfie with him!

        (I’m in the lh corner...just ignore the security guy trying to break the camera with his stare)

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      deerlady83Ellie Shechet
      12/09/15 11:41am

      I’m happy this finally getting addressed in Canada. Canada has done some pretty terrible things to their First Nations populations, too. It would be great if issue would get addressed in the US, too. A lot of American Indian women experience violence here, too.

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        AubinTheGreatestdeerlady83
        12/09/15 1:17pm

        We recently had a huge (multi-year, cross-Canada) commission on the problems of First Nations groups, especially as relates to the residential school system (a horror in itself) and the stories that came out of it were brutal. Heart-wrenching.

        And then our previous PM ignored everything they said.

        Trudeau seems to be stepping up to the plate on First Nations issues, and so I hope the upward swing continues.

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      quesoquesoquesoEllie Shechet
      12/09/15 2:26pm

      Not to defend Harper or anything but... wasn’t there an inquiry under him as well? Useless, sure. but...

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        badyogiquesoquesoqueso
        12/09/15 8:46pm

        IIRC, it was like a paragraph that took someone all of thirty seconds to write, and basically somehow both blamed women for going off the reserve and for staying in abusive relationships on the reserve that led to them being killed.

        Long story short, we threw Harper’s ass out of office for this, among other egregious offences.

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        interrogator-chaplainquesoquesoqueso
        12/09/15 10:47pm

        I believe that was to investigate the crimes of the residential schools, after which he declined to act upon any of the recommendations of the panel.

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