Canadian chiefs deliver warning to Obama’s transition team

[The Straight Story]

Canadian chiefs deliver warning to Obama’s transition team
By Rob Capriccioso

WASHINGTON – Several chiefs from Canada’s First Nations recently traveled to the nation’s capital to meet with members of President Barack Obama’s transition team. Their main objective was to get the new president to apply international pressure on the Canadian government to share oil resource wealth with the indigenous people of Canada.

“Today, we are here to deliver a message to the U.S. government and President-elect Obama,” Glenn Hudson, chief of the Peguis First Nation and spokesman for the seven First Nations of Treaty One, said at a National Press Club event.

“We want to raise American awareness that this is not a Canadian domestic issue but a homeland security issue for the U.S.,” Hudson said. “A disruption of Canadian oil supply would have a devastating impact on the U.S. economy.”

He said the chiefs are hopeful that Obama “will embrace the attitude of respect, compassion and support” by engaging in fair trade discussions directly with First Nations leaders. They feel the Canadian government and energy sector has not treated them fairly on oil issues, so they might as well try to deal directly with the U.S. government.

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/home/content/37682549.html

[Dave From Canada]

1. We do share oil resource wealth with the indigenous people of Canada. They pay zero income taxes,

if they choose to go to college or university, it is completely paid for by the Government, not to mention the cost of school related costs such as computers, rent or residence costs, etc. Where do they think that money comes from?

[applegrove]

2. It isn't just aboriginals who don't pay the full cost of university. Regular Canadian

students only pay one third of the cost of university. International students are the only ones to pay the full cost of university I think. Just an FYI.