White Bear residents have had mixed feelings regarding the creation of an advocacy group and the problems presented of White Bear First Nations in the article titled, "White Bear group advocates better living for their people," in the June 7th issue of The Observer.
Concerns the advocacy group brought forward to The Observer included inadequate housing, social problems stemming back to the Indian Act, substance abuse concerns, a lack of opportunities for youth on White Bear, and the need for a strategic plan to right these issues.
Though citizens agreed there were housing problems and issues on White Bear, a question has developed through dialogue. To what extent can living conditions be blamed on social problems?
To what extent is it someone's choice to live a certain way and to what extent do social problems factor into someone's life?
Residents explain there is a complicated situation on all reservations, but a situation that they don't expect to change in the near future. Obviously not everyone on White Bear lives in poor conditions, but many do feel that social problems play a large part in the lives of those who do. The difficulties in finding jobs, a feeling that living on welfare is an adequate lifestyle, and nepotism concerning politics affect many on the reservation.
An example of nepotism includes the housing conundrum presented on White Bear. The advocacy group, the Chief, and other residents all bring up the idea of a housing board or home ownership, however, both of these options may prove difficult.
Chad Pasap, a band member of White Bear who lives on reserve, explains this was an issue years ago when he was on a board charged with the task of creating something similar to a housing authority. Problems arose when looking at evicting people from their homes for not paying their maintenance fee. These very people who were unable to pay, for whatever reason, may be family of a housing board member or of a councillor and to evict family is a difficult thing. Ultimately the housing authority was never formed and fell through.
In turn the maintenance fee could be increased, but this would simply create a burden on those who do pay their monthly fee and would not solve the deeper problem as those who are not paying now will continue not to pay.
Yet, not everyone on White Bear is convinced social problems are to be blamed for people's troubles.
"Every town, community, First Nations, city, they all have social issues and you can't just sit there and blame housing conditions on social issues," Sandra Lonechild, having lived on White Bear most of her life, stated. "It's your choice how you live."
She explains that there has always been a housing shortage and a lack of funding for maintenance; but, many on White Bear will make improvements or perform their own maintenance if their home is in need.
"A lot of band members take care of their homes and do the best they can with what they've got," Lonechild explained, ultimately believing that everything comes down to a choice and the resolve to make a change.
While Pasap, who is currently renovating his house, on his own, explained that for many this isn't possible because they do live in poverty. Unable to find jobs on the reservation and without a vehicle to go to town to work many are left to their own devices, whether that is to hitchhike to Carlyle or to remain unemployed. It is a difficult situation to be put into.
"You tell anyone to walk nine miles, no, 18 miles because you have to go to and from work," Pasap stated. "No one would want that."
Therefore, a simple job off of the reservation requires more than many can afford. However, according to some band members of White Bear it is a determination to have the resolve to make a change resulting in a better life. If someone wanted a job, essentially there should be something available somewhere whether it is on White Bear or in a surrounding community. Thus, changing one's life, according to certain band members, is up to that person to commit to a change.
Though Allan Maxie, with the advocacy group also stated that people are struggling with substance abuse issues on the reservation, which causes tenant neglect and affects people's lives. Others on White Bear feel that those who do have a dependency on drugs or alcohol are not rampant in the community. Though there are people who are dependent, as is the case in any community, the problems arise because White Bear is such a small community and the affects of drug and alcohol abuse are therefore amplified.
"There is an issue because we're small, so we see it more. You know what I mean?" Pasap explained.
Associated with this, Pasap says, are limited resources for the Addictions Program. Therefore, underfunding is a large concern for many of the programs as well as infrastructure and housing. While some residents describe a growing belief that the band should take care of any costs associated with the reservation, they also explain it can't just be left up to the band to deal with.
Pasap, personally, is exasperated by people's expectancy of the band to simply pay the bills. As an example he explains years ago there was a community garden. Someone would take the initiative to till a large plot and community members would buy their own seeds and plant them. They would enjoy the fruits of their labours and share in the harvest, but today he says money is a problem. People now want money to till the garden and there is an expectation that the band should pay for all costs.
This change in community mindedness is something that is difficult to understand for many band members.
"If the community had the want and desire then they could do it. Why they don't is they lost that sense of self pride somewhere. I don't know, I don't know when, but something happened, over the years," Pasap said, though he does not have the answers for what happened he does hope the advocacy group will give people something to rally around because bringing people together is the first step forward for the community.
However, at the same time Pasap questions the timing of the advocacy group and its formation as others do as well including Lonechild, wondering if political motivations were involved as White Bear elections were held on June 20th.
"Housing has been our number one issue every year at election time. Everybody talks about what they could do for our housing on reserve," Lonechild said.
Overall the advocacy group has created discussion amongst band members, whether it is election time or not.
Some members of the community are interested in what the plans of the group are. This includes Pasap who explains there has been a family rivalry between the Pasap's and Maxie's; but, despite this rivalry Pasap spoke of meeting with Maxie to further discuss the advocacy group's plans.
Others feel action is always lacking regardless of who is speaking. Whether amongst people running in elections, Chief and Council, or an advocacy group action fails to manifest.
"Personally, they don't speak on my behalf and I'm sure they mean well, but in the end it always ends up being all talk," Lonechild stated. "You can check with us again next year, check with us in two years again and probably those same houses you saw in those pictures will be sitting the same or, and you can talk to other community members in the end and in two years it will probably be the same. The same issues, same concerns: not enough funding, no money."
A strategic action plan is something, which would therefore be welcomed. However, with Chief and Council changing every two years it has sometimes been difficult to maintain any plan. Something being talked about by First Nations across Canada is the idea of Tribal Sovereignty. According to Christopher Alcantara, who has written on the subject, Tribal Sovereignty can be summed up as First Nations having the power to make their own decisions and First Nations able to establish their own stable and effective political institutions and policies, while having their culture prominently figure into these governing practices.
Maxie has, however, explained that he doesn't see the people of White Bear as being ready. In twenty years, maybe, but today he feels it would not succeed. This is something Pasap has also agreed with.
So, where do the problems lie and how can they be resolved to create better living conditions for those members who may be in need?
