Time for change

Re: Ottawa has made a mess of Indigenous policy in this country. Conrad Black, Oct. 28

There is little which should be added to the words of Conrad Black in order to reflect the major malaise and abject failure of our federal government in its treatment of our Indigenous people.

One more time, Mr. Black has hit the nub and essence of the problem between our government and our Indigenous communities. As we trip over ourselves in a futile and desperate attempt to make Indigenous people happy with our love for them, we are destroying their ability to take the reins and become self reliant.

We should give our Indigenous communities the respect of higher expectations rather than demeaning them through coddling their every whim. It is time for Indigenous leaders to grow up and time for the federal government and the people of Canada to expect more and better from them.

Bill Steele, Winnipeg, Man.

What was done to the Indigenous people when the Europeans came here was the way it was done then. It cannot be changed, and we must not allow some present leaders of the Indigenous peoples to misuse the wishes of our government for their own personal benefit.

Ruining Canada will not help anybody, especially the Indigenous. The answer for Canada is education for the Indigenous and the ability to live near jobs wherever it is possible, and if not these people must be given compensation, and move into areas where they can be helped.

Murray Rubin, Toronto