Assimilation attempts to blame for Native problems

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Every problem facing aboriginal people today can be traced back to the boarding schools and the attempts of government and society to assimilate Native people, says the head of the National Aboriginal Communications' Society (NACS).

The government, the churches, the police and society felt the best thing that could happen to aboriginal people was to be absorbed into the system. As a result the school systems in this country have nothing to offend our young aboriginal students," said Fox, president and chief executive officer of NACS>

As a result the criminal justice system does not take aboriginal culture seriously in this country, he said in a presentation. Tuesday to Alberta's Native criminal justice Task Force headed by Mr. Justice Allan Cawsy.

The task force is currently hearing presentations from organizations, government departments and concerned individuals over a three-week period in Edmonton.

Fox emphasized the link between language and culture. "The two components are one and the same. We have steady-ghastly clung to the idea and the truth aboriginal culture is different from that of any other culture in this country or on the face of the earth."

There are no equivalent words in aboriginal languages for new words introduced into society like abortion, civil rights, the Criminal Code and non-capital murder, he said. "As a result issues pertinent to aboriginal people don't get discussed , or if they do it must be in English and the meanings get lost in the translation," said Fox.

NACS, which has some 21 member societies across Canada, attempts to link aboriginal people through community and regional radio and television stations and newspapers. In Alberta members include Windspeaker, CFWE-FM in Lac la Biche and Kainai News at Stand Off.

"The common objective of our members is to provide relevant media service to the half-million aboriginal people they represent.

We produce programs and stories which reflect our languages and traditions and give people an aboriginal perspective on events which affect them," explained Fox.

He urged the task force to recommend full government support to the communications societies which NACS represents and to initiatives aboriginal organizations are trying to implement through various education programs. "After all we are not becoming white and we are not becoming white and we are not going away," he said.