Ringer "Can't see the forest because of the trees." I doubt that some do see many trees, and cashin17 "if your not willing to help yourselves then good luck to you." I think they are willing to help themselve BUt it is culturally ingrained that the help must be easy or handed down.
I have no magic wand to save them. I'm not even convinced that I understand them, at least the ones that sit on their derriere.
I presume that most of us are convinced that suicides are a result of lack of opportunity to satisfy one's esteem and not that deletarious substances are available. Substance abuse is a result and not the cause.
By culture I mean too many have gotten accustomed to receiving cash from Ottawa instead of earning it. There is not enough incentives to roll up the sleaves and get to work or move to where the work is available.
Without the self satisfaction that one has earned ones living, and I mean a decent standard instead of subsistence one gets from the bush, then one not only is not satisfied oneself but is not providing a proper example to the next generation.
My solution is a hard one. Throw out all the past treaties and payments from Ottawa ( get rid of dual standards = discrimination) and force them to live the life style that they had in the past. Having tasted some of the benefits of European society most would quickly sober up and join the rest of society. Yes moving to Sudbury or even to Toronto and get proper jobs.
On the other hand there is an easier solution to some, but as Ringer stated they have to see most of the trees if not the complete forest.
That means waking up to the possibility of Ring's jobs with connection to the greater society and not stand with hat in hand and ask for hand-me-downs from companies in the Ring. Worst not resort to black mail.
Earning a decent living, that means at decent wages, most of the problems should disappear.
But both government levels have to have the conviction that this is the best solution having leadership skills and will to do so. Else this problem will persist and we will continue to apply band aids to it.
