We may not differ much Cashin, perhaps only in a few details.

I was on unemployment and a bit longer without welfare in my past and while on it felt like society did not need me much. Ottawa's financial support to natives is probably like welfare. But I allign that with my feeling of the past of being cast aside. So I suspect I understand some of that.

However there is a difference from when one is temporarily unemployed to that of being so most of one's life, or worse if one is surrounded by most people being on the dole.

There is the other cultural factor. Nature and being people of the land.

Many natives want to be like the Greens. To subsist off the land while having little or no impact on it. There is a price to be paid for that. It is nearly impossible to maintain that type of life style if one does not have the financial resources to maintain it.

Example: I have what some may call a 21st century home, passive with solar heating of drinking water. That did not fall out of the sky, it had to be paid for. Had I lived somewhere north of Timmins or Kenora I would not likely had the opportunity to afford that life style. OK perhaps if I would be lucky enough to have a mining job,lol. But that is not the norm up north?, do not know for sure.
 
Part of the problem natives have is to be a 'Green' while expecting a job as in southern Ontario while not having that initial rung up financially to marry the two. Ottawa will not provide that help. So they expect companies like Noront to do that for them before they sign on to development. While the opposite is realistic. You have to have development Before your financial income rises. That new financial stutus is a result of development.

Development means opportunity for better life and along with that some compromises have to be made.

They can't have that cake and also eat it. Ed.