Me Tomorrow: Indigenous Views on the Future by Drew Hayden Taylor

Author:Drew Hayden Taylor [Taylor, Drew Hayden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Indigenous Studies, Social Science, Ethnic Studies, Biography & Autobiography, American, Canada, Indigenous peoples, future, Métis, Indigenous, Native American Studies, Social conditions, Cultural; Ethnic & Regional, Customs, Social life, First Nations
ISBN: 9781771622950
Google: PftFEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Douglas and McIntyre (2013) Limited
Published: 2021-10-30T23:32:15.186699+00:00

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First, remember that everything you say you care about costs money. How much money are you setting aside for your future and your retirement? Do you have a pension, or savings? How much money are you setting aside for your kids’ and grandkids’ education (college or university) fund? The fact is, you and your Rez are going to need a lot more money in the future than you do now. Costs go up, not down. Good words alone will not prepare you or your community for the future. Remember: good words do not pay the bills. First Nations need to have a financial plan that supports their communities’ future needs and desires. Maybe seventh-generational thinking is too far off in the future to make it relevant for most skins. Maybe thinking or making decisions based on seven generations ahead is just more Indian “rah–rah” BS, nice words with no backbone. The sad fact is that some “Rezskins” don’t even pay their monthly rent. That really shows how much future thinking the ones who rip their band off do; they can’t even plan ahead to deal with one month’s bills (eye roll). I really wish First Nations communities would think seven generations ahead, but I rarely see it in action; I hear only phony words.

Those of us on the Rez who have kids and grandkids should at the very least be able to think, plan and save money for two generations ahead. Come on, “Indian Up” and at least sacrifice for your kids and grandkids. Keep at least one foot in the real world. How much money do you need each month to give you and your family a decent quality of life right now? That is a very easy fact (not an opinion) to figure out. Remember, there is a huge difference between having an opinion (especially an uneducated opinion) and making decisions based on fact. As Bill Bullard, a former member of the Michigan legislature, wrote, “Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding.”

You cannot plan for the future without getting the financial facts on how much money your First Nation is spending this month to maintain all the programs and services it provides. Community spending is another very easy fact to get. Now multiply that by twelve and add inflation and it’s not hard to figure out future financial costs. Natives have a very bad habit of talking and coming up with lofty, tear-jerking ideas without figuring out what reality costs. Remember, dreaming and visioning is free, but reality always costs money. It is stupid to even talk about the future without first putting down on paper a few important facts about today. First Nations need financial independence, and they’ve gotta make their own self-earned income and not depend on or wait for government grants.

For my Rez, the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation mission statement is “Working with business to preserve our past by strengthening our future.” That means

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