Money...I wants more money!
by Gilbert Oskaboose

Well, just sent in my application for employment with the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. Thought Id try to get in on the feeding frenzy now going on amongst native fat cats brought out of the woodwork by the governments 350 million dollar "quick fix" for residential school survivors.

Maybe one of those fatcat directors or other foundation pigs will eat too much and be found deader than a doornail, a big greasy sausage protruding out of his or her slack mouth. Happens now and then when you have too much on your plate.

Im told one western family that is politically connected has one of our prairie provinces sewed up tight. Hear they are buying houses and trips to Vegas like there going out of style. Hear they are also raping and abusing native women.

Tons of money and a little frightened female on the side. Living the good life 'eh?

The group of ladies who informed me of these outrages chose to remain anonymous. Scared shitless of further abuses. Too bad, ladies, doesnt work that way. You have to be specific. Name names and point fingers or the abuses will simply continue. ...And I understand you could lose your home or be kicked off the reserve or abused further for speaking out. I would love to help but cant. Id love to be in on the hanging of an abusive native fatcat but you must provide absolute proof of their guilt - or at least a good lead. My hands are tied without it. Its the law of the land.

Hearing about all sorts of big reserves with their greasy highly paid hotshot "white" economic development officers turning in all sorts of slick, highly polished proposals to the foundation. Other reserves, like mine, who have a chief that never went to a residential school (read: couldnt care less) and a band manager in cahoots with the religious order who abused him and his family - wont even bother applying. (read: pathetic)

Ive yet to hear of a single case anywhere in all of Canada where just one old and tired and abused residential school survivor is being helped in any way. Get tons of e-mail from survivors and/or their children unable the access the big megabucks or even a bit of employment with the foundation. Native fatcats have it all sewed up.

Heard from one old buddy in Akwasasne, another survivor. He applied for one lousy computer and was told he needed sponsorship from a recognized native organization. He got it then got screwed by the native organization. Now he owes them tons of money for "services rendered" and has gone off to Boston to look for work to pay off his bill - at his age. Jeez!

Im already involved in a class action lawsuit against the black robed bastards who abused us and the federal government who helped them do it. Were closing in on our settlement but what the hell, may as well go for more in the meantime! Wouldnt mind having my snout buried too deep in the public trough along with the rest of the fatcats in Indian Country. Thats what its all about, isnt it...infinite greed?

Hope Im qualified for a nice fat cushy job with the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. Retired from 30 years of native journalism, meaner than a junk yard dog and actually spent ten years in a native residential school, getting screwed and learning how to screw others.