Good for them. No more giving up their autonomy.

The third-party manager sent by the federal government to handle the desperate housing situation in Attawapiskat in northern Ontario has been asked by the band to leave, CBC News has confirmed.

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence told CBC News that she had informed the band manager of her decision.  "I advised my band manager I don't want them in my community … doesn't work for our community … we should focus on the crisis, not on other things," she said.

Spence is right, of course.  The whole third party thing is just another way for the government to dodge accountability for their abysmal  treatment of First Nations, and a transparent move toward taking away any self rule Aboriginals have left.  Back to the residential school thinking - actually, that attitude never changed.  First Nations people are sub-human, child-like, and the Great White Man has to manage everything for them from how they live, how they manage their communities, how they raise their children, and push through the plan they never gave up: full integration until First Nations no longer exist as distinct.  Then they can be just another minority to be treated like crap.

Spence should stand her ground, not just for her group, but for Native communities all across Canada.  If she gives in, this third party thing will be policy.  Third party being someone more concerned with money than with culture, quality of life, the absolute need for self-determination among First Nations in order for them to survive as a people and live with dignity.

How can a non-native, city-dwelling accountant possibly understand what land - not just any land, but land by which Aboriginals mark their distinct band identity - means to the Natives he is sent to "manage?"  How can he possibly understand their needs?  And what will be taken away from these people if they are told yet again that an outsider is more fit to make such decisions for them than they are?

Marion (the third party accountant) remains in full control the community's funding from Aboriginal Affairs and hopes to work with the community to address urgent needs, the statement added.  "It is extremely worrying that the chief and council are not open to outside assistance. Minister Duncan met with Chief Theresa Spence and Grand Chief Stan Louttit and reiterated that our government's priority is to ensure that residents of Attawapiskat have access to safe, warm, and dry shelter."

See the trickery already? "It is extremely worrying that the chief and council are not open to outside assistance."  It's not assistance they are not open to, but outright control of their lives.  The government and Marion know this, and their twisting of words to smear Natives is proof that they will not treat them with respect or consider their needs as a distinct people.

There is more than a single community at risk, here.  This is a stand-off, a line in the sand that if the government is allowed to cross will make the appalling treatment of First Nations even worse.  They will lose even who they are.