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.

Maybe harper can bring in the troops

Get a few good photo ops of him in military gear with a cool chopper behind him, trying to look human as he shoves toothpicks in his cheeks to shape a smile at a little Native kid.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, who announced the measures in question period Wednesday, told the House of Commons that "urgent health and safety issues" in the northern Ontario community needed immediate action.  "The Government of Canada has informed the chief that we are placing the community in third-party management to ensure community needs are addressed," Duncan said.  "Part of the manager's role will be to administer my department's funding which is normally managed by the First Nation directly."

Harper doesn’t bother to wait for the report he said he’s having done on how money has been spent.  Hell no.  These are natives.  It’s pretty obvious to him they can’t manage their own affairs and the problems with underfunding spending must be due to their mismanagement.  That’s why we needed those residential schools he was forced to inspired to apologize for.

And now he’s supposed to build them new schools?  Look what happened last time.  Ingrates!

Third party management.  Guilty without an investigation.  Must be their faullt ‘cause it sure as hell can’t be his, right?  Forget that the AG said the quality of life on reservations is appalling and care is poorly managed by INAC.

Bad premise on which to begin rectifying the situation at Attawapiskat and other locations.  This  has simply become another excuse harper will use to cut funding (!!!) And take away what little autonomy First Nations still have.

Duncan and harper’s response to this crisis has been unconscionable.  It will not change.  It is how the CONs perceive anyone who isn’t them, and First Nations are below the bottom of his scale of who matters, who deserves basic human rights.