SLOBODIAN: Canadians were wrongfully shamed, then shamelessly bilked

We are so past the point of accusations of being guilty of racism for not buying into the Indian Residential School hoax. What Canadian taxpayers did buy is a slew of goodies for Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation that have nothing to do with getting to the alleged “heart-breaking truth” of hidden graves on an Indian Residential School site.Remember? Initially, $8 million was allocated to the BC First Nation to produce evidence of child remains. The money was intended for things like field work, records searches, and to secure the residential school grounds.According to minutes of a 2021 council meeting, the “budget is robust and comprehensive but what is required.”Now we learn it wasn’t quite robust enough. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government actually poured an obscene $12.1 million into the band’s coffers to recover suspected children’s graves, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.Tk’emlups dramatically announced in 2021 that it had discovered 215 children’s graves. Then the claim was tempered down to maybe 200 “potential burials.” And $12.1 million later the truth still hangs in limbo.But Tk’emwent went on a spending spree — the pockets of publicists and consultants were generously lined, tents were rented, hefty security, administrative and travel costs paid, and facilities planned. All with no detailed accountability.But still, there’s no evidence of human remains uncovered. Or more to the point, that anyone even tried to get to the bottom of the alleged “heart-breaking truth.”.Millions spent on consultants instead of grave recoveries at Kamloops residential school .And to add to the injustice, the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations attempted to conceal the financial records under the Access To Information Act..MORGAN: The Kamloops Residential School grave story is a hoax.Here’s solid “heart-breaking truth.”Canada’s reputation took a beating globally. About 120 beautiful churches were torched. Many served First Nations Canadians.Canadian flags flew at half-mast across the nation for almost six months at Trudeau’s command.Trudeau, never missing an opportunity to condemn Christians and whites, sure was horrified and said Canadians were also horrified at the horror they hadn’t seen, but he said they did. “I think Canadians have seen with horror those unmarked graves across the country and realize that what happened decades ago isn’t part of our history, it is an irrefutable part of our present,” he said.Pope Francis issued an apology on behalf of Catholics. “I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians,” he said in July 2022.So quick to accuse, condemn, and damn — proof to follow.The Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations questioned the band on what “archaeological and forensic work” was underway. “I know you are aware of the incredibly complex nature of this type of work,” wrote Mandy McCarthy, acting director general with the department.“We are not seeking to intervene in this matter but are trying to understand the approach,” wrote McCarthy. She wondered whether “you have all the information you need to advance exhumation protocols and DNA testing.”Not seeking to intervene? It is the government’s responsibility to heavily intervene when it comes to anyone spending taxpayers millions on anything — not to gently tiptoe around potentially hurt feelings to avoid being called racist.Then the department had the gall to censor spending details. It only released Access To Information records by order of Information Commissioner Carolyn Maynard last November 27.The First Nations Health Authority that transferred $2.3 million to Tk’emlups itemized partial expenses over nine months.They include $405,000 in administrative costs for things like speaking fees and tent rentals, $37,500 for marketing and communications, $54,000 in travel.Another $100,000 was paid to two trauma counsellors for six months work. Did they ‘help’ the traumatized families whose appeals for bodies to be returned were ignored?A whopping $532,000 was paid for some sort of security, and funds were proposed for a Healing Centre, a new museum, an Elder’s lodge, and a nursing home for indigenous pensioners.A forensic audit must be done immediately, with every penny accounted for, and everyone who received payments named.First Nations are notorious for nepotism that shuts other First Nations members out. Racist? No, fact.So, prove that’s not the case here. Prove the best people were hired.Let’s not forget that non-indigenous are also notorious for worming their way in and getting their mitts on money allocated to First Nations.Who are the 25 consultants hired to “provide advice and support to the Chief and Council?” What kind of advice?Who are the unnamed publicists paid to develop “communications strategies?” Why was crafting strategies even deemed necessary?Provide details of the security that cost $532,000 and who provided it.Who spent $54,000 on travel? Where did they go? And why?Last September Kimberley Murray, cabinet’s Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves, told the Senate Indigenous peoples committee that she knew some Canadians were skeptical of the Kamloops claims“It is one thing to say you don’t believe there are burials. That’s your opinion and you can have freedom of speech to say that,” she said.“But when you say there are no burials, that First Nations people or the Indians are lying because they want you to go burn down churches or they want to take away your cottages, that is inciting hate against Indigenous people. That’s the type of speech we need to stop.”No, what we need to stop is the lack of transparency and the guilt trip, a tool used to shut people up when they ask legitimate questions, when they rightfully demand proof.Here’s another “heart-breaking truth.”Discrimination and disregard run rampant among some indigenous people when it comes to other indigenous people.How many children on reserves are deprived of clean drinking water, proper health services, and adequate nutrition?Yet, it’s OK to use money, under false pretences, for possibly padded — open the books, cough up receipts to prove this wrong — administrative costs.Go ahead, call me a racist for thinking that museums don’t take precedence over providing indigenous children with drinking water sans parasites and contaminants and improving abysmal living conditions on reserves.Have they no shame? No compassion?No desire to prove claims that their own helpless little ones died at the hands of evil monsters and lay in mass graves?You don’t need consultants to tell you how to grab a shovel and start digging.But you do need a hoax to rake in wads of cash.While bureaucrats ride shotgun to protect you.Canadians accused of racism do not dislike, discriminate or resent our indigenous fellow Canadians.But they sure do resent wayward indigenous leaders who milk the system and then wrongfully point accusing fingers.

SLOBODIAN: Canadians were wrongfully shamed, then shamelessly bilked

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