From: Rosemary Waigh <rwaigh@zooid.guild.org>
Subject: Native/Animal Brotherhood info
Reply-To: rwaigh@zooid.UUCP (Rosemary Waigh)
Organization: The Zoo of Ids
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 14:32:17 GMT
Summary: by popular request
Keywords: Native rights fur

(excerpts from the Native/Animal Brotherhood pamphlet  "Natives and the
Fur Industry:  Separating fact from fiction")

Native Canadians:  Used by the Fur Trade

...

"Fashion fur is not the Native way.  Native tradition calls for the
economical and respectful use of animals.

"No traditional native would dream of killing 40 small animals to create
a piece of clothing that one large animal would provide.

"Being forced to kill is an act distasteful to any of us and to kill for such
a trivial reason as to make a fur coat is horrible indeed.

"A History of Exploitation

"Today's fur industry professes to be the champion of Canada's Natives,
selflessly watching over the welfare of a people whose future is uncertain.
This is ironic considering that the fur industry has been the most
destructive force in our history.

"It has exploited our land, our resources and our animal brothers. ...

"It is a logical extension that such an industry would exploit our people,
our culture and our way of life.  European traders introduced steeljaw
leghold traps, guns and ammunition into our lives.  The Hudson's Bay Company
further induced Native people out of their nomadic lifestlye and into
trapping.  [Note:  the Bay no longer sells fur.  RW]

...

"Fur Trade Not the Answer

"Trapping will never provide relief from these problems.  It will simply
perpetuate them.  Even our Native children understand this fact.  Only one
per cent of the children in Fort Simpson expressed an interest in trapping as
a career.  Exploitation of our people for 300 years has contributed greatly
to the decimation of our culture and heritage.  Whether or not the fur
industry prospers, the Native people continue to suffer.

"In an economic sense, the fur trade has been of limited benefit to Native
Canadians.  Natives are excluded from all the big money parts of the fur
industry.  Natives are not furriers; Natives do not market furs; Natives do
not store furs.  Natives are at the bottom of the economic fur industry
chain.  They make the least amount of money.

"At a time when the Native community faces serious social problems, the 
government is asking them to invest everything they have in a dying industry.
...

"Government and Fur Industry Motives:  Public Opinion Manipulation

"With fur sales in decline, the Canadian government commissioned a study
entitled _Defence_of_the_Fur_Trade_.  One section dealing with "Public Opinion
Manipulation" suggested that "defence of aboriginal cultures could be a good
counterbalance to anti-fur or anti-trapping campaigns....

"This policy results in the illusion of concern for Native Canadians while
poverty, inadequate housing, social services, daycare and education are met
with cutbacks to federal economic development programs and a refusal to 
recognize Native land claims and the right to self-government.

"Yesterday's Values Today
...
"In the case of Canada's aboriginals, the commercial trap line has no place in
our culture whatsoever.

...

Paul Hollingsworth
Native/Animal Brotherhood
12-7 Forest Hill Drive
Guelph, ON N1G 2E1

[I haven't quoted the entire brochure because it's quite long; please write
to N/A B for more info.  Status, non-status or Metis people may become members
of N/A B.  I don't know if membership is restricted to Canadians or not.

Rosemary Waigh
rwaigh@zooid.guild.org]
 


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