Asserting Human Rights by Changing Attitudes
in a land for the Few and Privileged

Nipawin - June 20, 2000 - By: Mario deSantis and reviewed by James deSantis
   

basic human rights

In my past writing I came to the conclusion that this government is do ing nothing to create
wealth and enrich the lives of its citizens. My conclusion has been that this government has
been implementing policies to serve itself and to serve the "few and privileged(1)." The most
glaring evidence of this governmental fraud is the fact that our governmental decisions are
made in the bedrooms of our politicians(2) and that all the governmental games go on
unpunished because people cannot assert their basic human rights(3).
   

Prince Albert

On June 10, I attended the meeting organized by the Coalition Against No-fault Insurance in
Prince Albert. At this meeting, I paid close attention to the introductory remark of Dr. George
Gale's presentation(4) stating that the level of democracy of a society is measured by the way
the government treats its minority. I also paid attention to the allegations of violations of human
rights by the Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) against the injured victims and to
Gordon Adair's explanation that no remedy is possible against these violations. Adair(5)
explained that legal class actions are not permissible in Saskatchewan, that any individual
legal action against this government is practically futile, and that the assertion of individual
rights has become today not a legal issue but a political one. I must add that any potential
individual legal action is further frustrated by the fact that our lawyers cannot receive
contingency fees, and that nobody, I say nobody, will find a lawyer who would be willing to
jeopardize his/her practice and go against this government.
   

pain and sobbing

At this meeting in Prince Albert, I was particularly moved by the presentation of Barbara, an
Aboriginal injured victim of no-fault. While in pain and sobbing, Barbara stated how after she
lost her husband and I believe a child in an automobile accident, she had to look after her four
children and bear the outrageous behaviour of a SGI adjuster telling her that she should stop
playing bingo or gambling. She blamed the adjuster and SGI of racism, and I got disconcerted
about the state of confusion of Barbara's he could not discern racism from the violation of her
  human rights.
   

Dutch Lerat

Last Saturday, I read the news that the government is investigating Dutch Lerat, Chair and CEO
of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Commission (SIGA)(6). Lerat is accused of mispending
$360,000 on gifts, powpows, travel and sundries. Pierre Bellegarde, the Chief of the Federation
of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (SFIN), has said that everything is legal at SIGA, that Dutch
Lerat is not going to be removed from his position and that Lerat cannot be reached for comment
  since he is on annual leave."
   

a corrupted environment

Our fundamental problem is not racism, our fundamental problem is the government's creation
of a corrupted environment on behalf of the "few and privileged" and against the "poor and
disfranchised." Our governmental leadership is corrupted and they serve themselves( 7), our
Aboriginal leadership is corrupted and they have learned from our governments to serve
themselves(8)(9). And this is the other fundamental problem: this corruption on behalf of the
few and privileged is occurring in the absence of remedies against human and individual rights!
   
  Monday morning I read the news(10) that the

Aboriginal culture

"Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) is making use of a unique satellite training program to overcome Aboriginal stereotypes. On Monday, hundreds of health care workers in Saskatchewan will learn more about Aboriginal culture..."
  Victoria Gubbels of SAHO adds

change in attitude

"We need to have a change in attitude... Historically, the two communities have walked separate paths and have not walked together with this understanding of both communities."
   

bridge the gap

This government has created an environment where people in power can serve themselves, and
where the voices of common people are muzzled by the lack of fundamental human rights. And
now SAHO is taking the first lead across Canada to bridge the gap of the two communities by
teaching how to change attitudes! The two communities I see are the two communities of the
"few and privileged" versus the "poor and disfranchised." We don't need a change of attitude to
have remedies against the wrongs of the "few and privileged;" instead, we need fundamental
changes where the common people are able again to acquire their individual freedom and assert
their individual human rights.
   
-------------References & Endnotes:
   
  Quote by Donella Meadows "challenging a paradigm is not a part-time job. It is not sufficient to make your point once and then blame the world for not getting it. The world has a vested interest in, a commitment to, not getting it. The point has to be made patiently and repeatedly, day after day after day" ftp://sy sdyn.mit.edu/ftp/sdep/Roadmaps/RM1/D-4143-1.pdf   http://iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/meadows/default.htm
   
  General reference: Articles by Mario deSantis published by Ensign http:// www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/authors/desantisNG.html
   

1.

A World for the Few and Privileged in S askatchewan, by Mario deSantis, February 18, 2000
   

2.
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Government Mistrust in Saskatchewan: Th e Continuous Saga, by Mario deSantis and reviewed by James deSantis, June 4, 2000
   

3.

Democracy and Human Rights in Saskatche wan, by Mario deSantis, February 23, 2000
   

4.
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-
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Dr. George Gale, Clinical Director, Rothbart Pain Management Clinic, Toronto, Expert on Chronic Pain Management, Whiplash Injury and Post Traumatic Syndrome plus Precise Diagnosis of Spinal Pain and Its Palliati on, Prince Albert, June 10, 2000 http://www.angelfire.com/nf/coalitionagainstnf/pa.htm
   

5.
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Gordon Adair, CA, Co-ordinator of the Anti-No Fault Committee in B.C. and former Executive Director of Finance at the Insurance Corporation of B.C., No Fault: An Insurance Company's Dream ADA Victim's Nightmare, Prince Albert, June 10, 2000
   

6.
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SIGA won't dump Lerat, by Jason Warick, The StarPhoenix, June 17, 2000, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
   

7.
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Governments must stop serving themselve s and their friends, by Mario deSantis, February 13, 2000
   

8.
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Setting a new standard in deception, Straight Talk by Randy Burton, The StarPhoenix June 17, 2000, Saskatoon, Sask atchewan
   

9.

No accounting for Canada's Indian policy, by Gordon Gibson, National Post, June 16, 2000
   

10.
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Breaking down barriers in Saskatchewan, CBC Saskatchewan, http://www.sask.cbc.ca Web Posted | Jun 18 2000 3:17 PM EDT