Posted by Thinking Gnusmas (206.45.180.154) on September 12, 2001 at 16:14:57:
In Reply to: Re: Bringing Accountability! posted by roadkill on September 06, 2001 at 20:09:20:
: : Boo-shoo!
: : Writing has always been a problem for me in the past as well as in the present. As most readers of this forum note,i haven't been able to finish the story i've started in my last post because of the change of my own perspective on the accountability initiatives going on in Indian Country. Old Edgar and the "accountabilitists" are going to have to wait, while, their narrator trys to find balance within himself in order to give both sides a "fair" chance of explaining themselves. Why, you wonder. It is because of my own problems trying to fill the description my own elected position, while, facing the problems of corruption, nepotism and ignorance. Just because i try to bring about accountability and educate the people on what my position is(and what should we spend and what we shouldn't spend) i've been overruled, reviled and attacked personally. Maybe i should give up and take the cheque like everyone else....I don't know. Fortunately, i have thought and smoked many cigarettes on the matter and have come up with many alternatives. But, i have no real examples of any success of any of these ideas, so, i don't know what to expect. Therefore, Old Edgar and the "accountabilitists" need you help(as do I) on the success and failures that any of you had in such a situation. Perhaps, through your experiences, i'll find that balance that i've been lacking and will be able to make my/our stories live again.
: : Meeqwetch!
: I don't think the problem is accountability as I stated before, the problem is ETHICS.
: One of the things I've always wondered about is how things are done now. Could we not examine these "systems" at the community level and work from there. I don't think there is a "magic" or "super" formula out there, not only for First Nations but all governments. Things are done a certain way in the community. What is it, how do we assess it and who implements the improvements, what procedures do we need to put in place. As well, there should be mandatory periodic assessments and implementation of the findings. I think that is where we need to start, "how are things done now" (no matter how suspicious and how much contempt you may have for it) and work from there.