11.) Complete quote from 1958 Dept. Indian Affairs memo, titled "stealing indian human rights," from article 10.). (1min read)
Cindy Blackstock is currently Executive Director of First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. First Nations Children's Action Research and Education Service.
The following memo is from a 1958 Department of Indian Affairs worker Gerry Gambill and that worker gave this memo to Cindy Blackstock. (see article 10.)
"Make him (indian) a non-person. Human rights are for people. Convince the Indians that their ancestors are savages, that they were pagan, that Indians are drunkards. Make them wards of the government. Make a legal distinction as in the Indian Act between Indians and persons. Write history books that tell half the story. Convince the Indian that he should be patient, that these things take time. Tell him that we are making progress and progress takes time and make him believe things are being done for his own good and set yourself up as a protector of the Indian's human rights. Make the Indian believe you are working hard for him, putting in much overtime and at a great sacrifice, and imply that he should be appreciative. This is the ultimate in skills in stealing human rights: when you obtain the thanks of your victim. Hold a conference on human rights, have everyone blow off steam and tension, and go home feeling that things are well in hand. Consult the Indian, but do not act on the basis of what you hear: tell the Indian he has a voice and go through the motions of listening. Then interpret what you have heard to suit your own needs." Gerry Gambill- 1958, Department of Indian Affairs.