Calling someone a "spade" is something I never really fully understood Luker, so I would have to refer back to the more obvious definition of the word, which is " a tool used for digging ". As for the " paternalistic" reference I can only comment by saying that parents usually want what is best for " All Their Children ", regardless of whether they are part of the original family (Canada's First Nations), or adopted (I guess that is the rest of us). Knowing that in the larger scheme of things that I am one of the adoptees in the First Nation's eyes I can only hope they recognize me as a family member, even with all my faults and those that have been unjustly transposed upon me by the actions of my ancestors against the FN, which I am deeply ashamed of.

Leaving the past behind is best, and a new start with the FN should by all means be encouraged. But when one family member is treated better than another their tends to be a degree of animosity toward that family member, especially when you have worked so hard to be part of the family, and they have not. Instead they are treated as the favourite child because they are part of the original family, and you become secondary since you were adopted. Doesn't seem quite fair does it, but that is where we are. I will not argue this point any further, for it is futile to do so, but I will say that if we don't start viewing each other with a fair and equal approach, and avoid holding our cards so close to our chest (spades included), or being so politically correct, we are going to find ourselves playing a lot of childish games; like snakes and ladders.

TM.