In any community, strong parenting often leads to strong future generations—and this applies to First Nations families just as it does anywhere else. But when we examine policy and cultural direction in Canada, we must acknowledge a difficult truth: the cultural foundation of Canada is built on Judeo-Christian principles, including the idea of individual property rights—an idea often at odds with traditional First Nations governance and worldviews, which prioritize communal stewardship and operate at a different pace of societal integration.
While we must respect cultural differences, it’s equally important to have honest conversations about progress, responsibility, and self-determination. Property rights, though rooted in European legal tradition, have become a global standard for wealth-building and legal clarity. Even in predominantly atheist societies like Japan, there’s widespread respect for property ownership and responsibility—values historically reinforced by Judeo-Christian ethics, whether or not they are explicitly religious.
Personally, I believe in Christ, but I also believe faith should be a voluntary journey—not something forced through policy or ideology. That said, if any group chooses to reject frameworks that have historically led to economic empowerment and stability, they should also be prepared for how that decision is perceived by those who fund or facilitate their governance. And while Canada has been extremely accommodating to First Nations communities, we must also recognize that such generosity is rare on the world stage.
Take Russia, for example. Though nominally Christian, Russia’s approach is authoritarian and deeply nationalistic. Indigenous groups in Russia are referred to as “small-numbered peoples,” and their land rights are often subordinated to national interests. Were Canada under similar rule, the concern wouldn’t be whether your voice was heard on television—but whether your community’s land could be seized outright.
We must be realistic about Canada’s generosity, which includes treaty rights, resource revenues, and broad social support systems. Yet when it comes to building economic partnerships or engaging in trade, First Nations leadership often resists. Instead, the fallback position becomes: “We’re not interested in business, but we’d like ongoing compensation for historical injustices.” This sentiment, while rooted in pain, fosters dependency rather than independence.
Tough love isn’t cruelty—it’s care. As Proverbs 13:24 puts it: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” In other words, discipline, structure, and honest expectations are forms of love—not oppression.
Today, the Canadian welfare system—combined with policies of perpetual reparation—has created a culture where many adults, across all racial and cultural backgrounds, are treated like children. We’re afraid to have tough conversations. We avoid uncomfortable truths. But what happens when people internalize victimhood and are shielded from accountability? The result isn’t empowerment—it’s stagnation.
Let’s also be honest about who created this environment. It wasn’t just government. It was also well-meaning but misguided Canadians—many of whom are secular and socially progressive—who replaced personal responsibility with bureaucratic overreach. In a society where “natural law” is detached from any spiritual anchor, everything becomes subjective. And without a moral compass grounded in Scripture, values like discipline, fairness, and truth-telling get labeled as oppression.
To those who have walked away from faith, I urge you to reconsider. Jesus Christ offers not only salvation but clarity—a foundation for leadership, community, and purpose. You don’t need a preacher to start that journey. Pick up a Bible. Read one verse a day. It may not only transform your life but also the legacy you pass on to future generations.
Finally, to the First Nations communities: leadership should be earned, not inherited. Chiefs must be held accountable. While many care deeply for their people, not all are competent or effective. And protecting a community means preparing it for independence—not isolating it in perpetual dependence.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and leaders across Canada, must stop infantilizing Indigenous communities. Tough love, honest dialogue, and economic opportunity are not acts of racism—they are acts of respect.