It must have been a little embarrassing for Mr. Harper at the recent closed door session, knowing that possibly some – if not all – the chiefs in attendance earned public service salaries (after taxes) in excess of his own. In spite, the conversation no doubt centred around how hard done-by the native leadership is, and how difficult it is to make ends meet on $9B tax –free annually. But no rational person who’s read a newspaper lately would believe the lack of money, absence of compassion or racism is at the root of the problems plaguing Canadian reserves.