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ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA CHIEFS 18th
ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SUMMARY REPORT AUGUST 22, 23,
and 24, 2006 OPASKWAYAK
CREE NATION Kikiwak Inn TABLE OF CONTENTS DAY 1 AUGUST 22, 2006
..
....... 4 Opening Ceremonies
4 Review of
Agenda
4 Opening Remarks
.4 Chief Glen Ross,
Opaskwayak Cree Nation
..
4 AFN Regional Chief Katherine
Whitecloud
5 Grand Chief Ron Evans, Assembly
of Manitoba Chiefs
.5 AMC Annual Report, AMC Financial Audit, The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister,
INAC
..9 Tobacco Tax and Smoking Ban
Discussion
.
. 16 DAY 2 AUGUST 23, 2006
. 19 Recap of Previous Days Agenda
Chair Frank Whitehead
..19 Unity Discussion
..
.19 Keynote Luncheon Speaker Dennis
White Bird, Treaty Commissioner
22 Unity Discussion
continued
.23 Gaming Discussion Chief Dennis Meeches/ DAY 3 AUGUST 24, 2006
. 35 Recap of Previous Days Agenda
35 First Nation Womens Council
... 35 First Nations Health Action Plan - Chief
Norman Bone
.
.
40 Remarks by the Honourable Oscar
Lathlin, Okawamithikani First Nation power
point presentation
45 Closing Remarks
.48 APPENDIX I - CERTIFIED RESOLUTIONS Aug-06.01 Special Chiefs-In-Assembly on Political Representation
and Restructuring Aug-06.02 Waiver to South Beach Casino Aug-06.03 Waiver to Aseneskak Casino Aug-06.04 Establishment of the First Nations Casino Trust Fund Aug-06.05 The AMC Gaming Steering Committee update and approval
of funding level for the initial revenue
sharing fund from Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Gaming Profits Aug-06.06 First Nation Gaming Trust Fund Revenue Sharing Aug-06.07 Federal Consultation on First Nation Matrimonial Real
Property Aug-06.08 Funding Increases to Address Chronic Understaffing of
RCMP Detachments On-Reserve Aug-06.09 Increased and Expanded Participation of the Working
Group on First Nations Citizenship Aug-06.10 Medical Transportation Program NIHB Aug-06.11 Aug-06.12 Managerial Review of Nursing Directorate Aug-06.13 FNIHB Health Aug-06.14 Nursing Shortages and Closures of Nursing Stations in
Northern and Isolated First Nation Communities Aug-06.15 Support for Translation of HIV / AIDS Health
Information to First Nations Aug-06.16 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome / Effects (FAS/E) Funding
Health Aug-06.17 Okawamithikani First Nation Family Healing Centre Aug-06.18 Okawamithikani First Nation Health Station Aug-06.19 Aug-06.20 Aug-06.21 Recognition of Treaties 1 to 11 Spokesperson Aug-06.22 Education Transportation Aug-06.23 Mathias Colomb (Pukatawagan) Indian Reserve Housing Aug-06.24 Sagkeeng First Nation Land-Dam Erosion Aug-06.25 Assembly of 18th
Annual General Assembly Opaskwayak
Cree Nation Kikiwak Inn DAY 1 Tuesday, August 22,
2006 OPENING CEREMONIES Pipe
Ceremony conducted by Elder John Bignell, Opaskwayak Cree Nation Grand
Entry/Opening Flag Songs by the North Buffalo Singers Drum Group Opening
Prayer by Elder Pat Personias, Opaskawayak Cree Nation OPENING REMARKS Chair Nathan McGillvary provided opening remarks and
welcoming all in attendance. He expressed thanks to the Elders who offered the
pipe ceremony & prayer, and expressed honour for being in attendance,
assisting the Chiefs in their deliberations over the next three days. He then reviewed the AGA agenda. Once a quorum is achieved we will adopt the
agenda and rules of procedures and then the business of the agenda. Chair
announced that we would move forward with presentations until quorum is
achieved. MOTION #1 - To
adopt the agenda for the AMC 18th Annual General Assembly for August
22, 23 & 24th, 2006 with the revision to move the Tobacco
Tax/Smoking Ban issue to Day One at 2:30 PM, Chief Robert Daniels, Swan Lake
First Nation, request to have the issue of Bill S-216 on the agenda for Day
Three and Okawamithikani First Nation (Pickeral Narrows) requested the addition
of a power point presentation on the health situation in their community. Seconded by: Chief Pascal Bighetty, Mathias Colomb First
Nation Vote: unanimous; motion carried Host Chief Glen Ross,
Opaskwayak Cree Nation Chief Ross expressed thank you to the Chair, the
Elder for the opening prayer and pipe ceremony and the drum group for the
songs. He is honoured to be here today welcoming everyone to the Opaskwayak
Cree Nation. He went on to thank AMC for
hosting their Assembly in his community.
He then invited everyone to participate in the events that his community
has organized for this Assembly. He then
spoke to the need for cooperation and partnerships to benefit the overall
development of his community and First Nations in general. She welcomed the
attendees and Elders and the asked the spirits to guide us in our deliberations
and to provide us with direction on these agenda items. She welcomed the youth and thanked Chief Glen
Ross and the citizens of OCN for their warm welcome. She also thanked Elder John Bignell for his
pipe ceremony and the Elder for his prayer.
She welcomed the Chiefs to this leadership circle and reminded the
Chiefs to be mindful of this. She looks
forward to fruitful discussions as our citizens have entrusted us to make the
right decisions for our children and for our future generation. These issues presented before us are more
than just about gaming, tobacco and unity, but are issues of defending our
treaty rights. We have a responsibility
to ensure that we defend them on behalf of our children and she asked the
Elders to guide us over these next three days.
He greeted everyone in attendance here this
morning. He then thanked the Elders and
inviting the Creator to be among us today and thanked the Drum Group for their
songs by which we opened this Assembly and todays deliberations. As the Grand Chief, he welcomed all Chiefs, their
respective staff and all others to this very important annual general assembly.
He hoped that all the comprehensive materials and all preliminary committee
discussions will ensure that we have not only a well organized enjoyable
Assembly but also to ensure that we make excellent and far-reaching decisions
on these very important agenda items. He thanked the community and the volunteers of the
Opaskwayak Cree Nation for their hard work and hospitality. He spoke to the mandate of his office as outlined in
the basis of his election. Upon my election, I promised to strive for: One of our most successful achievements is the
establishment of the First Nation Governance House and Service Centre. The Long
Plain First Nation and the Long Plain First Nation Trust signed a purchase
agreement for the land with Manitoba Hydro on August 3rd, 2006.
Construction of this very important symbol and place of Unity is scheduled for
the Fall of 2007. The Governance
House and Service Centre will be a place where the leadership of First Nations
will come together in unity to address the pressing needs of our people. The
Centre will also be the focus and driving engine of economic development and
will provide the place of focused leadership in addressing the very important
issues such as Treaty Land Entitlement, Economic Development, housing, health
and education. We are at a significant cross-road in our history at which we
will exercise leadership as we work with Canada and Manitoba in claiming our
treaty rights in a progressive context. This past year, AMC opened the EAGLE Urban
Transition Centre, a resource centre for First Nation people moving into
Winnipeg. The EAGLE Centre is a very important source of support for First
Nations people as they transfer their residences into an urban area. We have affected First Nation employment patterns
through agreements made with the Human Resource Association of Manitoba, the
Manitoba Floodway Authority and the City of Winnipeg. These agreements
facilitate the employment opportunities for First Nation citizens within these
large entities. We have been
active in several discussions with Regional Health Authorities with respect to
increasing our access to both services and decision-making. All indications are
that the outcomes of these discussions will result in the establishment of
processes, which will improve services, increase programs and increase
employment opportunities within the respective health authorities. Of equal
importance, the processes will also increase the degree of involvement of First
Nations in decision-making. Of greatest importance in the agreement is the
appointment of a Patient Advocate for First Nations, a new position funded
entirely by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) but located at and accountable to the
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. This will be a key position and will ensure
improved relationships between the medical institutions, First Nations patients
in the WRHA. As a result of innumerable meetings with Ministers
and senior level bureaucrats, and as a result of our consistent and un-bending
messages in words and actions over this past year, our working relationships
with governments has both increased and improved markedly. We now have a very
close working relationship with the Premier of Manitoba and his government; we
also have a similar close relationship with the Honourable Jim Prentice,
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. Our reading of this relationship is
that we will begin to see effects on many of our pressing issues including
Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE), governance and growth in capacity, economic
development and education and training, as well as health. We do not want to be
naοve and simplistic nor do we simply want to have a cordial relationship; we
want these relationships to result in actions that can be seen and felt within
each First Nation. We have initiated
a number of agreements with indigenous peoples in Chile, Bolivia and Columbia.
It is my belief that as we help indigenous peoples in the international context
that we will grow in our own capacity of self government and administration and
our skill and competencies in economic development. Work with similar
organizations elsewhere always provides key long-term opportunities for growth
and development and consistently provides many more benefits for ourselves as
First Nations in Canada. As all of us realize,
it is only a unified voice and a unified organizational reality that will give
us the results that we are entitled to receive. It is only with unity that we
will achieve a quality of life on par with the rest of Canada. And of course
the achievement of unity requires visionary leadership and a concentration on
key outcomes in a very disciplined and organized way. As leaders we must use a
unified voice as our strongest tool in maintaining the nation-to-nation
relationship with Canada and achieve the true spirit and intent of the Treaties
as the First Nations of Canada. He thanked the
First Nations leadership for their discriminating support over the past year
and gave them his solemn commitment to work tirelessly and effectively for the
First Nations of Manitoba. He then outlined the following successes that First
Nations have had over the past year in moving their communities forward and
creating greater opportunities for their people. He recognized that its impossible to list
all accomplishments due to time constraints and the sheer number of community
and individual successes. Here
are a few examples
.. 1. Wuskwatim Dam Project &
the opening of new Training facility in NCN (Nelson House) 2. The creation of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin
Cree Nation 3. Opening of the Rolling River
Gaming facilities as well as their medical centre 4. Creation of the Swan Lake
Urban Reserve 5. The opening of the new
Administration building in Long Plain First Nation and the acknowledgement of
their achievements through the CANDO Award 6. The 10th
Anniversary of the Kikiwak Inn 7. The 1st
Anniversary of the South Beach Casino 8. The opening of the
Pukatawagan Split Lake Rail Road 9. Strengthen educational
partnerships in Pine Creek First Nation with Frontier School Division 10. The growth of economic development
in terms of wind and ethanol projects 11. Continual advocacy of the
AMC with regards to specific First Nations issues such as treaty rights, access
to hydro and capacity development Despite these achievements and successes the road to
development continues to hold many challenges for our leadership and our
people. We must continue to address the
issues of inadequate housing, crumbling infrastructure, lack of health care
resources and limited educational and training programs. If we work together creatively and energetically and
we insist on the implementation of our treaty and Aboriginal rights we will
succeed in beginning to close these gaps that keep us from progressing to the
point, which we all strive to achieve. He then wished the candidates for the upcoming
election of Grand Chief of the MKIO best of luck in their leadership race. ANNUAL REPORT The Executive Director
welcomed Chiefs and First Nation citizens to the AMCs 18th Annual
General Assembly. He acknowledged the
fact that this years report is dedicated to Chief Frances Flett, and spoke to
his commitment, accomplishments and involvement in moving forward First Nation
issues. He then spoke to a few key
issues such as moving forward in this past year on the incorporation of the
Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre and the First Peoples
Development Inc., which has allowed AMC to focus on its mandate of being a
political organization. He then spoke of
the work being done with MKIO, SCO and INAC-MB Region on closing the gap
between Manitoba First Nations and the rest of Canada. He then stated that AMC also continues to
increase and strengthen the numbers and participation of First Nations people
within the labour market by developing partnerships with Manitoba Hydro, the
Winnipeg Floodway Agreement and MTS. He then informed the
Assembly that AMC would be honouring the involvement of the former AMC
Executive Director, Chief Terry Nelson, Roseau
River Anishinaabe Nation, then spoke to the fact that Mr. Carriere played a
pivotal role in decreasing the deficit of AMC during his eleven year tenure
with AMC and as such, that its very important that we honour his commitment to
the sustainability of the organization. FINANCIAL
AUDIT AND AUDITORS REPORT AMC Finance Director spoke
to and reviewed the consolidated Financial Statements ending for the period of
March 31, 2006 for the AMC Secretariat, the Framework Agreement Initiative
(FAI), the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC) and Human
Resource Development Canada (HRDC). Several questions were
raised with respect to the deficits in FAI and MFNERC, the current staffing
complement within the Grand Chiefs office and hiring practices within the
AMC. Both the Executive Director and the
Finance Director responded to these inquiries and promised to provide
information such as the organizational staffing chart of AMC and a chronology
of events leading up the hiring of the new Executive Director. It was also stated by leadership that
financial documents should be sent out to the Chiefs a few weeks prior to the
Annual Assembly to ensure sufficient time for review. MOTION #3 To accept the Annual Report and Financial
Audit as presented. Seconded by: Chief David Crate, Fisher River Cree Nation Vote: 34 in favour, 3 abstentions,
and 1 opposed; motion carried It
was at this point, the Chiefs in Assembly were informed that Nathan McGillvary
was ill and as such, The
Chiefs in Assembly then had a brief discussion as to what issues they would like
to raise prior to Minister Prentice addressing them. Chief Terry Nelson, Roseau River Anishinaabe
Nation requested clarity on the approach to the discussion with Minister
Prentice. He stated that INAC is focused on accountability, primarily the
accountability of First Nations to the Department. There needs to be INAC
accountability to First Nations especially regarding the $9 billion in funding
it receives and on the issues of Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE). First Nations
should be receiving royalties from companies extracting natural resources from
First Nations lands. In one fiscal quarter, Shell Oil Company made $837
million in revenues. First Nations are lacking documentation that shows how
these companies and governments are profiting from the natural resources on
First Nations traditional territories. Governments get more revenue from
natural resources than taxes. Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation has
received the same budget from INAC since 1992; yet, the INAC budget has not
stayed at its 1992 budget figures. Chief
Morris Shannacappo, Rolling River First Nation raised the issue as to where did
the $12 million come from to assist the people of Caledonia. It takes First
Nations about 8 years to get an order in council; yet, the same rules do not
apply to the non-Aboriginal community he then spoke in this traditional
language with respect to these issues. THE HONOURABLE
JIM PRENTICE, MINISTER, INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA (INAC) The Minister opened his remarks by thanking the
Chiefs, Elders and attendees for the opportunity to speak. He stated that part of his wish as the
Minister of INAC is to have a respectful relationship whereby we learn from one
another. He then introduced Rod
Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary for INAC, and stated that as Manitobans, we
should be very proud of the work that he does on our behalf. He then went on to say that it gives him great
pleasure to address the AMC at such an important time in our history. AMC has long been a respected advocate for
First Nations in Manitoba, and are now in a position to play a larger
role. Thanks to the collaborative
efforts of AMC officials, we have begun to make progress on a variety of
critical issues that face their government such as Treaty Land Entitlement,
drinking water and Sectoral governance. He stated that our vision of what should take place
are the same one of greater prosperity and self-sufficiency, and to realize
this vision we have to foster the respect and develop trust to create effective
partnerships both among First Nations and between First Nations and the new
Conservative government. To succeed at
this, we must acquire the skill and creativity, the confidence to design new
initiatives and new approaches. He wants
First Nations to know that he is open to new and creative approaches to some of
the issues that we have been faced with for many years. As Minister of INAC, he has begun implementing a
plan to fulfill this vision. This
three-part plan was raised in Vancouver at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Annual
General Assembly, and is based on many discussions had with First Nation
leaders and based on his time spent (10 years) as co-chair and commissioner of
the Indian Claims Commission. The first part of that plan involves taking immediate
action on quality of life issues such as drinking water, family supports and
education. This government wasted no
time when it came to dealing with these issues.
Within weeks of forming office, they began a partnership with the AFN
and others, and in consultation with them, they initiated a plan for safe
drinking water in First Nation communities.
Planning is also taking place to deal with some difficult issues
relating to womens matrimonial property rights and other circumstances. When he became the Minister, he had asked for a scan
describing the circumstances of First Nations in this country and where there
are women and children living at risk.
His staff came back with over 200 communities in Canada 21 where the
community was judged at risk, and another 170 communities on top of that where
there was high risk which believe it or not, is the lowest standard of
community efforts. So we have 200
communities where a basis necessity such as drinking water is not
available. This governments first budget invested more than
$3.7 billion over two years in support of Aboriginal peoples more than any
previous budget. This budget has
included $450 million to improve the quality of drinking water, housing and
education programs, and to deal with the socio-economic conditions for
Aboriginal women, children, and families; in addition $300 Million to build and
repair off-reserve Aboriginal housing.
Money alone will not resolve the complex and deep-seated problems that
we face and that First Nations face in their community. The second part of the plan involved dealing with
the roots of the problems the archaic and tangled legislative framework that
defines the vast majority of relations between First Nations and their
governments. No one believes that we can
get anywhere with the current version of the Indian Act which is a piece of
legislation that was developed by Confederation coupled with INAC administering
and distributing thousands of contribution agreements. This is not a system of governance that can
sustain itself and is not an appropriate regime to go forward with in
2006. The fact of the matter is, is that First Nations
living on reserve do not have clear standards in education, housing, social
services and other areas. The only children
in Canada that dont have the benefit and the protection of school legislation
dealing with issues like curricula, teaching requirements, teaching
certification requirements, teacher/parent class ratios, the rights as
parents to ensure that their child receives an appropriate education the only
children who dont have that protection are First Nation children living on
reserve. A modern framework must be developed that defines
clear roles and responsibilities, one that sets norms and standards that
stipulate penalties for non-compliance.
To create such a framework requires the vision and participation of all
the First Nations including organizations such as AMC. The third part of the plan involves treaty land
entitlements, additions to reserves and dealing with specific and comprehensive
claims. He is aware that in Manitoba
many treaty land entitlements have yet to be completed. Settlements are about justice, respect and
reconciliation. Negotiated settlements are not only about coming to terms with
the past, but also about building a better future. Each settlement clears a path for
strengthened governance, to new economic and social opportunities. Settlements can mean valuable resources can
be spent on communities rather than court rooms and negotiating tables. The current situation in Manitoba is very
frustrating but there have been some recent developments that inspire some
optimism. Twelve new additions to
reserve have been established in the past year and the business process
improvement (BPI) initiative is starting to simplify matters. This initiative will identify ways to
simplify the reserve identification survey designation process and establish
the performance measures needed to inspire meaningful results. The BPI is definitely a Made in Manitoba
approach which will go along way in ensuring a solution to this issue. He made a commitment to push ahead aggressively to
make sure that we continue to forward with the TLE process. He stated that he would be getting together
with the province to define four-year targets and hold his department
accountable to those targets. The
targets that he is speaking to are 150,000 acres per year for the next four
years in order to clear the backlog.
This will take some resources from INAC and the province has indicated
that they are willing to work with Canada to make this happen. As such, they are looking for a commitment
from First Nations to move forward. He stated that collaboration is a theme that has
emerged from his discussions with AMC and as such AMC must play a central role
in the design and implementation of solutions to problems that we face. He looks forward to hearing our ideas and
solutions raised here at this Assembly and he is convinced that his three-part
plan will foster self-sufficiency and accountability two elements that are
key to prosperity. This plan will help
us meet the objectives and build on the good will and cooperative spirit that
they have established over the last few years between first Ministers and
leaders of national organizations. Our
approach is to recognize that no single solution will prove effective for
communities but we will continue to find solutions. In many cases, First Nations might find it
beneficial to copy elements of agreements or plans that are being followed in
other jurisdictions. At this moment, there are several factors that could
give Canada unprecedented opportunity to improve the lives of First Nations
people. The economy is strong and
growing, commodities are sought after, commodity prices are high, and the
resource sector is expected to attract billions in new investment and generate
thousands of jobs right here in the backyards of First Nations. So we have to
take advantage of those opportunities that present themselves. We must ensure that First Nations have the
capacity to be part of those opportunities, to increase their participation in
the economy. This government is proud to
support economically feasible projects that enjoy community support such as the
Wuskwatim Hydro project in Nelson House Cree Nation. So leading organizations such as AMC have a vital
role to play, working with myself as Minister and the department looking at
best practices that we can pick up from the rest of Canada. He stated that he was aware of the work done
to date on the Agreement in Principle (AIP) on self governance and education in
Manitoba, and education is critical in Manitoba. He stated that one out of every six Aboriginal
people in Canada live in Manitoba. We
have the largest urban population and one of the largest youth population. The current educational system is not working
to acceptable standards. The educational
attainment levels that his department is receiving for on-reserve First Nation
students in Manitoba are the lowest in Canada. 65% of Canadian children finish
high school, 37% of First Nations children finish high school but here in
Manitoba only 28% complete grade 12. If our children are well educated, then they are
equipped to go out as confident young adults in the world and will have a
direct bearing on all of the wonderful things that can be accomplished. He spoke of the new education model that was
signed in BC which is a tripartite agreement.
It is a system whereby a First Nation Education Authority is operated by
First Nation citizens that will ensure culturally sensitive education for First
Nation students. The province has come
to this table to work with First Nations to ensure that the school system meets
minimum provincial standards and that there are standards for teachers
curriculum, teaching certification requirements, and that teacher/student
ratios that apply provincially will apply on reserve. There will be annual testing of these
children and those tests will be made public.
He stated that this is the future of education and its happening right
now in BC, and they are not far away setting up final agreements in Ontario, in
Nova Scotia and Alberta. He challenged
the Chiefs to reach consensus on this issue and to find a way forward and to do
so quickly. In closing, he stated that his government is
determined to work in partnership with First Nation leadership, with the Inuit,
the Metis in order to set and achieve clear goals. To accomplish these goals, he needs strong
partners partners who are ready to meet target to achieve clear roles and
responsibilities and to be held accountable for their actions. He is convinced that the AMC is keen to join
and deliver real results for First Nations people in Manitoba. The
floor was then opened up for discussion and the Chair then began to take
questions for Minister Prentice. Chief Terry
Nelson, Roseau River Anishinaabe Nation stated that with respect to the new
legislative frameworks and the penalties for non-compliance, that there appears
to be no penalties for non-compliance for the Department or Canada. He
questioned, regarding the issue of urban reserves for First Nations prosperity,
is the federal government willing to give First Nations reasonable time frames,
equal to those given to non-First Nations, for land conversion. Is there a
possibility for interim steps such as an Agreement in Principle (AIP) or
remission order. Minister
Prentice responded that accountability is a two-way street. First Nations are
entitled to accountability on the part of the federal government. INAC is the
largest, most diversified department in the federal government. He also stated
that the reserve designation process is too long and expensive. He will be
taking steps to streamline the process, which currently has 26 steps. His is
committed to the target of 150,000 acres per year over to the next four years
to clear away the backlog. Chief
Nelson stated he is tired of First Nations being referred to as a burden to
taxpayers. When in fact, the government and Canadian businesses continue to
profit from the natural resources from First Nations traditional territories.
In Manitoba, 80% of the resources come from the north, yet First Nations here
are impoverished. He questioned will the government look at First Nations receiving
royalties from natural resources extraction.
Minister
Prentice responded that the federal government does not intend to levy
royalties on companies. First Nations are a part of economic development
successes, such as the Deh Cho in Northwest Territories. They make up 40% of
the work force in diamond mining there. Regarding government revenues, we need
to work together and take a look at different models of economic development in
pursuing First Nations self-government. The Yukon agreements are working. They
have their own taxation. Chief
Glen Ross, Opaskwayak Cree Nation stated that First Nations manage their
funding properly, but that we do not have a tax base. He agrees with Chief Terry
Nelson in that there needs to be resource revenue sharing with First Nations.
Federal and provincial governments need to meet with First Nations and involve
us in a wide range of issues affecting us. Minister
Prentice agreed and acknowledged that First Nations are partners in Canadas
future. He referred to the fact that Chief Darcy Bear and the Whitecap Dakota
Nation took their land out from under the Indian Act and established a
servicing agreement with the municipality to develop its own golf course and
commercial real estate ventures. This is one model of economic development, but
may not work everywhere. Chief
George Kemp, Berens River First Nation, stated he is attempting to bring
together a coalition of First Nations communities without road access. Economic
development and improvements in quality of life cannot happen without road
access. In the last eight years, $56 million has been spent on winter roads. As
such, he stated that he would be tabling a concept with INAC for a $150 million
seasonal road which in 30-40 years will become highways. He stated that he is
encouraged by Minister Prentices commitment to a made-in-Manitoba plan for
economic development. Chief
Morris Shannacappo, Rolling River First Nation expressed his concern about the
penalties for non-compliance referenced by the Minister. He questioned how much
of a deficit is INAC carrying. A few years ago, INAC was to give $4 million to
Rolling River First Nation for a water treatment facility, but a year after
that, it was unilaterally reduced to $2 million. He also questioned where did the
$12 million for the people of Caledonia come from. The
Minister responded the Department is accountable. The $12 million for the
people of Caledonia came from the government of Ontario, and so, he cannot
comment on that. Chief
Dennis Meeches, Long Plain First Nation thanked the Minister for attending the
AMC Assembly as it has been twelve (12) years since a Minister last took the
time to attend one. He stated that the
Minister has set aggressive targets. In 1996, Long Plain First Nation purchased
land in Portage La Prairie and soon came to realize that there is a general
lack of understanding about urban reserves. First Nations people living
on-reserve are forced to migrate to urban centres because of lack of housing,
economic development, etc., and so, we need to go where our people are. The
breach of treaties has allowed First Nations to select and own land in urban
centres. He and his community are
working in partnership with AMC on the First Nations Government House in
Winnipeg. There is room for urban reserves in Winnipeg, and he hopes that the
Minister will support that. Chief
Meeches further stated that the Minister has said much on the issue of economic
development, but little on social issues, such as drug abuse. First Nations
lack treatment centres to deal with these issues that are reaching epidemic
proportions within First Nation communities. He questioned what is the federal
government planning to do about this and other social issues. He would like to
hear more about the Ministers plans for education, as he would like to be
involved. There are also high drop-out rates of First Nations students in urban
areas, and he will be proposing to INAC Manitoba Regional Director General (RDG)
the establishment of a First Nations high school in Portage La Prairie in
cooperation with other First Nations in the area. Lastly, he requested support
from the Minister for funding for a national residential school museum. Chief
Phillip Buck, Mosakahiken Cree Nation stated he would like to see the Minister
have an open door policy to speak with First Nations on the issues he raised in
his address to the Chiefs in Assembly today. He provided a background of his
community, highlighting that there is a 90% unemployment rate and most are
receiving social assistance, yet huge corporations are coming into his
territory and extracting resources from those lands. He requested that the
Minister and the provincial government assist his community in negotiations
with companies. Minister
Prentice replied that being a Chief is one of the toughest jobs in Canada and
that these are issues that we all need to work together on. Chief
Ovide Mercredi, Misipawistik Cree Nation commended the Minister on his agenda,
especially education and his pledge to deal with the failure of the current
system. He remarked that unlike Manitoba, First Nations in British Columbia do
not have treaties. Therefore, that model would not be appropriate in Manitoba,
and instead, a treaty-based model would be appropriate. At this moment in time,
the province has jurisdiction over education, and this is the system that is
imposed upon First Nations. Part of a Manitoba First Nations-based solution on
education would be to roll-back the provinces jurisdiction in this area. But
this does not mean the province will not be involved, but that First Nations
will determine their level of involvement. He believes that the model Chief Dennis
Meeches is proposing is workable, but that excellence in education for First
Nations will require federal funding. Chief
Mercredi stated that he was recently appointed national spokesperson for
Treaties 1-11. He and the Chiefs of Treaties 1-11 would like to meet with the
Prime Minister and Governor General within the next year to discuss, on a
nation-to-nation basis, what can be done about these treaties. Minister
Prentice stated he has been asked by the Prime Minister to take on the issue of
treaties. As a first step, Minister Prentice is willing to sit down with Chief
Mercredi and the Chiefs of Treaties 1-11. He recognizes that there will be a
Manitoba-specific education model, but that the Chiefs of Manitoba need to
determine what is wrong with the current system and go forward, taking into
account lessons learned in other jurisdictions. Chief
Darryl Craig Cook, Bloodvein First Nation, questioned why the Government of Canada
continues to adhere to a policy that only enlarges reserves. He stated that expanding the reserve land
base is not going to solve First Nations problems. He requested that the
federal government increase funding to First Nations by 10% between 2007 and
2008. Minister
Prentice stated he would not commit to that proposed funding increase, but that
the Department will assess all of the needs of First Nations. He stated that
the Department needs to be sure that it is getting value for money. The federal
government is spending $9 billion on Aboriginal services throughout Canada. It
is spending more on First Nations per capita than what the federal and
provincial governments spend on a per capita basis on others. The amount of
funding spent on First Nations education is the same as what the provinces
spend, but the outcomes are not the same for First Nations. It is not a
question of funding, but of the education system. Chief
Billyjo De La Ronde stated his support for the Minister, and that he does not
want 10% more in funding, but is willing to get 10% less in exchange for more
control and authority. His community just contracted the province to bring
education outcomes back up to par. However, jobs have to come with education. Louisiana
Pacific is proposing a 20 year agreement with the province to log, and his
community wants to be a partner in that agreement. He stated that accountability should begin
with the $9 billion spent on Aboriginal people, which does not seem to make its
way to First Nations communities. The
Minister replied that he does not like the current system of accountability
which requires First Nations to fill out hundreds of reports. A more simplified
system is needed with periodic reports. Currently, we are in an evolution
towards First Nations self-government. The Indian Act and the Department need
to facilitate this evolution rather than obstruct it. Chief
Whitecloud, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, thanked the Minister for meeting with
Dakota Chiefs of Manitoba. Sioux Valley Dakota Nation entered into negotiations
for a self-government agreement beginning 10 years ago, and an
Agreement-in-Principle was signed 5 years ago. He requested assurances from the
Minister that First Nations self-government agreements, especially the Sioux
Valley agreement, will be carried through. Minister
Prentice responded that he cannot comment specifically on the Sioux Valley
self-government agreement table. He criticized the former government for an extremely
slow and complicated self-government negotiation process. Chief
Chris Baker, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation asked what kind of flexible funding
arrangements the department is willing to entertain and requested an update on the
shelter allowance issue under the social assistance program. He agreed that the
general public needs to be educated about natural resources sharing and how
First Nations are not a tax burden. He suggested that research be done to
determine what grade level First Nations children are at. For example, students
may be in grade 7 but may be at only the 2nd grade level. Education
is an important issue to address because Canada is facing a shortfall of
workers. Minister
Prentice stated he would like to see a more simplified funding arrangement but
this discussion must go |
