Long Weekend Roundup

Some items of interest for inquiring minds.

The situation at Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation in Ontario (formerly known as Big Trout Lake) is causing quite a stir.

You may have read about it: six members of the First Nation, including the Chief and Deputy Chief, were sentenced to six months in jail for trying to prevent mining exploration company Platinex from drilling in their traditional territory.

Reaction from First Nations and supporters has been particularly strong, including a general backlash against mining in the region. Even the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada calls the situation “sad and disappointing,” and is urging an “amicable, mutually beneficial negotiated resolution.”

The Assembly of First Nations agrees.

There’s a very good Globe and Mail op-ed assessing the situation, but unfortunately it’s behind a subscriber wall. Suffice to say that the question in the title of the article – “Are the KI Six outlaws or prisoners of conscience?” - is not answered explicitly, but the implicit answer is: prisoners of conscience. The only drawback to this analysis is that it neglects to mention that the federal government has the primary responsibility to ensure there is proper, adequate consultation and has a central role as a broker in these processes.

Another interesting news story deals with Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant decrying the lack of investment by the federal government in First Nations. The federal government responds by saying it’s not just about more money, it’s about better spending.

You know what? They’re both right. Clearly more investment is needed because too many First Nation communities simply aren’t safe – there’s dangerous drinking water, unsafe and over-crowded housing, collapsing schools, inadequate funding for health needs and on and on. We need to move quickly to deal with this situation and it will involve equality of funding for First Nations. But yes, we also need to bring some sense to broken system and bureaucracy plagued by duplication, overlap and over-reporting that is not focused on whether or not quality and appropriately funded programs, services and initiatives are actually reaching and benefiting our communities.

Because while the KI story rightfully continues to be a focus of media coverage, tragic stories like this – which touch at the same core issues of Treaty rights, obligations and responsibilities - wrongfully tend to disappear from the front pages all too quickly.
If all levels of government – and all Canadians – understand this reality, we can indeed work towards amicable, mutually beneficial solutions.

As Long as the Sun Shines…

AFN Blog Entry – March 7, 2008

This is going to be interesting.

In case you missed it, the AFN and Canada are convening a conference on Treaty Implementation which will be held this March 26-27 in Saskatoon.

The conference is the first time (ever) that First Nations and the Federal Crown have jointly hosted a conference to look at Treaty implementation.

We know that treaties and Treaty making are central to First Nations. Treaties get to the heart of our nation-to-nation relationship with Canada, confirming the fact that we are and always have been nations. But the federal government has tried to deny or ignore this reality for far too long. This conference will be an opportunity to kickstart the discussion on what the Treaties mean in the new millennium and how we can work to give life to the spirit and intent of the Treaties.

The overall objective of the conference is to bring together the Treaty Partners to discuss the parameters, issues, barriers and mutual benefits of a national Treaty implementation framework. This is a critically important opportunity for Treaty First Nations and the Crown to share their perspectives and understandings of Treaty and to jointly develop common principles to guide this relationship.

Keep checking here for more information as we get closer to the opening day. And we hope to see you there!