Opening of AFN AGA celebrates progress, highlights work still to do
- Katie Doke Sawatzky | July 26, 2017
In his opening remarks at the Assembly of First Nations 38th Annual General Assembly in Regina, National Chief Perry Bellegarde said it was challenging for him to know what to say.
While recognizing the purpose of the assembly is to acknowledge progress that has been made on improvements for First Nations across the country, he also said it is a time to focus on the work that still needs to be done.
Bellegarde did not shy away from talking about a stream of events over the past year that point to what he called the “prevalence of racism and violence”: the killing of Coulten Boushie in Saskatchewan, Barbara Kentner, who was killed by a trailer hitch in a racially motivated assault and Tammy Keeash who drowned in a river, both in Thunder Bay.
“While we are all working to make progress on important issues like clean water, better housing, education and health…we also need to stop the terrible loss of life,” he said. “Racism kills. It is as simple and as tragic as that. This has to end. It’s time for action.”
More from the AFN's AGA:
- Funding announced to make White Bear's water safe
- AFN, federal government announce changes to allow funding carryover
- First Nations, federal government sign accord to restore Indigenous control over children in care
Bellegarde said the key to Indigenous self-determination lies in a move toward citizenship, not membership. He emphasized the importance of land being part of Indian status in order to fulfill what was promised in treaties.
A smile broke across the chief’s face when he spoke about the youth that participated at the North American Indigenous Games and the pride the athletes had in being First Nations. He ended with a similar message to the one he spoke at the opening ceremony of the Games.
“We are still here,” he said. “The best story is still to be written.”
Following Bellegarde, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould explained the federal government’s new 10 principles that will guide its relationship with Indigenous peoples moving forward. Self-government, self-determination and rights, reconciliation and the duty to consult are addressed in the list.
Wilson-Raybould recognized the barrier posed by the Indian Act to self-determination by Indigenous communities.
“Moving into a new post-colonial era, it will be incumbent upon all of us to demonstrate the best of our leadership, values, wisdom, expertise and teaching as we overcome (the Indian Act’s) legacy,” she said.
Wilson-Raybould challenged leaders in the room to consider how they will organize themselves if not in the ways set out in the Indian Act.
“Are your citizens ready for change? What steps must be taken to prepare your citizens for looking at new ways of organizing beyond the Indian Act? Do you have the necessary capacity of tools for change to exercise your right to self-determination?” she asked.
As for what a re-constitution of nations might look like, based on the rights set out in section 35 in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“a full box of rights,” according the minister) and by those described in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Wilson-Raybould said her priority right now is creating a way for communities to figure out that process.
“Currently in Canada there is no mechanism to enable an Indigenous community to move beyond the Indian Act short of going to court or negotiating in very long negotiations,” she said. “So I’m entirely favourable if Indigenous want a mechanism that we work on that mechanism together.”
Wilson-Raybould said a re-constitution of nations might involve looking at what was stated in the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, that Indigenous communities were 60 to 80 nations before contact, but that it is up to the communities to decide how they want to restructure themselves.
The morning ended with a local highlight for Saskatchewan First Nations. World Hockey League star Ethan Bear from Ochapowace First Nation was honoured by his family and community and by Chief Bellegarde for his accomplishments and leadership this past year both on and off the ice.