The 2004 Canadian Election

[media@milesrichardson.ca]

Haida Gwaii wind power project to benefit from Liberal promise, says Aboriginal candidate in NW British Columbia . . .

Press Release

June 3, 2004

LIBERAL PLATFORM COMMITMENT TO BOOST WIND FARM GENERATION GREAT FOR NORTHWEST, SAYS RICHARDSON

Hazelton, BC – Miles Richardson, Liberal candidate for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, said the Liberal platform released today includes initiatives that will help the people of the Northwest, particularly as regards wind farming and innovative energy technologies.

Developing clean, renewable energy sources lessens our reliance on volatile world markets for oil and natural gas, and will help fuel the economic growth anticipated for the Northwest by exploiting our natural resources and advantages without harming the environment.

“The Northwest has always balanced economic growth with protecting the natural beauty of our surroundings, and wind power will fuel our economic growth without having adverse impacts on the environment,” said Richardson. “The Liberal proposal shows a clear path to a goal of having wind power generate 5 % of Canada’s energy, a power source that will create real jobs and real benefits for the people of this riding.”

The Liberal platform includes a three-point plan to quadruple current levels of wind-generated power production. The package includes an incentive program to help make wind-generated power cost-competitive with current fossil fuel energy generation.

A wind power initiative proposed by Nai Kun Wind Development Inc. off the Queen Charlotte Islands is one that will benefit from the Liberal initiative. The 700 mw project, proposed for completion by 2008, would generate enough clean energy to supply 240,000 homes. Approximately 750 full-time jobs would be created in Prince Rupert during the construction phase alone.

"Wind power is an extremely important potential energy resource for northern British Columbia, and Canada in general. We are excited to see that the federal government has recognized the crucial role it has to play in encouraging the development of this source of renewable, environmentally benign energy,” said Michael Altman, president of Uniterre Resources, Nai Kun’s parent company. “The benefits for the people of northern British Columbia, in terms of both employment and economic diversification, are significant.”

In addition to the platform elements announced today, moving forward on a development of this scale will require considerable effort and strong leadership.

“For too long, this region and our economic potential have been unrealized, due largely to ineffective political representation,” said Richardson. “We need to be at the table, promoting our agenda and defending our interests. We need to speak with one voice, a clear voice that cannot be ignored. I believe I can be that voice for all the people of Skeena-Bulkley Valley.”

Contact:
Jeff Jedras, Media Relations
tel. (250) 622-2296

e-mail. media@milesrichardson.ca

[Red Cedar]

kanyon:

re:

Just curious..Is it our desire to be government funded Indians from the cradle to the grave?
When do we start looking after ourselves?
As long as someone else is paying for my self government, I am not free.

"Aboriginal Rights" are entrenched into Section 35 of the Indian Act. Further, according to the Royal Proclamation, non-Natives are not supposed to settle on, or exploit resources on aboriginal lands without first signing Treaties. Most of B. C. is still "unceded territory".

So, are you saying that First Nations should receive nothing for past and present "rental" and "exploitation" of traditional lands? Not to mention all of the injustices that First Nations people have had to endure in terms of lands, culture, traditional economies, religious beliefs and so forth take away, with no adequate means of making a living, or socio-economic values, etc., set up to replace what was stripped away?

I've read one of your posts elsewhere, From what you have written, your father took you off the DIA list as you put it, when you were very small. He probably instilled assimilation values into you as well. Residential schools and colonial mentality in the past, put feelings of shame into some Natives regarding the Government's "fiduciary" obligation to First Nations people. With all due respect, I think I've also read elsewhere that you are a pastor. Could your views regarding this matter have come from a misconstrued notion that Christianity has instilled in you regarding not believing in "aboriginal rights".

When it comes right down to it, are you saying that the Government owes aboriginal people nothing?

[Guest]

Whether we like it or not, the 'foreign' Canadian Goverments does have the power to slowly choke out our rights, and otherwise influence what we as canadians can do. So I ask you this.

What is the greater harm? Voting and facing a possible risk that the white man will use our votes as an excuse to take away our rights? or sitting back while others elect a goverment for us that might very well do the same thing?

Of course use Natives have our own rights! There is no better way to express that then to show our support for the party that supports us best!

Kind Regards, Zero Angel[/quote]

To begin with Zero Angel native people are not Canadians, and secondly if this country's claim to being a sovereign nation, were examined to its historical origins, you would find through their own admission, (because it is recorded in their history books), they do not have native sovereignty nor corporate sovereignty. Nor did they ever have the power or the right to legislate native rights out of existence.

"What is the greater harm? Voting and facing a possible risk that the white man will use our votes as an excuse to take away our rights? or sitting back while others elect a goverment for us that might very well do the same thing?"

************************************************************.
Hello Zero

The fact native people register as voters, validates the government's right to take their rights away. If you want to play the game you have to pay. The thing is the native people have to pay even if they don't vote. Voting won't free them from this.

The only reason the government and their corporate buddies want native people to vote, is that native participation in an election system where they will always be out voted, would give them a veto over all the national concerns and sovereign interests of native people.

No one is electing a government for native people, the government is selling you dupilicitous political process as a path to freedom. The acquistion of lands and resources that this country entire economic system is dependant is based on the oppression of the native people, and the government is not going to let native people to become politically or economically independant, so they can become major competitors for lands and resources they all ready own.

We are not Canadians, do not be taken by this fraudulent political process and assimilation (termination) program. Peace Immortal Thunder.

[Immortal Thunder]

Just curious..Is it our desire to be government funded Indians from the cradle to the grave?
When do we start looking after ourselves?
As long as someone else is paying for my self government, I am not free.

The thing is native people, have not only been paying for their confinement on reserves, they have been paying for the Canadian government, through the payments this government owes them, for selling their lands and resources to foreign countries and corporations.

Native people never surrendered their lands and resources to them and the only right Indian treaties ever guaranteed them, is the exclusive right to purchase native lands and resources from the native people. Anything else was assumed by them. They broke all of the treaties, so they through their own volition surrendered this exclusive right and released native people from this commitment. Peace Immortal Thunder.

[Guest]

National Aboriginal Leaders Call on Stephen Harper to Explain Position on Offensive Writings of Tom Flanagan, Conservative Party of Canada's National Campaign Chair

June 7, 2004

The leaders of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada today called on Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper to explain his position on the writings and statements of Tom Flanagan, Senior Advisor to the
Conservative Leader and National Campaign Chair for the Conservative Party.

Métis National Council President Clément Chartier, Assembly of First
Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President
Jose Kusugak are all calling on the Conservative leader to provide a clear
answer as to whether or not he agrees with the antiquated, ill-informed,
regressive and offensive writings of Mr. Flanagan in articles and books such as First Nations?, Second Thoughts (see attachment of selected quotes)

"The reality is that if Flanagan was making these kinds of statements
about any other group in Canada - Jewish, Italian, French - he would not be given a senior role in a major national party and would more likely be exiled into the political wilderness," said AFN National Chief Fontaine. "So I stand today with my fellow leaders to ask the Conservative Party leader two straightforward questions: Does the Conservative leader support or disavow the writings and positions of Tom Flanagan on Aboriginal peoples? And what role, if any, will Flanagan play in the Conservative Party's Aboriginal policy?

These are legitimate questions and the answers will illuminate how the
Conservative Party plans to deal with our people and our issues."

Flanagan has spoken against Canada's Constitution as it relates to
Aboriginal peoples and rights and has argued that the best approach for
Aboriginal policy is full and outright assimilation. MNC President Chartier
notes that Flanagan has focused considerable energy insulting the Métis,
calling them an "economically marginal, incohesive assortment of heterogeneous groups", and has written about strategies to "minimize the damage caused by the thoughtless elevation of the Métis to the status of a distinct 'aboriginal' people".

"The fact that Mr. Flanagan is in a position of power to influence the
Conservative Party is of real concern to our people and should be to all
Canadians," said MNC President Chartier. "Flanagan's position on Aboriginal peoples is one of denial, assimilation and non-recognition of our
Constitutional rights. His positions are counter to many Supreme Court of
Canada decisions, including the landmark Powley decision which affirmed Métis have existing Aboriginal rights protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. We are calling on Mr. Harper to denounce Mr. Flanagan's insulting and outdated positions."

ITK President Kusugak stated: "We are asking these questions because we
are not going to pre-judge the Conservative leader, his party or his platform.

The Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney did some positive things for the Inuit such as initiating the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, settling the Nunavut land claim and creating the territory of Nunavut. We want to know if the new Conservative Party will recognize the legal and constitutional rights of Aboriginal peoples, or will it take the narrow, assimilationist 'melting pot' approach that Flanagan advocates? We are asking early in the campaign so that the Conservative leader has plenty of time to respond and we will then be better able to decide how to cast our votes on June 28th."

The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is the national organization representing
Inuit in Canada.
The Métis National Council is the national organization representing the
Métis Nation.
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing
First Nations citizens in Canada.



Attachment: Excerpts from Tom Flanagan's Book First Nations?, Second
Thoughts (June 2000)

EXCERPTS FROM TOM FLANAGAN'S BOOK FIRST
NATIONS?, SECOND THOUGHTS (JUNE 2000)
-------------------------------------

"European Civilization was several thousand years more advanced than the aboriginal cultures of North America, both in technology and social organization."

"Sovereignty is an attribute of statehood, and aboriginal peoples in Canada had not arrived at the state level of political organization prior to contact with Europeans."

"Owing to this tremendous gap in civilization, the European colonization of North America was inevitable and, if we accept the philosophical analysis of John Locke and Emer de Vattel, justifiable."

"Current public policy... is flooding reserves with money, enticing people back, enticing people to stay and weakening their resolve to participate in Canadian society."

"Aboriginal government is fraught with difficulties stemming from small size, an overly ambitious agenda, and dependence on transfer payments."

"In practice, aboriginal government produces wasteful, destructive, familistic factionalism."

"Perhaps the damage to Canada would be tolerable if it meant that aboriginal peoples would escape from the social pathologies in which they are mired to become prosperous, self-supporting citizens"

"Prosperity and self-sufficiency in the modern economy require a willingness to integrate into the economy, which means, among other things, a willingness to move to where jobs and investment opportunities exist."

"Contemporary judicial attempts to redefine aboriginal rights are producing little but uncertainty. Recent Supreme Court of Canada decisions define aboriginal title in a way that will make its use impossible in a modern economy."

"The treaties mean what they say. Their reinterpretation... has the potential to be both expensive and mischievous for the economies of all provinces in which treaties have been signed."

For further information: Stephen Hendrie, Director of Communications,
ITK, 613-277-3178; Miles Morrisseau, Director of Communications, MNC,
613-232-3216, ext 110; Don Kelly, AFN Communications Director, 613-241-6789 ext. 320; Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor, AFN National Chiefs Office 613-241-6789 ext. 243 or cell 613-298-6382

[Guest]

Election 2004 - Questions and Answers about the position of the 'right'.

News and Comment
by Tehaliwaskenhas
Bob Kennedy,Oneida

Copyright
Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

June 8, 2004

Turtle Island Native Network questioned the new Conservative Party about its Aboriginal policy.

After checking their web site and finding it lacking in details about how they would address issues affecting Aboriginal peoples in Canada, I posed some basic questions, to one of their outspoken MPs from Saskatchewan. However, instead answers came from a British Columbia MP.

(NOTE: I have added the headings)

Here's the e-mail response . . .

To: Bob Kennedy

From: John Duncan

I am writing to you in response to the questions you posed to Garry Breitkreuz, as I hold the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio.

Self-Government
-------------------
A Conservative government would continue to negotiate treaties in the North and in B.C., self-government agreements will be pursued with progressive bands, as was recently concluded by the Westbank First Nation in Kelowna, B.C.

Justice
--------
Separate sentencing for aboriginals is not addressed in our policy. This is a justice issue and not an aboriginal issue -- as is the question regarding prison population. I believe early intervention is a better approach to high aboriginal incarceration rates and should by the priority for government.

First Nation Reserves
------------------------
Our policy promotes expansion of private property rights on reserves to encourage mortgage lending and private housing (our policy addresses this).

Urban Reserves
------------------
The transition from reserve to urban setting can be difficult and the expansion of the role of Friendship Centres is an appropriate priority for achieving this.

Creation of urban reserves is essentially a municipal issue.

Education and Jobs
---------------------
Saskatchewan does have a huge challenge facing it in regards to aboriginal education and employment issues due to the growth in the aboriginal population. The key is education, and the Conservative Party wants to ensure improved access to learning through changes to the student loan criteria, and better funding arrangements with the provinces, that will assist in lower tuition. We will also provide first year tuition grants for students from low income families.

A Conservative Government, in consultation with the provinces and aboriginals, will support the principle of allowing parents to choose which schooling they want for their children, with funding following the students.

I hope these answers go some way towards responding to your questions.

Sincerely,

John Duncan

electduncan@telus.net

http://www.duncanmp.com

-----------------

BACKGROUND

More about the new Conservative Party and its policies

http://www.turtleisland.org/news/elect2004.htm

http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/ ... =3176#3176

http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/ ... =3139#3139

------------------

A Look at the Roots of the Aboriginal Policy of the Conservative Party

Source: John Duncan's web site
http://www.duncanmp.com/ab-affairs/task-content.html

1995 Reform Party Aboriginal Affairs Task Force Report

Our goal as Reformers is to work toward eliminating all legal and constitutional forms of discrimination. In our travels, the most consistent message we heard from Task Force participants was that it is wrong to divide Canadians on the basis of race. We also heard a strong message in favour of protecting individual rather than collective rights for all Canadians regardless of race.

However, it is clear from the courts that Aboriginal Canadians do possess certain rights - not including sovereignty - that cannot and should not be abolished without compensation.

However, it would be wrong to claim that the special distinctions and residual rights that Indians have places them in a privileged position. Clearly Native Canadians have been the worst victims of three centuries of racial divisions and stand to gain far more than anyone else from a new approach to Aboriginal affairs.

Many Indian leaders have publicly expressed the view that any political party advocating a policy that does not recognise their own free and full authority to self-government, including separate nationhood will not be acceptable to them. In fact, an Indian leader in Saskatchewan was recently quoted as stating that the Reform Party was a direct threat to their goals and that every effort should be made to defeat Party candidates at the next election!

On the other hand, the majority of grassroots Aboriginal persons appearing before the Task Force aired some very serious concerns about their own leaders; there were serious allegations of housing, welfare and education allowance frauds, misappropriation of funds and nepotism, among their own people. Many persons said that they had little or no interest in self-government if devolution merely means that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs will be replaced by a politically powerful, elite and autocratic Chief and Council. Several specific allegations of political interference and corruption were reported to the Task Force.

In all cases, there was an undercurrent of distrust towards the Department and/or enforcement officials because of their apparent reluctance to get involved in matters that may impact on current Indian leadership. As a result, many rank and file Indian people are looking to Reform for a reasoned and rational approach to these issues; an approach that emphasizes equality for all while recognising and respecting Indian treaties.

The Métis

Section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982 defines the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, to include the Métis. It is, however, generally agreed that this does not necessarily imply that the Métis are a responsibility of the federal government.

While there may be some compelling arguments for including the Métis under federal jurisdiction there is limited rationale for doing so. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the Métis, with their various methods of identification as "Métis", are more appropriately a provincial responsibility. This position is further strengthened by the fact that the Manitoba Act (1870) and the Métis Betterment Act of Alberta (which followed the Métis Settlement Act) clearly accepted the Métis societies of Manitoba and Alberta as provincial responsibilities in such areas as economic, political, social and cultural development.

Since the resources and responsibility for the delivery of Métis services should be given to the level of government closest to the people who receive them, we recommend that jurisdiction for Métis remain with the provinces. Maintaining provincial jurisdiction supports the ultimate goal of ending special federal programs for Aboriginal peoples and ensuring that all Canadians are eligible for the full array of government programs.


----

The highlights of existing Reform policy on Aboriginal Affairs (1995) are:

The Party supports the establishment of a new relationship with Aboriginal peoples beginning with a Constitutional Convention of Aboriginal representatives, to consider their position on (1) the nature of Aboriginal rights, (2) their relationship with the various levels of government and (3) how to reduce their economic dependence on the federal government.

The Party supports the federal government enabling Aboriginal individuals, communities and organizations to assume full responsibility for their well being by involving them in the development, delivery and assessment of government policies affecting them. This would proceed with the goals of:

replacing the Department of Indian Affairs with accountable agencies run by and responsible to Aboriginal peoples, and;

improving the current economic state of Aboriginal peoples by encouraging their full participation in Canada's economic life and achievement of a state of self reliance.

The Party supports processes leading to the early and mutually satisfactory conclusion of outstanding land claim negotiation.

The Party supports the principle that Aboriginal individuals or groups are free to preserve their cultural heritage using their own resources.


------

This is what John Duncan said about the Nisga'a Treaty and treaty negotiations in BC

At the end of the treaty-making exercise, unless the present course of action is reformed, the economic base and social and political fabric of British Columbia will be drastically changed forever.

With 60 or more treaties like the Nisga'a deal, British Columbians will wake up to discover that our governments have greatly diminished the public land and resource base of the province, which is our greatest source of wealth; that they have paid out billions of dollars in cash; that they have eroded the province's tax base; that they have destroyed the province's commercial fishery, which, until recently, has been impartially regulated without regard to race; and that they have authorized the establishment of 60 or more ethnic-based governments, (financed forever, largely by the Canadian taxpayer,) whose laws in many instances will supplant the laws applicable to other Canadians.

All this for less than three per cent of the population of the province with only half of them living on reserves or pursuing what can remotely be considered to be the traditional native lifestyle.

http://www.duncanmp.com/nisga'a/nisga'a.html

[Josh@chrisshade.ca]

TEN REASONS WHY ABORIGINAL PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE LIBERAL


1. The Liberal Party of Canada is running the largest number of Aboriginal candidates of any party in this election, and it its history. These candidates are:

Hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrew Western Artic
Joe Dion Westlock St. Paul
Al Ducharme Churchill River
Ron Evans Churchill
Nancy Karetak-Lindell Nunavut
Lawrence O’Brien Labrador
Miles Richardson Skeena—Bulkley Valley
Chris Shade MacLeod
David Smith Pontiac


2. The Liberal Party, by creating the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission, is the only federal political party that has an established Commission for Aboriginal peoples, guaranteeing full participation at all levels of the Party.

3. In April 2004, a new era began in terms of Canada’s relationship with Aboriginal Peoples with the first ever Canada–Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable held in Ottawa. This event brought together over forty government representatives, including more than two dozen Cabinet Ministers, with over 70 national Aboriginal leaders from across Canada to discuss solutions to the issues facing Aboriginal communities.

4. The Paul Martin Liberal government has brought a renewed focus on Aboriginal issues, through the creation of a new Parliamentary Secretary on Aboriginal Affairs, who reports directly to the Prime Minister and through the creation of an Aboriginal Secretariat in the Privy Council Office.

5. The Liberal Party Platform is the only policy document that deals directly with the issues of ALL of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples – First Nations, the Metis nation and the Inuit. The Liberal Platform also deals directly the needs of increasing Aboriginal populations in urban centers.

6. The Liberal Party is committed to upholding and affirming Treaty rights and recognizes that self-government is an important goal to ensure self-sufficiency and self-determination for Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

7. Elections are about choices, and a vote for a Liberal candidate will ensure that the Conservatives, who carry the ideological baggage of the old Alliance party and who demonstrate contempt for the historic Aboriginal rights and agreements entrenched in Canada’s Constitution, will not have a chance to carry out their destructive and assimilationist policies for Aboriginal peoples.

8. A vote for a Liberal candidate will ensure support for a party that has a real capacity to make good on their election promises, unlike the NDP which has admitted that it does not have a chance to form the next government.

9. A vote for a Liberal candidate in Quebec will ensure that the Bloc Québecois party will not be able to carry out its agenda of separation from Canada.

10. The Liberal government has tackled the deficit and put the country’s finances in order, through seven consecutive balanced budgets. This has ensured that a new Liberal government will have the fiscal capacity to deliver on their social and economic commitments to ensure a better future for Canada’s Aboriginal peoples.

Joshua Fraser
Josh@chrisshade.ca

(Josh is a member of the Urban Aboriginal community of Calgary, Alberta)

[Josh@chrisshade.ca]

The Canadian Alliance on Aboriginal Issues:

The Canadian Alliance uses words like “equal opportunity” and “property rights” and “individual empowerment”, and they talk about including “all stakeholders” (aboriginal and non-aboriginal) in treaty negotiations. With regard to self-government, they say they support it as a form of “local government”. All of these words and phrases sound very positive and noble. However, what the Alliance is doing when they talk about “equality” and “individual rights” for natives, is actually an attempt to undermine the hard-fought group rights of First-Nations peoples. In treating an aboriginal person, as an individual, like any other person – and in treating their governance structures as just another municipal government – it fails to recognize the unique cultural, historical, constitutional and treaty relationship between the federal government and the native peoples of Canada. The Alliance party rhetoric would have Canadians forget this. The Alliance opposed the Nisga’a treaty. They oppose native self-governance. They believe First Nations Peoples should be treated no differently than non-aboriginal people. That is what they mean by “equal rights”. Theirs is a thinly-veiled agenda for assimilation.

Stephen Harper is opposed to aboriginal self government not because of any principle but because he is worried about the cost:

The cost of social programs and Native self-government concerns the Reform party, Mr. Harper said. "One anxiety with both of them will be the financial implications those provisions will have on future federal governments," he said. (Hamilton Spectator, July 9, 1992)

Indeed, the Canadian Alliance criticisms of Bill C-7 have more to do with its cost than the substance of the Bill:

“The FNGA, with its annual price tag, will waste valuable resources and do nothing to address the serious issues of housing, skills development, and human rights,” stated Pallister. “This the most expensive and least effective model of governance ever proposed. The Liberal government’s approach will entrench differences, subordinate individual rights to collective rights and forever disengage Aboriginals from the rest of Canada.” (Brian Pallister, Press Release, June 5, 2003)

The official Alliance position on self-government is that it should resemble municipal governments:

“Aboriginal self-government will be a delegated municipal level of government rather than a sovereign third order of government.” (Canadian Alliance Declaration of Policy, May 2002)

“The treaties will, if they continue in the mold of the Nisga’a treaty, create 50 or more autonomous states within in what up until now has been a single province.” (John Cummins, Delta-South Richmond, Submission to the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, October 18 2001)

The Reform-Alliance brags that it was the only federal party to oppose the Nisga’a agreement.

"This treaty [Nisga'a agreement] will haunt Canadians for generations to come. … As the details and implications of this precedent-setting document become known to Canadians, it will become obvious that the Liberal and New Democratic Party Governments of Canada and British Columbia have rejected the concept of one law for all Canadians. … This treaty will haunt Canadians and will be a playground for lawyers for generations to come." (John Duncan, Vancouver Island North, Press release, February 15, 1996)

"[Aboriginals] are being locked into an old-fashioned feudal system we grew out of centuries ago. They are being locked into it by the style of negotiations taking place."
-Jim Gouk, MP (Kootenay-Boundary-Okanagan) Hansard, Nov. 5, 1998

The Canadian Alliance on land claims and “conquered peoples”:

“Our position in land claims negotiations will be to ensure respect for existing private property rights, affordable and conclusive settlement of all claims, and an open and transparent process involving all stakeholders. We will protect the democratic rights and freedoms of individual aboriginals, and establish their right to private ownership of property.” (Canadian Alliance Declaration of Policy May 2002)

"According to [Dave Chatters] Ottawa has molded its native policy on the assumption that natives have special rights to the land and sovereign authority. 'That's so much rubbish, that whole thing. This whole land claim fiasco that is going on all over the country is a fraud.' Natives should be treated the same as other Canadians, said Chatters. They were conquered and must therefore live by the laws of this nation. 'The Europeans came to this country 300 years ago and opened it up and settled it and because we didn't kill the Indians and have Indian wars, that doesn't mean we didn't conquer these people,' says Chatters. 'If they weren't in fact conquered, then why did the aboriginal people allow themselves to be herded into little reserves in the most isolated, desolate, worthless parts of the country?' … 'It's been commonplace for these aboriginal people to be running around in masks, waving AK47s. The government needs to send a message that the law applies to all Canadians.' …'Quite frankly, if it was a non-aboriginal person that tried to set up a roadblock on Highway 18 and tried to stop traffic it would take about five minutes to have them in jail and if it required shooting to do that, they would do it.'
(Westlock News, September 4, 1995, p. 5)

The Alliance opposes what it refers to as “special rights” for First Nations:

“There was a time in B.C. history when aboriginals were at the centre of virtually every social and economic activity in the province as full partners, not as members of a special rights class.” (John Cummins, Delta-South Richmond, Submission to the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, October 18 2001)

“We will not support race-based allocation of harvest rights to natural resources.” (Canadian Alliance Declaration of Policy May 2002)

Regarding Native fishing rights:

“There is worldwide condemnation of economic segregation as unjust and immoral. No matter what rhetoric a government uses to rationalize economic entitlement based on race such policies will not stand the test of time but collapse under their own contradictions.”
(John Cummins, Delta-South Richmond,
Press Release, August 30, 2001)

Regarding residential schools:

"Sure, and this has been admitted, there were perverts and sadist in the system, as there are everywhere in society. But that does not condemn the entire system which by and large was run by dedicated, sensitive people who really had the best interests of students at heart."
Lee Morrison, MP (Cypress Hills-Grasslands)
Calgary Herald, May 2, 1998, A19

Quotes and Lo-lites:

John Cummins’ opposition to native fishing rights led him to the extreme measure of taking the law into his own hands. He, along with several other non-native B.C. salmon fishermen were charged in September 2002 for unsanctioned fishing in protest of the aboriginal food fishery catches by the Katzie Band in the preceding weeks.

“There are many ways to include aboriginal women in things. In my instance, my wife is aboriginal, so that does lend a little spice at home and there isn’t thin soup on the home front.”
(John Duncan, Vancouver Island North,
Aboriginal Affairs Committee, June 4, 1996)

Herb Grubel, a former Reform MP, characterized Canadian aboriginals as children spoiled by a "rich uncle". He compared Indian reservations to "south sea islands."

"We have been misguided when in the past we have given in to the demand of the native community to give them more physical goods, to allow them to live on their south sea island equivalent."
(Herb Grubel, Former Reform MP,
Hansard, June 9, 1994)

"Indians will never be treated equally in Canada until they assimilate, a Reform party official says. Instead of looking to the past and claiming special status, they should get out and be part of the social mainstream, said Gee Tsang of Saskatoon, head of Reform's effort to reach out to ethnic communities. In Saskatchewan, Indians are 'a target of charity, and they always try to say we are native people and we are not Canadian', Tsang said in a telephone interview from Saskatoon. 'The way they think, they will never become Canadian . They will never be treated equal. …They (Indians) should look forward and use the past as a lesson for the future rather than just dwell in the past all the time' " (Gee Tsang, Reform Executive Councillor, Toronto Star, Sept. 17, 1997, A6) *Tsang became Chairman of the Reform Party in May 1998


Joshua Fraser
Josh@chrisshade.ca

(Josh is a member of the Urban Aboriginal community of Calgary, Alberta)

[www.turtleisland.org]

Election Campaign 2004

Liberals gain endorsement as political distance widens, between Aboriginal Canadians and Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party. . .

News and Comment
by Tehaliwaskenhas
Bob Kennedy,Oneida
Copyright
Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

June 10, 2004

First Nation and Metis leaders in Ontario are offended by Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party attitudes toward Aboriginal Canadians. Grand Council Chief Earl Commanda of the Anishinabek Nation and Tony Belcourt, President of the Metis Nation of Ontario, say they have the support of Anishinabek Chiefs and the Provisional Council of the Metis Nation of Ontario, to announce their endorsement of the Liberal Party of Canada in the federal election on June 28th.

In Vancouver, the leadership of the Metis Nation is taking action in response to recent comments by Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper, that they will be forgiven because, "I am a forgiving lot".

In a media advisory, it was announced that Metis leaders from Ontario westward will be making an announcement to their people with respect to supporting the various parties in the upcoming federal election. Responding to the comments by Harper, "Forgiven, for what? Because we ask legitimate questions about his platform and his views on the negative writings of Conservative Party Co-Chair, Thomas Flanagan, with respect to the Metis people?"

Grand Council Chief Earl Commanda of the Anishinabek Nation and Tony Belcourt, President of the Metis Nation of Ontario will elaborate on their stance, at a news conference at the Native Canadian centre in Toronto.
(11 a.m. Thursday June 10, 2004)

Meanwhile, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver (9:30 a.m.), Metis Nation leaders will respond to what they call, Steven Harper's paternalistic and dismissive comments that Aboriginal people will be "forgiven" for legitimate questions posed on Aboriginal policies.

In attendance will be Clement Chartier, President of the Metis National Council, David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation, Audrey Poitras, President of the Metis Nation of Alberta, Gary Lipinski, Chair of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Harley Desjarlais, President of the Metis Provincial Council of British Columbia, Lorna Docken, Acting President of the Metis Nation - Saskatchewan, Jennifer Brown, Chair of the Metis National Youth Advisory Council and Rosemarie MacPherson, Spokesperson for the Metis Womens Secretariat.

BACKGROUND

Metis Nation leadership encourages citizens to vote Liberal in upcoming federal election

June 10, 2004

Click on link for details of the Metis announcement
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/ ... =3216#3216

--------------------

The Anishinabek and Metis Nations are lending their support to the Liberals in the upcoming June 28 federal election.

June 10, 2004

"The Liberal government under Paul Martin has initiated a positive agenda
to reduce poverty on First Nations communities, and we want to give him the opportunity to move forward on that agenda," said Earl Commanda, Grand Council Chief of the 42-member Anishinabek Nation.

"Having carefully examined the platforms and track records of all parties
contesting the June 28 federal election, we have decided that the Liberal
Party has demonstrated the best understanding and greatest commitment to ensuring that Canada honours its fiduciary obligation to uphold aboriginal and treaty rights. Whichever party forms the next government will need to demonstrate a greater sense of urgency to accomplishing results on the aboriginal file, but we feel that, to date, the Liberals have shown the best intentions in that direction."

"We are urging all our citizens to exercise their right to vote in this
important election, a right fought for by our political organizations and
veterans over the years," Commanda added.

Chiefs attending the June 1-3 Anishinabek Grand Council Assembly endorsed a resolution of support for the Liberal Party and specifically directed the Grand Council Chief and Deputy Chief to advance First Nation issues during the election campaign. The resolution also acknowledged the importance of active participation by eligible voters among the Anishinabek Nation's 45,000 citizens.

The Provisional Council of the Metis Nation of Ontario unanimously voted
to urge its citizens to vote for Liberal candidates June 28.

"First Nations and aboriginal populations are the fastest-growing of any
group in Canada," said Grand Council Chief Commanda. "Their voice in the electoral process potentially carries a lot of weight. It is important that
politicians recognize that there is a large block of votes here that they
should not ignore. There are at least 60 federal ridings across Canada - many of them in Ontario - where a substantial turnout by our citizens could easily have an impact on the election outcome."

The Anishinabek Nation incorporated the Union of Ontario Indians as its
secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 42 member First
Nations across Ontario. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political
organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of
Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

For further information: Maurice Switzer, Director of communications,
Union of Ontario Indians, info@anishinabek.ca, (705) 497-9127 (Ext. 2272), Cell: (705) 498-5032

------------------

Métis And First Nations People Offer Unprecedented Endorsement Of Paul Martin
June 10, 2004

For the first time in their history, Métis and First Nation groups today urged their members to support a political party.

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and the Union of Ontario Indians
endorsed Prime Minister Paul Martin and the Liberal Party because of concern their rights are under threat from the Conservatives.

Both groups told a news conference that constitutional rights, recently
recognized by the courts, will not be protected under a Conservative
government led by Stephen Harper.

"The fact that we have decided to endorse a political party for the first
time in Canadian electoral history is testament to the severity of our concern of the potential outcome," said Tony Belcourt, MNO president.

A Conservative government led by Stephen Harper would be a setback for
gains won by Métis and First Nations in the courts, the groups said.

"It is imperative that we speak out now to call attention to the threat
this could pose to the protection of our rights and to the values we uphold as tax-paying Canadians," Mr. Belcourt said.

Most alarming, the groups said, is Mr. Harper's willingness to use the
Notwithstanding Clause to trump and rollback constitutional rights.

"His desire to use partisan political muscle to override the Courts on
issues such as hard-fought women's rights and the rights of homosexuals is also a threat to Métis women and two-spirited Métis people," Mr. Belcourt said.

"We welcome the firm resolve of Paul Martin to protect the rights of
minorities," they said.

In the press conference, the groups also referred to the influence of key
Conservative advisors such as Tom Flanagan, who is co-chair of the
Conservative campaign and a senior aide to Mr. Harper. Mr. Flanagan is author of a book which described recognition of Métis people as thoughtless mistake by Canadians.

"We are fully aware of the racist attitudes and intolerant views of many
of their (Conservative) outspoken members," said Mr. Belcourt.

For further information: (613) 783-8852, Liberal Party of Canada

-----------------------

More on this subject
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/ ... =3176#3176

[Red Cedar]

I came across the link to this article in a non-Native forum. I found it very interesting. You have to read the whole article to see what made the non-Native fellow (who wrote the article) decide to move to the "left".

It is a very interesting article. The language is a bit graphic, but it also describes the type of people ("kkk") who would vote for Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party:

"I’m not quite sure when I became a leftist...
I think a defining moment was at a Reform Party meeting though...

Things haven’t changed much in twenty years. They do it for greed and use petty racism as a tool. Radical right Christianity is a major factor, even though most of their policies are anything but Christian. They hide behind politically correct language and deny that it’s got anything to do with getting rich or being racist or thinking that the earth is 6000 years old and dinosaurs are a fairy tale. It’s all guns and money and dominance and death with them in the end though. Listen to what they have to say. I’m not that naive kid bleeding his way back to a Dodge anymore. I’ve learned since then. I become a little more disgusted with the right and all they stand for every single day. I have listened to what the right has to say. I’ve considered what it really means. I’ve watched the way the corporations' mouthpieces go about their business. I’ve seen working people’s wages shrink while the wealthy got obscenely rich. I’ve learned about foreign policies that leave mass graves behind and how readily people will kill for money. I’ve watched them turn water cannon and tear gas on people who protested against what they were doing. So I don’t know exactly when I became a leftist, or that it was any single thing. That one night taught me about the right though. It taught me how dangerous and intolerant they really were and that talking back was frowned upon. It taught me to stay as far away from them as possible...and to keep talking back."

Entire Article:'

http://www.icangripe.com/left1.html

The article was in this forum:

http://www.icangripe.com/

[Red Cedar]

http://thunderbay.indymedia.org/uploads/newsletter_fn_alert_may_04.pdf

According to the above article, the Conservatives and the Liberals are planning to dissolve "aboriginal rights". The Liberals have been in power for a few years, and seem to be already slowly dissolving aboriginal rights, using their "White paper of 1969" to assimate aboriginal people into mainstream Canadian society:

http://members.tripod.com/arcbc/white.htm

With this in mind, I am concerned as to why there are a lot of Natives running for the Liberal Party in this election, and why are there a lot of Native organizations endorsing the Liberal Party in this election? Are Native candidates running for a party that constitutes the lesser of two evils? Or do Native Liberal Candidates and Liberal supporters honestly believe that the Liberals have a good mandate in terms of the continuence of "aboriginal rights"?

I'm voting NDP. I also support the Green Party's mandate. The Conservative Party's views are far right in the political arena, and the Liberal Party's views are right wing as well. I believe that there needs to be representation from the left wing in order to keep the right honest in terms of how the right's political issues affect regular Canadians, aboriginal people and the environment.

[nini67@hotmail.com]

Name: Terry S.

E-mail: nini67@hotmail.com

Comments:

This should not be regarded as hate mail but more to an awareness of the
issues surrounding the Conservative Party of Canada.

I like my country without the racist hordes that this party is feeding on presently. I live in Toronto, Ontario, a somewhat hub of multiculturism. Minority rights will be eliminated once this party is elected.

I am Aboriginal, encountered and survived assimilation, through the Residential School Syndrome,however, my fight to remain an Aboriginal with all the rights that we have will be eroded once the Conservatives win power.

Please help in notifying other Aboriginal communities of the pending disaster that awaits them if this party is elected.

I am a student at the University of Toronto and my analysis states: elect Conservatives and minority rights will be destroyed.

That literally means the Aboriginal people of Canada.

[rts@citytel.net]

Rhoda Witherly
rts@citytel.net

Sun, 13 Jun 2004 21:35:37 -0700
Subject: Letter to the Editor

Editor,

I must confess, I am both pleased and perplexed by NDP Candidate Nathan Cullen's repeated endorsements of our Liberal candidate, Miles Richardson. On at least two separate occasion, Mr. Cullen has stated that Miles "would have made a great NDP candidate". This is rather like saying Jimmy Hendrix would have made a great ukulele player.

Nonetheless, I respect his candour, and his ability to see beyond the narrow scope of partisan loyalty.

As I see it, our goals are not at all incompatible: like the NDP, the Liberals are committed to ensuring sustainable universal health care, providing for the needs of our children and our elders, investing in communities, and promoting innovative green energy alternatives.

Unlike the NDP, we have both the track record of, and the platform for, delivering these priorities in a fiscally responsible manner, built on the foundation of balanced budgets and economic strength which we all worked so hard to achieve.

On the other hand, we both surely agree that the worst possible outcome for the future of our riding, to say nothing of our country, is a divided progressive vote that results in the Conservatives fulfilling their promises of tax cuts more drastic than those in the U.S., ending regional development programs vital to the Northwest, and plunging Canadians back down the deficit hole from which we have fought to escape.

As Stephen Harper himself has said, it will be a Canada "we won't even recognize."

As we both evidently hold Mr. Richardson¹s abilities and integrity in high esteem, and no doubt share the same concern for the future of our country, I invite Mr. Cullen to join our campaign and support Miles in common cause: preserving the Canada we love, and building the future we deserve.

Sincerely,

Rhoda R. Witherly

330 - 2nd Avenue West

Prince Rupert, B. C. V8J 1G6

Telephone: (250) 624-9039

[infocom@pro.net]

Activist Aboriginal women are among the many Canadian women warning against a vote for Conservative leader Stephen Harper

June 14, 2004

Lorraine Rekmans, an Aboriginal activist and Executive Director at NAFA, the National Aboriginal Forestry Association is one of the Aboriginal women speaking out publicly against Stephen Harper and his policies.

To remind Canadian voters that the "Conservative Party" is not a known and trusted alternative, she has joined with other women, including Norma Kassi, Winner of International Goldman Prize, leader of G'wichin effort against oil development in the Arctic Refuge, and Mary Simon, C.M., former head Inuit Circumpolar Conference, former Canadian Ambassador to Denmark and the Circumpolar Region.

Norma Kassi is a Gwich'in from Old Crow. She was selected by the Elders in her community to be a spokesperson on behalf of the Porcupine Caribou Herd and her people. She has on the boards of the Suzuki Foundation, the Alaska Wilderness League, the World Wildlife Fund and Indigenous Survival International, as a Vice-Chair of the International Gwich'in Steering Committee, an elected member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly and environmental coordinator for the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN).

Rekmans, who has a professional background in journalism and communications, has worked the past 10 years in forestry. She now lives is Ottawa, is Ojibway and a member of the Serpent River First Nation on the north shore of Lake Huron. She worked 10 years with the North Shore Tribal Council, and the Union of Ontario Indians. She is a strong and vocal advocate for Aboriginal rights and volunteers much of her time working on a wide variety of social and environmental issues.

Mary Simon, a free lance consultant, was the Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. She was the Canadian Ambassador to Denmark, the Chancellor of Trent University, Councillor for the International Council for Conflict Resolution with the Carter Center. She began her career with the CBC Northern Service as a producer and announcer. She was subsequently elected Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association and went on to hold a number of positions with the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. For 14 years, she served as Executive Council Member, President and Special Envoy of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference.

These women warn voters, ". . . not to sleep walk into electing a Canadian version of George W. Bush."

There is a way that Canadians can learn more about Harper's unknown party: We can look south, to George Bush and the U.S. Republican Party.

In a news release, the large list of well known active Canadian women warn, "Like the Bush Republicans, the Harper Conservatives would take Canada into dangerous territory - Harper, like Bush, favours Canadian involvement in the ongoing U.S. war on Iraq. Harper would take Canada into deficit in order to pour billions into the military. Bush has already taken the U.S. into trillions of dollars of debt to fund militarism. Harper, like Bush, denies the reality of climate change and the threat to the whole planet, and especially Canada, from our continued reliance on fossil fuels. Harper, like Bush, rejects the Kyoto Protocol. Harper has said he would rescind and not implement this international treaty which Canada has already ratified. Harper's actions could place the entire international regime to avoid catastrophic levels of climate change at risk. While Bush is far more socially conservative, Harper would not defend the Charter of Rights and would allow for open votes. His caucus is largely made of the socially conservative Reform and Alliance Party supporters who would defeat many hard won rights. Charter Rights protecting women, gay and lesbian Canadians, and actually all Charter Rights protecting all Canadian citizens and residents would be at risk. The impact of Harper policies on these issues would not differ from those of Bush. Harper has said he would consider using the "notwithstanding clause" to limit the application of Charter Rights. No Prime Minister has ever said using the
"notwithstanding clause" would be considered. Harper, like Bush, would challenge a woman's right to choose. Harper has said he would allow the issue of access to legal abortions to be re-opened through an open vote in the House of Commons. Bush was responsible for more executions than any other U.S. Governor of recent times. Harper has suggested the prohibition of capital punishment would be re-opened in Canada."

SIGNATORIES:

(Note: Organizations are included for identification purposes only. The
following women have signed this statement in their individual capacity.)


Maude Barlow, National Voluntary Chairperson, Council of Canadians

Sarah Polley, Actor

Sarah Harmer, Singer

Naomi Klein, Author The Be Good Tanya's, Band
http://www.begoodtanyas.com and band members Frazey Ford, Trish Klein, and Samantha Parton.

Judy Rebick, Journalist, Rabble.com

Doris Anderson, C.M., feminist leader

Mary Simon, C.M., former head Inuit Circumpolar Conference, former
Canadian Ambassador to Denmark and the Circumpolar Region

Norma Kassi, Winner of International Goldman Prize, leader of G'wichin effort against oil development in the Arctic Refuge

Katherine MacDonald, Executive Director, Action Canada on Population and Development

Joy Kennedy, KAIROS, Ecumenical church and social justice organization
Cassandra Parlee, Women Demand Better, founder

Judy Darcy, Community activist Vancouver, past National President CUPE
Morna Ballantyne, Director, National Services, Canadian Union of Public
Employees

Dr.Ursula M. Franklin, C.C. FRSC

Linda McQuaig, Author and Columnist

Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford, University of Victoria

Jillian Skeet, International Affairs Consultant

Claire Perry, co-founder, End the Arms Race, Vancouver

Kerry McCuaig, Better Child Care Education, Toronto

Shirley Eikhard, singer and musician

Damhnait Doyle, singer

Simon Wilcox, Singer (featured in TIME, Macleans, The Vancouver Sun, ELLE magazine, etc.

Elizabeth May, Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada

Donna Smyth, Nova Scotia writer

Gillian Thomas, Professor, St. Mary's University

Janis Alton, peace activist /researcher, Ottawa

Dr. Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg, OISE

Janet Eaton, Professor, Acadia University

Geraldine Macdonald, Registered Nurse, Toronto

Dorit Girash, Leamington, Ontario

Vicky Husband, CM, OBC, BA, environmentalist,

Victoria Lindsay Telfer, Youth leader, Ottawa

Michele Landsberg, journalist/author

Barbara Nichol: children's author, author of Beethoven Lives Upstairs

Deborah Bourque, National President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers(CUPW-STTP)

Laurell Ritchie, National Representative, Canadian Auto Workers (formerly
NAC Executive and Co-Chair, Women & the Economy Committee)

Very Rev the Hon Lois M Wilson CC, former Senator and former United
Church Moderator

Judith Killoran, lawyer

Betty Jean Sutherland, President CUPE Nova Scotia

Marjorie Griffin Cohen, Chair, Women's Studies, Simon Fraser University

Virginia J. Rock, Ph.D., D. Litt., Professor Emerita, York University

Penny Sanger, author and internationalist

Dr. Barbara Crow, York University, past-president of the Canadian Women's Studies Assn.

Maggie Breau, PHD candidate, Women's Studies, York University

Nancy Knickerbocker, writer & activist

Avvy Yao-Yao Go Barrister & Solicitor, Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast
Asian Legal Clinic

Dr. Norene Pupo, Associate Professor, Dept. of Sociology, Director, Centre for Research on Work & Society,York University

Margaret Fletcher, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Vancouver

Carole H. Carpenter, Ph.D., York University

Judith Baker, Associate Professor of Philosophy, York University

Katrina Hurley, MD

Lorraine Rekmans, First Nations activist, Ottawa

Linda Briskin, Phd, Professor Social Science Division/School of Women's Studies, York University

Christina Schut, Field Service Division British Columbia Teachers' Federation

Colette Hooson, CAW National Staff Representative

Martha Friendly, Coordinator Childcare Resource and Research Unit, U of T

Caroline Lavoie, CAW Local 2002

Veronica Dahl, President, Association for Logic Programming, Simon Fraser University

Maureen L. MacDonald, Health & Safety Officer, Assistant Director, B.C.
Teachers' Federation

Martha Nandorfy, University Professor and Author

Lydia Sayle, Peace Activist, Vancouver

Mavis Lowry, British Columbia Teachers' Federation

Julie White Director of Women's Programs CAW TCA

Jill Flohil, Executive Associate, York University Faculty Association

Anjelika Hackett, B.A., B. Ed., C. Tran.

Leslie Sanders, Professor, York University

Lynda Lemberg, OSSTF and Educators for Peace and Justice

Cindy Huggins-Deveau, CAW Local 707

Dr. Nadya Burton, Ryerson University

Clotilda Yakimchuk, CM, health and fair housing advocate, Sydney

Karen Shenfeld, poet/freelance writer/film researcher, Toronto

Margaret Campbell, Director of Editing, Publishing House

Cathy Crowe, Registered Nurse

Elaine Freedman, Lawyer

Heather Nagy, Teacher-Librarian, Toronto

Leslie Regan Shade, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, Concordia University

Jody Berland Editor, TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies

Deb Flanagan, Education Chairperson, CAW Local 584

Domenica Dileo, Community Development Coordinator, Social Service Sector, Toronto

Jacqueline Treloar, Visual Artist, Art instructor, Toronto

Pat Armstrong, Professor, York University

Madeleine Gilchrist, Voice of Women

Muriel Adey, Retired Priest, Anglican Diocese of British Columbia

[cathy.edney@mnjikaning.ca]

First Nation that is host community for major casino, tried to host national political leaders debate for Election Campaign 2004 . . .

June 14, 2004

An invitation on behalf of Mnjikaning Council and community by Chief Sharon Stinson Henry to hold a federal election debate in Mnjikaning (Rama) First Nation has been declined by the federal Liberals while the Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Quebecois have refused to commit to the
debate. The Liberal Party executive turned down the invitation on behalf of
their leader days before the election and no other party or leader would make a commitment to Chief Stinson Henry.

Chief Stinson Henry extended the invitation to hold a debate at
Mnjikaning (Rama) First Nation to all major party leaders to bring Aboriginal issues to the forefront of the election campaign and to show First Nations Peoples that they are a recognized part of the electoral process.

The invitation to Paul Martin was extended on April 5th while the Prime
Minister was on a pre-election visit to Simcoe North where he met with Chief Stinson Henry and other local leaders.

Letters to Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe were sent in mid-May. Shortly before the election was called, Chief Stinson Henry met with Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper in Ottawa to discuss the debate. Mr. Harper refused to clearly respond to the request and no official response has been received from Martin, Harper, Layton or Duceppe since the invitations were issued.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief wrote, "For many years and
through many campaigns, political parties have not paid as much attention to issues concerning Aboriginal Peoples in Canada as perhaps they should have. In addition, elections typically seem to happen without Native participation, and are not something that we have have had an opportunity to play an active role in. Mnjikaning (Rama) First Nation wants you to change this practise."

In the letter to all leaders, Chief Stinson Henry indicated that in hosting the debate, the leaders would assist in raising awareness of First Nations issues across Canada while attracting more voters to participate in the election. In addition, the debate would shine a light on a First Nation's
success story at Mnjikaning and the outstanding issues of Aboriginal Peoples from coast to coast to coast.

The rejection by the Liberal party is especially frustrating for Chief Stinson Henry. "Since he took office, the Prime Minister has indicated that Aboriginal Peoples and issues are a priority for his government's agenda. We have seen an indication that this agenda will address, not only critical needs in our communities, but our role in the decision-making process."

Chief Stinson Henry discussed the need for Aboriginal Peoples to have a
meaningful role in the electoral process and offered the Prime Minister an
opportunity to better include Aboriginal Peoples in the election. Chief
Stinson Henry said that holding a televised election debate at Mnjikaning
would be a historic milestone for the Canadian electoral process and send a message to Aboriginal Peoples across the country that the Liberal Party's
commitment to a new relationship is not another empty promise.

This invitation was a strategic decision by Mnjikaning council and was
issued with high expectations for real change. In particular, Chief Stinson
Henry believes that a debate on Native land would capture the imagination and enthusiasm of Aboriginal youth. Canada's Aboriginal population is growing in Canada and is now the only demographic group in the country whose average age is decreasing. As a result, Aboriginal youth in Canada are growing to take on more leadership roles across the country, yet they continue to feel disenfranchised when it comes to federal politics.

According to a study released by Elections Canada in January of 2004
"Aboriginal people participate, on average, at levels considerably below those of the general population." The Election Canada report highlights the
following reasons why participation is so low for Aboriginal Peoples in
Canada.

- Canada's Aboriginal population is younger than the nation as a whole
- 50% of Aboriginal people in Canada are 24 or under compared to 31%
nationally (2001 census)
- Aboriginal populations are divided roughly equally between rural and
urban areas
- Voter turn out on reserves during the 2000 federal election was 48%,
16% lower than the general population
- Electorial behaviour research shows poverty, mobility, low education
and youth is associated with low levels of voting
- Inadequate media coverage, insufficient availability of media and
failure to provide campaign materials in Aboriginal languages also
discourages Aboriginal participation
- Aboriginal people feel excluded and have a diminished presence in
electoral politics
(From, Aboriginal People and the Federal Electoral Process: Participation
Trends and Election Canada's Initiatives, January 2004. www.elections.ca)


While Mnjikaning First Nation's participation tends to be higher than the
national average, by inviting the leaders to a debate on First Nations land,
Mnjikaning Chief and Council wished to use the event to reverse the disturbing trends outlined in the Elections Canada report.

The debate invitation was intended to also address issues of concern to
Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. In mid-April, the Prime Minister convened a
roundtable conference involving more than 70 Aboriginal leaders and senior government officials in Ottawa. At the time, Prime Minister Martin said that meeting was designed to "transform" the way government deals with Aboriginal issues. "Our efforts may encounter doubt because people are used to too little," Paul Martin was quoted as saying. "Well, let's turn this doubt to our purpose. Let it become our motivation. It's time to show people who think the challenges that we face are insurmountable that they're wrong. Let's commit to move forward at a pace that will surprise."

Chief Stinson Henry said that holding the debate in Mnjikaning was a
clear way to give these words resounding impact and change the relationship between Ottawa and Canada's Aboriginal Peoples.

"The issues important to Aboriginal Peoples are the same issues all
Canadians are passionate about...healthcare, education, affordable housing, the environment, a strong economy and good government. We believe that holding the debate in our community sends a signal to everyone that First Nations are a priority for Canada," said Chief Stinson Henry. "Our council will participate in this election and encourage all members of the Mnjikaning community to do so as well. Our ultimate objective in this exercise is to change the relationship we have with the federal government for the better and to raise awareness around aboriginal issues."

At the very least, Mnjikaning would like to see additional debates held,
in different languages, to give voters a chance to hear more from leadership candidates about issues which affect them directly.

About the Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation

A proud progressive First Nation community, Mnjikaning provides a healthy
and safe environment where members can live, work and play. The Mnjikaning Kendaaswin Elementary School offers culturally sensitive programs for students from junior kindergarten through grade eight. The seniors facility provides long-term extended care and independent living accommodation, and is a gathering place for seniors from throughout the community. The MASK, a multi- functional recreation facility, is home to the Orillia Terriers Junior B Hockey team and the Rama Hammond Kings Junior Lacrosse team. Mnjikaning (Rama) First Nation is the host community for Casino Rama, one of four commercial casinos in Ontario. Successful community business ventures include the Black River Wilderness Park, the Ojibway Bay Marina and a chain of retail boutiques
in the casino complex.

Mnjikaning's Deer Clan ancestors were responsible for care of the ancient
weirs, a national historic site fish fence located at present day Atherley
Narrows between Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching, which is estimated to have been established over 5,000 years ago. The people of the Deer Clan are known for their hospitality and concern for those in need historically providing assistance to early European settlers which enabled them to survive their first difficult years in the area. The site was also known as a gathering place where large social functions and important meetings were held. This tradition continues at Mnjikaning (Rama) First Nation to this day.

For further information: please contact Cathy Edney at (705) 325-3611,
cathy.edney@mnjikaning.ca, http://www.encode.com/rbs/rama/history.htm