Off-Reserve Aboriginal Leader Meeting With Premiers

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Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief Betty Ann Lavallée and Vice-Chief Dwight Dorey will meet with Canadian Premiers in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, July 24 and 25

Ottawa (July 20, 2012) — National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Betty Ann Lavallée and Vice-Chief, Dwight Dorey will join with Canadian Premiers in Lunenburg at the annual Council of Federation meetings to discuss the issues facing Aboriginal Peoples who live off-reserve.

“I hope that the Premiers are listening, because the fact is that Aboriginal Peoples are the fasting growing population in Canada,” stated Betty Ann Lavallée, National Chief for the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. “So it makes sense that, at this meeting, we put aside our differences as to who is fiscally responsible for Aboriginal Peoples who live off-reserve and work together for the betterment of everyone – that means skills’ training, to fill the much needed labour shortages in industry – that means better access to education – which translates to less unemployment, less crime, better housing and a better standard of living for Aboriginal Peoples living off-reserve. In essence – we all win!”

Dwight Dorey, Vice-Chief for the National Congress, went further, adding, “for far too long at these meetings, the discussion has been about who is responsible – is it provincial, is it federal – or both? For this meeting, we are not going to Lunenburg just for the sake of having another meeting. We want to come out of this with some actionable results.”

National Chief Lavallée concluded by saying, “I am going to Lunenburg with the belief that it is time to work together, and to challenge the premiers by asking: what are we specifically going to do and when? Are we going to start working together so that Aboriginal Peoples enjoy the same standard of living as most Canadians do? If we don’t, then we have all failed to move forward.”

National Chief, Lavallée and Vice-Chief Dorey will be available for interviews in the following locations and times:

· Halifax – Tuesday, July 24: Call to arrange times (Updates will follow)

· Lunenburg – Wednesday, July 25: Media Event – Lunenburg Arms – 1:35 PM – 2:05 PM

Since 1971, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples formerly known as the Native Council of Canada

has been the National Aboriginal Organization that represents the interests of off-reserve non-status and status Indians and Métis Aboriginal Peoples who living in urban, rural, remote and isolated areas throughout Canada. The National Congress is also the voice for its affiliate organizations who advocate on behalf of Aboriginal Peoples living off-reserve throughout Canada.

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Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, National Chief Betty Ann Lavallée

Presentation to:

The Council of THE Federation

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

July 25, 2012

Kwe – Hello, Bonjour –– Welcome Premiers and fellow National Aboriginal Leaders. It’s a pleasure to be here in Lunenburg, the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq Peoples.

I am the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. Since 1971, the Congress has represented the rights and interests of off-reserve, non-status, status, Métis and Inuit Aboriginal people living in urban, rural, remote and isolated areas across Canada.



First, I would like to thank Premier Dexter and his staff for hosting this event in Luneburg. Secondly, I would also like to express my gratitude to all of the National Aboriginal leaders, along with their organizations, the Premiers, and their staff, for their dedication on moving this agenda forward.



At this time, I would also like to congratulate you, Shawn, on your re-election as the National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations – I believe now is the time for us to build a new relationship, and to work together to improve the lives of all Aboriginal Peoples.

I think that we can agree that these meetings between Premiers and National Aboriginal leaders are important in our goal to improve the lives of Aboriginal peoples. And, today these sessions are even more important when you consider that the off-reserve Aboriginal population is growing rapidly. In fact, Statistics Canada most recent numbers show that 60% of Aboriginal Peoples now live off-reserve.



Today, many Aboriginals feel the need to leave their reserve for various reasons, such as the high birthrate, the lack of employment opportunities, lack of housing, plus the opportunity to get a better education.



As well, more people today are identifying themselves as Aboriginals. In fact, according to Stats Canada, from 2000 to 2006 the Métis population increased by 91%, First Nations by 29%, and the Inuit by 26%.

As this population increases, my role, as National Chief, is to ensure that Aboriginal Peoples who live off-reserve are provided with support to improve their quality of life.



One of our biggest concerns is the distinction-based approach that has marginalized the status of our Peoples in the recent past and, at times today. What I mean by this is that the Congress’s community tends to be excluded from consultation processes and from financial support, even though for over 41 years, we have been the national voice Aboriginal Peoples who live off-reserve.



The central challenge for Aboriginal Peoples living off-reserve is the question of jurisdiction and responsibility. This is a nightmare for our constituents, whereby the federal government abdicates its responsibility to the provinces and then the provinces do the same. In plain language, this simply means that neither the provincial governments, nor the federal government feel they have a fiduciary responsibility for Aboriginal Peoples living off-reserve.

I believe this meeting should not focus on criticizing the federal government. Rather, the focus should be on what the provinces and territories can do. Although the federal government has not been perfect when dealing with Aboriginal Peoples, we have witnessed some positive changes brought by this government. Symbolic of this, was the name change from Indian and Northern Affairs to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. This was done on the advice from the Congress, making the Dept's name inclusive and representative of the modern realities.



In my recent meetings with the Prime Minister, he encouraged our organization to continue expanding our base and working together. This makes perfect sense as our base continues to grow rapidly, and so does the need to provide the necessary programs and services, to improve the standard of living among Aboriginal Peoples living-off reserve.

Another issue that is very important to me - is housing. It`s clear that in order to have beneficial outcomes in sectors such as education, health and income security, one must have a place to call home. The fact is - many don’t.

Unfortunately, the last time any significant money was invested for affordable housing in urban Aboriginal communities was in 2006, through the Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust. At that time, the federal government invested 300 million dollars, over 3 years to the provinces and territories. Regrettably, one province received the money and refused to use it for off-reserve housing. Their explanation was “they had other priorities.” My question is simple…what greater priority is there than a roof over your head? In a country that is rated as one of the top places to live, this type of priority setting makes absolutely no sense.

At the same time, there were also great successes with this housing initiative. For example, the Native Council of Nova Scotia successfully delivered low-interest mortgages for Aboriginal Peoples - a retrofit program for Elders and seniors, so they could remain in their own home, and partnered with Nova Scotia in the purchase of an apartment building for low-income Aboriginal Peoples -- in PEI, the Nanegkam Housing Corporation invested funds to construct new housing units for Aboriginal families living off-reserve, and in New Brunswick, the Skigin-Elnoog Housing Corporation delivered a great program which received a National Housing Award from CMHC for Best Practices in Affordable Housing. These are just some examples of where targeted investments and commitment by all parties works to help improve the lives of Aboriginal families. With that said, I propose that housing be a priority this year, for the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group.



For far too long, Aboriginal peoples, who reside off-reserve, have divisions among and within their own families and communities. The reason for these divisions is because they have been excluded or have limited access to the same programs and services that other members within their family have.



Our affiliate organizations have also experienced these divisions and exclusions. In BC, the United Native Nations has been around for well over 20 years, and has a membership base that exceeds over 50,000 people. Unfortunately the province refuses to recognize their legitimacy, leaving them with limited resources to provide programs and services for their constituents. This Must Change.

Another example of exclusion concerns one of our affiliates in Labrador and the construction of a hydroelectric facility, where 5% ownership is Aboriginal.

Regrettably, the Southern Inuit of Labrador (the NunatuKavut) are being left out. So I ask the Premier of Newfoundland /Labrador to sit down and negotiate.



There are similar stories for our affiliates in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec. If we are engaged to improve Aboriginal lives, then the provinces and territories need to be truly inclusive, and not just pay lip service by saying we are.



As Canada works to rectify labour shortages due to our aging population, the Congress believes that now is the time to focus on specific, off–reserve economic development programs for Aboriginal peoples. The fact is that Aboriginal people are the fastest growing population in Canada. So it is in everyone’s best interest to come together and ensure that all Aboriginal Peoples are part of the solution.

Today, Aboriginal businesses are a growing trend in Canada that is starting to improve the socio-economic outcomes for Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal entrepreneurs are making a difference. It’s a good start, but just a start and more needs to be done. That's why I am proposing that an urban Aboriginal Economic development strategy be included in the work-plan.

So to end on an optimistic note: I believe that the leadership here today is committed and capable of producing the changes needed to improve the lives of Aboriginal Peoples. For our part, the Congress is prepared to get down to work now.

We lalioq

Thank you, Merci beaucoup,