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June 5th, 2001
Victoria, British Columbia
Aboriginals Join Forces with Labour and Anti-Poverty Groups
A Social Justice Protest
While New Liberal Government Gets Sworn into Office
News and Comment
by Tehaliwaskenhas - Bob Kennedy, Oneida

(Click on photos on this page for larger photos)

Aboriginals rallied in Victoria at the legislature and outside of Government House as the new BC government was sworn in. There was Aboriginal solidarity with labour, women and anti-poverty groups - a peaceful protest of prayer, song and drums and speeches about human rights and Aboriginal rights.

As part of the new 28 member Liberal cabinet in British Columbia Geoff Plant, Attorney General is also responsible for treaties. It is interesting that he will continue to oppose the Nisga'a Treaty, going to court to challenge it as being unconstitutional. Plant also confirmed a referendum will be held and that means the BC Treaty Process is essentially on hold.

Included in the wholesale restructuring of government, the Aboriginal Affairs Ministry was scrapped. Now there's a new ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. That says the Premier, is important because the new government will work hard at ensuring better community services for urban Aboriginals.

After being sworn in at Government House, Premier Campbell said, "Aboriginal treaty negotiations have been moved to the minister responsible for justice and protection of Aboriginal rights, the Attorney General in the province of British Columbia. But your honour, as we move to resolve treaties we must not lose track of the day to day challenges and hurdles that many Aboriginal British Columbians face, both on and off reserve. The Community, Aboriginal and Womens Services ministry is meant to start resolving those daily issues. We have no time to lose".

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There's an obvious difference of opinion over the provincial government's strategy to address Aboriginal issues. Protestors and critics suggest it shows the government takes Aboriginal issues less seriously than the previous administration because it has eliminated a stand alone Aboriginal Affairs ministry, rolled Aboriginals into a 'catch all' ministry, and placed the important relationship-building treaty portfolio into the law enforcement ministry.

However, First Nation's Summit spokesman Bill Wilson is quoted as saying he is not pleased with the prospect of a referendum, but approves of how Premier Campbell has realigned the bureaucracy to deal with Aboriginals. Premier Campbell believes the move to have treaties dealt with by the Attorney General is better because he is the minister responsible for justice and "protection of Aboriginal rights".

An interesting use of words when you consider the most vocal First Nation leaders in BC are also interested in the protection of Aboriginal rights. In fact, as the new government members were focused on the traditional pomp and ceremony of their political power, Native activists supporting Secwepemc rights were stepping up their direct action to protect Aboriginal rights on their traditional terrritories.

The new BC government says yes, a treaty referendum will be held, but the restructured ministries will help address day to day relations by helping improve community services for both on and off reserve Aboriginals.

But the treaty process will be stalled for a year while a committee is used to establish the ground rules for a referendum and to sort out questions the Liberals have about legal issues and what mandate they should give provincial negotiators. It also allows time for the lawyers to get a better handle on how the Nisga'a Treaty will stand up under further scrutiny by the higher court.

Regarding the decision to get rid of Aboriginal Affairs and to lump Aboriginals into a new ministry with Communities and Women, Fay Blaney of the Aboriginal Women's Action Network said she is alarmed that Aboriginals may have to compete with women's groups for the same pot of money from the new ministry.