Our Land, Our Environment, Our Aboriginal Rights
Harry Speaks

by Tehaliwaskénhas - Bob Kennedy

Harry Daniel's plate is full! That became quickly obvious during his lunch hour address to the Annual General Meeting of the United Native Nations (UNN) at the Kelowna Friendship Centre. In a wide-ranging, off-the-cuff presentation, the head of the Aboriginal Peoples Congress illustrated just how busy he is these days, championing the national fight on behalf of urban aboriginal people.

The globe-trotting Daniels, a veteran of Canada's urban aboriginal struggle, has his hands full --- juggling many hot potatoes. From the land and environment to constituional court challenges, building bridges between the Congress and the Assembly of First Nations to getting federal and provincial governments to commit resources to urban aboriginal people.

Daniels believes the real fight of the new century will be the state of our land and environment. "We can fight over health, education and all those other issues, but if we don't zero in on the environment, there will be nothing left", he told the gathering of urban aboriginals from across British Columbia.

"It's not Indians who are polluting. We've got to take back control of our environment", he said. The Congress president's words were sporting his politics, as he lambasted non-aboriginals for what they have done to the land and environment. "World population is going to double and they're going to want more of the resources", he warned. "We've got to take issue with what's being done", he added.

The Congress is enthusiastic about the Supreme Court of Canada ruling in the Corbiere case, favouring rights of urban aboriginals. Daniels disputes government lawyers and their narrow perpsectives on the judgment."It's a landmark case that opens up everything", he said.

Along with the federal court decision in the Shilling tax case, Daniels says the foundations of government have been shaken. The next legal challenge he sees is the fight to give substance to Section 35.2 of the Constitution and, "to straighten out the Constitution of Canada by taking the government to court over Section 91.24". Daniels says the Department of Justice lawyers are shaking because of the potential ramifications of Canada being forced to recognize it's obligations and responsibilities to all Aboriginal people.

The Congress is pressing for a national youth strategy because of the amount of crime, substance abuse and suicides involving aboriginal young people. Harry Daniels is animated and emotional most of the time, but you can see and hear his passion for this issue. "If people can't see themselves in the present, they can't see themselves in the future. We've got to provide opportunity for youth to find out about the past and consult with them on where they want to go", he said as he called for all groups to work together on this critical issue.

Getting Aboriginal groups to work together is a challenge in istelf. "Politics gets in the way", he admits. But daniels isn't someone to shy away from even this difficult, politically-risky problem. He has hired Calvin White, a Mi'kmaq who is going to help the Congress develop a relationship with the Assembly of First Nations. "To develop dialogue and cement a relationship", he added.

What he is proposing is necessary and long overdue if aboriginal people, both on-reserve and urban people are to be successful in facing all the challenges ahead. "We need to organize around the issues, all Aboriginals must join together", he ended on a hopeful note.