New ministries to work with Indigenous people

The announced creation of a new federal ministry, as part of a process to end the Indian Act and Indian Affairs, came as a pleasant surprise tinged with misgivings for Bobby Cameron, chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN.)

“It would have been nice to have gotten some communication ( but) we acknowledge the federal government for their commitment, because it’s our belief this is to be more focused on Indigenous relationships, which they consistently said is the most important relationship for the federal government. We thank them for that, for sure,” Cameron said.

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Carolyn Bennett will become the first ever Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and former health minister Jane Philpott will become Minister of Indigenous Services, in the first stage of dissolving Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).

Bennett will oversee a “better whole-of-government coordination on our nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown, and government-to-government relationships, to accelerate self-government and self-determination agreements based on new policies, laws and operational practices, and to develop a framework to advance a recognition of rights approach that will last well beyond this government,” a statement on the Prime Minister’s website reads.

As Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Bennett must begin by creating a treaty elders advisory committee, said Cameron, who is also Saskatchewan’s regional chief to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN.)

While he welcomes the plan, he has concerns about a ministry with “Crown” in its name, Cameron said, noting many First Nations still see the Queen and her representatives as their treaty partners and look askance at Canadian government wearing the title.

“That title, what does it mean? What’s their definition? What’s our definition? The Governor General, that’s the individual we have to have treaty dialogue with ... We hope (the Governor General) will come to see us on our treaty lands. I’m optimistic. We hope for the best for our First Nations communities,” Cameron said.

Philpott’s Indigenous Services will focus on improving mechanisms for funding, which Cameron said he hopes will lessen the current onerous reporting requirements and speed funding for such needs as housing and education.

The changes signal progress for recognition of Metis rights, said Gerald Morin, vice-president of the Metis Nation — Saskatchewan.

“It indicates to me that Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are really serious about implementing reconciliation with all Indigenous people, including the Metis. It’s a significant first step to addressing all Indigenous peoples in a fair and equitable way.”

Morin said he is pleased the changes were guided by recommendations of the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP), which included a chapter on the Metis.

Indigenous voices have often criticized governments’ neglect of the sweeping changes recommended in the 4,000 page report.

“Maybe (the RCAP) will be gathering strength and not gathering dust,” Morin said.