Ottawa committed to advancing Mi’kmaw Nation

HALIFAX — Ottawa is committed to advancing the Mi’kmaw Nation and recognizing Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to self-determination, a key federal official told a First Nations selfgovernance summit in Halifax Wednesday.

Marc Miller, the parliamentary secretary to the federal Crown-Indigenous relations minister, said treaty implementation and nation building starts with getting Indigenous peoples “out from under the Indian Act.”

“We know the paternalistic constraints of the Indian Act lead directly to dependency, isolation and indignities,” he told hundreds of delegates.

“Those mistakes must not be repeated.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched a national engagement process with Indigenous people earlier this year.

A new legislative framework, to be developed in partnership with First Nations, Métis and Inuit, is intended to recognize and implement Indigenous rights and help tackle the challenges facing Indigenous communities.

Miller said Ottawa has held over 100 engagement sessions with more than 1,700 Indigenous rights-holders.

He acknowledged the Assembly of First Nations has shared concerns about the timeline and the engagement activities, and says thegovernment will work on addressing those concerns.

“Your insights are essential if we truly want to reset the relationship between the federal government and Indigenous peoples,” Miller said.