Indigenous leaders say Manitoba government must change its ways or resign

WINNIPEG — Several Indigenous leaders are calling on Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government to either overhaul its approach to First Nations issues or resign.

Grand Chief Garrison Settee of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 northern First Nations, stood alongside others on the steps of the legislature Monday as fallout continued from Premier Brian Pallister’s remarks about Canadian history.

“Today, we are not here to topple any statues. We are here to topple a government that is racist, a government that has no place in this legislature,” Settee said.

Grand Chief Arlen Dumas of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said he is tired of dealing with Pallister.

“I give him every opportunity to have meaningful dialogue. We bring forward meaningful solutions … but he’d rather talk at me,” Dumas said.

Pallister has faced growing discontent over remarks he made earlier this month after protesters tore down two statues of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria on the legislature grounds.

Pallister said destruction is not the way forward. He said people who came to Canada did not come to destroy anything but rather to build communities, churches and businesses.

The remarks were widely condemned as downplaying the harmful effects of colonialism, although Pallister said afterward he never used the word colonialism and was trying to appeal for people to work together.

Pallister’s Indigenous relations minister quit her cabinet post two days later and her replacement, Alan Lagimodiere, stirred up more anger by defending some of the intent behind residential schools.

That prompted two Indigenous men to resign from provincial economic development boards. One, former deputy minister and treaty commissioner Jamie Wilson, said he could not support the government rewriting history.

Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs Organization, which represents 34 First Nations communities, said Monday the Pallister government has failed to address key issues such as lower Indigenous graduation rates, shorter lifespans, high rates of apprehension in the child welfare system, and a lack of recognition of treaty rights.

Daniels said the government must allow Indigenous people more control over their own lives.

“If Pallister can’t lead, and his cabinet can’t lead, they do need to resign,” he said.