NATIVE AFFAIRS MINISTER JOKES ABOUT ‘INDIAN TIME’

A joke by Quebec’s native affairs minister stereotyping indigenous peoples’ concept of time did not go down well with at least one Cree official Thursday. Speaking at a news conference announcing a new bill recognizing indigenous customs related to adopting children, Geoffrey Kelley mused about the fact it took eight years to complete. “We have finally introduced this bill,” he told reporters. “In certain circles, some make comments on the notion of ‘Indian time,’ but ‘government time’ is at times also something that leaves much to be desired.” A few minutes after the joke, Cree health spokeswoman Bella Moses Petawabano corrected Kelley. “I just want to say a few words about Indian time,” she told the news conference. “That the true meaning of Indian time is really getting things done before the expected time.”