Two strong groups may emerge to challenge feds
There is a great scene in the Monty Python movie Life of Brian, where Brian tells his ragtag group of followers known as the People’s Front of Judea, “We should be rising up against a common enemy.” His followers ask, “The Judean People’s Front?”
“No, the Romans,” Brian replies. This bit of satire is akin to what’s happening in Onion Lake this week.
The Treaty First Nations are mad at Assembly of First Nations’ Chief Shawn Atleo because it appears that he has failed to deliver on the treaty agenda. What they fail to realize is that it’s the federal government that has failed to deliver on the First Nations’ agenda. The real enemy is the Harper government.
We have a decade of failed policies and inaction on the First Nations file. Shortly after the Conservatives gained power, the Harper government trashed the Kelowna Accord. Things have been downhill ever since.
When conditions became unbearable at Attawapiskat, the government blamed the community. This strategy of attack in the face of criticism revealed a morally bankrupt regime that has failed to understand its constitutional responsibilities.
Under the British North America Act, the federal government has responsibility for “Indians and land reserved for Indians.” Over the years, there has been a constant struggle between First Nations and federal governments that fail to live up to their responsibilities. Successive governments, including both Liberals and Conservative, have tried to dump this responsibility on the provinces.
Under Stephen Harper’s government, the funding for education, social programs and First Nations advocacy groups has either been cut or left to languish at levels below the basic amounts required to maintain provincial and national standards.
A study by the parliamentary budget officer in 2009 revealed that more than 500 reserve schools were underfunded by nearly $200 million a year. It has been demonstrated repeatedly that underfunding education costs more down the road for welfare, incarceration and social support. However, successive federal governments have chosen to kick this problem down the road for the next generation to tackle.
Ottawa does not see First Nations governments and institutions as viable partners, but rather sees aboriginal people as a source of labour for the resource industry. Employment for our people is an important goal, but that is only one slice of the policy pie. Our institutions and governments need support and policy change if they are to move away from the old colonial model to a viable, modern one.
Trotting out the cliche that no problem will be solved by throwing money at it becomes tiresome when the reality is that First Nations programs such as education and child welfare are seriously underfunded. It’s not as if money doesn’t exist.
The Globe and Mail recently reported that the Defence Department last year underspent its budget by $2.3 billion, and since the 2007-08 fiscal year underspent by $9.6 billion. It would appear that the Harper government either is throwing so much money at defence that the ministry can’t spend it all, or this is a sneaky way to reduce the deficit.
In any event, there is more than enough slippage in the defence budget to address the underfunding in aboriginal affairs. It’s a matter of political will, not a shortage of funds. The Conservative government has to reorganize its priorities to address the serious budgetary deficits in aboriginal affairs.
Meanwhile, the federal cabinet is the largest it has ever been. The Canadian Press reports that the annual cost of this monstrosity will be more than $9 million in salaries and perks.
That’s the situation that Atleo faces. He lacks the confidence of the treaty First Nations, and has the indifference of the Harper government. It is a classic man-in-the-middle situation.
Of course, the detractors and false pundits are circling him like buzzards. The thought of a split in First Nations ranks is filling them with glee. This will be the biggest problem coming from the competing meetings — the AFN assembly in Whitehorse and the Onion Lake gathering of treaty nations.
People who know little or nothing about First Nations history and politics will see this as a major weakness. Sun Media has, as usual, slagged the treaty gathering and added its uneducated two cents’ worth. The company just laid off 360 staff, and I can’t wait until it’s gone entirely.
The federal government and the aboriginal affairs department have used divide-and-conquer tactics for years. This will only play into their hands, no matter how it’s described or explained.
However, the Harper government could end up facing two strong lobby organizations that could make its life very difficult, especially if they hit Ottawa with a one-two punch of a political lobby combined with demonstrations and other forms of direct action.