PM to name commissioner for Indigenous treaties
The federal government will appoint a new independent body to oversee modern treaties with Indigenous nations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.
Trudeau announced the creation of a commissioner for modern treaty implementation at the Intergovernmental Leaders Forum in Gatineau.
Reporting directly to Parliament, the commissioner will independently review the federal government’s actions and hold it accountable for its modern treaty obligations with Indigenous nations and advance key priorities.
Ottawa will fund the commissioner’s office with $10.6 million over four years.
“Our government has been serious in our obligations set out in modern treaties. We’re committed to fully embody true nation-to-nation and Inuit-Crown relationships,” Trudeau said.
“These agreements are at the heart of the new era of Indigenous relations as we get out from under the colonial relics of the Indian Act and move towards strong, independent, self-governing and self-actualizing communities and nations.”
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the commissioner will operate in a manner similar to the auditor general and other agents of Parliament.
“For far too long there’s been no way to objectively measure the failures of government or the success of government as a treaty partner,” Anandasangaree told a news conference Thursday, adding that the modern treaty and self-governing agreements are “changing the trajectory of the Crown’s relationship with Indigenous People.”
Land Claims Agreements Coalition co-chairs Eva Clayton and Aluki Kotierk, who joined Anandasangaree, said they have been pushing for such an oversight body for the past 21 years.
“We have always argued that there should be a means whereby Parliament is informed as to whether its promises and party’s objectives entered into these agreements are being fulfilled,” said Clayton, president of Nisga’a Nation.
Modern treaties have been negotiated with Indigenous nations since the 1970s as a way to recognize Indigenous rights to their communities, lands and resources. Since 1975, 26 modern treaties have been signed, with 18 including selfgovernment provisions or agreements.
The commissioner will operate similar to the auditor general and hold Ottawa accountable for its modern treaty obligations with Indigenous nations