Archive - May 23, 2006 | Media.Knet.Ca

Archive - May 23, 2006

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Changes to Indian Act & 2003 FN Governance Act being discussed in Ottawa

May 23, 2006 - 10:02am | by Anonymous

From Globe and Mail - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060522.PRENTICE22/TPStory/National

Ottawa looks to change Indian Act ....

Government - aboriginal leaders in talks on how to boost accountability to natives

BILL CURRY - POSTED ON 22/05/06

OTTAWA -- The federal government is consulting aboriginal leaders on how to replace the 1876 Indian Act and increase the accountability of chiefs, councillors and Ottawa to aboriginal citizens, says Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice.

Mr. Prentice said senior officials in his department have suggested that he bring in the "basic approach" of the controversial first nations governance act, which died in 2003 because aboriginals protested against what they said was a top-down approach that lacked consultation. In an interview, Mr. Prentice said transparency and governance issues are important, but he does not see a need to bring back that act, which was the last major attempt to update the Indian Act.

"Those are important things that we're going to have to work on," he said, but stressed that "there's no intention to do anything that does not involve full consultation with aboriginal people."

The governance act was billed as an interim option for bands that wished to move away from the antiquated Indian Act while they continued to negotiate full self-government agreements. It laid out minimum standards for bands regarding the conduct of elections and the type of information band governments should provide to their citizens. Mr. Prentice noted that in the past few years, there have been several acts, including the First Nations Land Management Act and the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act, that have addressed some of the concerns about governance.

"I think [the governance act has] been superseded by other events," he said. "But it contained provisions relating to the electoral process; it contained provisions relating to accountability; it contained other provisions relating to financial issues, if you will, financial codes and such. There's actually been some pretty significant developments since then in some of the legislation that was introduced in the last Parliament. And I think all of that needs to be considered.

"There needs to be an extensive consultation process with the [Assembly of First Nations] and with the other aboriginal organizations to move forward on those issues. I mean, they will clearly work best if there's a level of support, and what I hear in talking to first nation leaders is a desire to move forward with those kinds of initiatives themselves, so I think that we're making significant progress already," he said.

Mr. Prentice said his preference is to go back to what the Conservative Party proposed at its founding policy forum in 2004. The party called for separate legislation for each of the services Ottawa delivers to aboriginals, such as housing, education and health care.

Mr. Prentice pointed to the recent Auditor-General's report, which also called for legislation to spell out what services federal public servants should be delivering and what services aboriginals should expect.

"We have started already to move on that," Mr. Prentice said.

A briefing note to Mr. Prentice on changes to the Indian Act, obtained by The Globe and Mail through the Access to Information Act, suggests a piece-by-piece approach would be easier and more affordable than attempting to bring in "a new Indian Act." However, two other options are blanked out on the grounds that they contain advice to a minister.

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Community News

Shingwauk University established in partnership with Algoma University in SSM

May 23, 2006 - 10:01am | by Anonymous

Teachings of a 167-year-old wampum belt

By Carol Martin - SooToday.com
Saturday, May 20, 2006 - A 167-year old wampum belt that once belonged to Chief Shingwauk wrapped around full circle at Garden River First Nation yesterday.

The belt's parallel rows of purple and white beads are the foundation of yesterday's agreement between Shingwauk Education Trust and Algoma University College, a historic covenant between Anishinabe and European peoples.

The Garden River Community Centre was filled to bursting with dignitaries, some decked out in full regalia to mark the historic signing.

Shown are Algoma University President Celia Ross and Shingwauk Education Trust President Darrell Boissoneau with the wampum.

Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine was there, as was former Minister of Northern and Indian Affairs Ron Irwin.

Even Sault Mayor John Rowswell made an appearance to express the City's support of the burgeoning partnership, all based on the wampum belt that came home after 167 years.

The purple row of beads represents the teachings, values and beliefs of the Anishinabe people and their boats, said Garden River Chief Lyle Sayers.

"The row of white beads represents the teachings of the settlers who came to this country and their tall ships," Sayers said.

He said that each row of beads is equal, signifying how the two peoples can advance in tandem with generous and plentiful cross-pollination of ideas and cooperation.

"It gives me great pleasure to know that an agreement is being signed with another university that will lead us into a new era," said Sayers, one of seven direct descendents of Chief Shingwauk who wtinessed yesterday's coventant-signing.

As reported earlier in SooToday.com, the covenant begins the process of creating two independent universities that will share the same space and resources.

Students will be able to enroll in either Algoma University or Shingwauk University and to take courses offered through either school.

Teachers, facilities and support services will be shared between the two universities but students will graduate from whichever university they enrolled in.

First Nations post-secondary education advocate Jerry Fontaine talked about the vision of Chief Shingwauk and the reason for the wampum.

"He [Chief Shingwauk] spoke to the importance of education 175 years ago and it is still important in 2006," said Fontaine. "Education can be one of the big cures for our social ills."

Fontaine said that, by signing the covenant, the people of Shingwauk Education Trust were looking back to move forward.

He and others who spoke yesterday remembered the pain and suffering of residential school survivors at Shingwauk Hall which later became Algoma University College.

"No amount of money can heal the damage done to so many First Nations people who were in residential schools," said Shingwauk Education Trust President Darrell Boissoneau.

The Shingwauk Covenant represents a start down a road to a place where they can begin to heal themselves, Boissoneau said.

"True evidence of our success will be when one of the grandchildren of Chief Shingwauk graduates from Shingwauk University," said Boissoneau.

Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine agreed, saying that education is the foundation for positive changes in aboriginal communities.

Fontaine talked about the need for more professional First Nations people - doctors, lawyers and such.

"We are poised to do great things through education," said Fontaine.

Bud Wildman, chairman of Algoma University's board of directors, said that people signing the covenant owe the residential school survivors a debt of responsibility to "make this work."

About four years ago, Garden River First Nation members first learned that the wampum belt Chief Shingwauk gave to Sir John Colbourne in 1838 to help get a school for Anishnabe in the area was up for auction at Sotheby's in New York.

"I tried to go through channels to get it released to us but they wouldn't let it go," said Sayers.

After getting the nod from Garden River Band Council to spend up to $50,000 U.S. to buy it, Sayers got on the phone and placed a bid.

"In about a minute $34,000 U.S. had been spent and the wampum was on its way back home," said Sayers. "But it wasn't about the money; it was about bringing the wampum back home."