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From Sault Star ...

Independence of native claims commission is key, cautions AFN Chief Phil Fontaine

By Brian Kelly
Algoma - Friday, May 18, 2007

A beefed-up Indian Claims Commission won't be a miraculous cure-all to solve hundreds of outstanding land claims, warns Phil Fontain, Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

The Globe and Mail reported earlier this week that Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice plans to give the ICC the power to make legally binding rulings. Now, the ICC can only investigate complaints about treaty violations and make recommendations to government.

"If it's independent, if it has the ability to make binding decisions and it has the resources to give effective decisions it will make a real difference," Fontaine told reporters Friday in Sault Ste. Marie.

"But we're talking about a significant backlog."

There are about 800 outstanding land claims. An average claim takes about 13 years to resolve.

"It would be wrong to leave people with the impression that if we establish this independent body that it's going to solve all the problems," Fontaine said, referring to numerous other concerns such as access to clean water.

"It's not a total answer."

Some First Nations chiefs, such as Chief Terry Nelson of Roseau River First Nation, supports stepped-up actions such as blocking railway lines to get the federal government to act more quickly on First Nations issues.

Speaking in the Sault Thursday, Grand Chief Denise Stonefish of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians warned such disruptions may be the only way to accelerate federal land claims issues.

Fontaine chooses diplomacy and negotiations over confrontation, but said Ottawa needs to demonstrate it is bargaining in good faith. "It's always about treating others with respect and dignity, but we expect that we will be treated the same way," he said.

Canada's aboriginal people, he added, are weary of waiting for action from the federal government on a range of issues such as housing, education and health care.

"I hope that people don't resort to violence. Of course, that's not something that we'd advocate. Never," he said.

"But people are desperate. There's a lot of frustration in our community. The anger is building. We need to do something to deal with the anger and the frustration."

He hopes an Assembly of First Nations resolution approving June 29 as a day of action will help Canadians learn more about conditions faced on reserves.

"Canadians don't know the true story," said Fontaine.

"What we need to do is sit down with the federal government and proceed on a basis of a plan — a plan that both sides agree with."

Garden River First Nation Chief Lyle Sayers backs Fontaine's stance on education, not confrontation. His community's members won't block roads or rail lines on June 29.

"We need to get the message out that we're not looking for handouts," he told reporters. "We're looking for proper dollars to run our communities the way they should be run. All we want is a fair share of the resources that are ours."

Fontaine participated in an announcement that the Three Fires Confederacy will meet in Garden River from Aug. 20 to 26.

The week-long event is expected to draw about 5,000 aboriginals from Canada and the United States.

The confederacy is made up of the Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi First Nations.

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AFN press release ...

Assembly of First Nations, Anishinabek Nations to Host Historic Three Fires Confederacy Gathering, August 20-26, 2007 at Garden River First Nation, Ontario

     OTTAWA, May 18 /CNW Telbec/ - The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in partnership with Garden River Ojibway Nation, Three Fires Society, Shingwauk Education Trust, the Union of Ontario Indians, and Algoma University College (Algoma U) today announced that an historic gathering of the Three Fires Confederacy will take place on the traditional lands in Garden River, just east of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on August 20-26, 2007. As many as five thousand Anishinabek citizens, from both sides of the US-Canada border, are expected to attend the gathering.

     "It is time we gather as a Nation," said AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine, an Anishinabe from Sakgeeng, Manitoba. "The Three Fires is a part of our traditional form of government that will allow us to determine our own future and contribute to a better life for our people. We will set the agenda for ourselves as a nation."

     The Anishinabek is the nation and people known also as the Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi who together form the Three Fires Confederacy. Historically, the tribes met regularly for social, spiritual, military and political purposes.

     "The Three Fires Confederacy gathering will be a significant step towards re-asserting our nationhood as Anishinabek people," said Grand Council Chief John Beaucage, leader of 43 member First Nations of the Union of Ontario Indians. "We will come together to share and learn from one another and rekindle those fires of that long lost brotherhood we've had among our own people from across Turtle Island."

     The last meeting of the Three Fires Confederacy gathering was held in Garden River in 1991.

     "As a direct descendant of Chief Shingwauk, signatory to the 1850 Robinson-Huron Treaty and traditional leader of the Three Fires Confederacy, I am truly honoured to be hosting this momentous gathering once again in our traditional territory of Ketegaunseebee," said Chief Lyle Sayers. "We extend a warm welcome to all to come and visit our community this summer."

     According to Grand Chief Eddie Benton-Banai of the Three Fires Confederacy Mide Society (USA/Canada) the Three Fires gathering comes from the seven prophesies of the Anishinabe peoples, the original people of this part of the world.

     "Someday we will look back and search for the teachings and way of life that prevailed for thousands of years, before discovery", said Benton-Banai. "The time and opportunity to hear, and learn from those teachings is now."

     Today's announcement is an example of the shared commitment among all partners involved in the Three Fires Confederacy gathering.

     "Our students," said Dr. Celia Ross, President of Algoma University College, "Are the reason why we are a part of this wonderful partnership. Recently, a group of 25 students attended the Midewiwin Lodge in Bad River, Wisconsin, and brought back a true sense of the spirit and intent of Chief Shingwauk's vision. We are honoured to be part of this historic gathering."

     The first two days of the gathering will bring together leadership and citizens and will be devoted to sharing the history and the protocol of the Three Fires Confederacy. It will provide leadership an opportunity to discuss important issues such as relationships with governments, border crossing issues, water and Great Lakes management.

     The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

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/For further information: Media contact: Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor, Office of the National Chief, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 298-6382 cell, npine@afn.ca; Donna Woldanski, Divisional Director of External Relations, Algoma University College, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, (705) 949-2301 ext. 4120, communications@algomau.ca/