In the last federal parliament, four aboriginal people were elected to represent different ridings across Canada ... the Hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Secretary of State for Northern Development; Inuit MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell representing Nunavut; and Metis MP's Paul Devillers and Lawrence O'Brien.
In a CBC news story, a local Blood First Nation youth in Alberta is running as an independent in the riding where he grew up. Myron Wolf Child is seeking a seat in the House of Commons for the southern Alberta riding of McLeod - see http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/story/ed_wolfchild20051222.html
The First Peoples National Party of Canada (http://www.fpnpoc.ca) is a new political entity working to create a voice for Aboriginal people across Canada (see story from Turtle Island discussions below for its platform).
Native leaders push the message that aboriginal vote can make the difference
December 28, 2005
By TIM COOK - Canadian Press
Tina Keeper concedes that the decision to join the rough-tumble world of federal politics was a huge one for her.
It's a long way from the set of the 1990s TV show North of 60, where her role as a First Nations police officer won her a Gemini award in 1997. But Keeper, who spent the last few years as a community activist specializing in suicide prevention and working on aboriginal issues with the Liberal party, says she felt an overwhelming urge to have a direct say in the future of her people.
"Any nation has to be self-determining. That is the basis of well-being," says Keeper, who decided to run for the Liberals in the northern Manitoba riding of Churchill.
"My personal feeling about it all is that if I can use my profile to . . build bridges between the aboriginal and non-aboriginal sectors of our society, then I think that is well worth it."
Keeper hopes she can be a role model for young people, teaching them that involvement in mainstream politics - even something as simple as showing up to vote - is good for aboriginal people.
It's a message that aboriginal leaders and Elections Canada have been working to drive home to First Nations, Metis and Inuit as they battle sagging turnout numbers.
This year, the focus is on the fact that with a growing aboriginal population and an election shaping up as a tight two-horse race, courting the native vote could make a big difference.
"Every vote counts, and there is a real opportunity for us to influence the outcome in a positive way," says Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
"But we will only be able to make a difference if we vote, and so our push here is to try and convince our people to participate."
Information on voting rates among aboriginals in the federal election is sparse.
An Elections Canada study of the 2000 vote showed turnout was 16 per cent lower at polling stations on reserves than it was for the rest of the population.
The reasons vary, according to the study, from a "perceived lack of effectiveness" and "feelings of exclusion," to the disproportionate rates of poverty in aboriginal communities.
"It's a tough sell," said Peter Dinsdale, executive director of the National Association of Friendship Centres.
"Typically aboriginal people haven't been all that engaged in Canadian elections."
In an effort to make the sale, native groups are trying to show that the aboriginal vote will count this year.
Statistics Canada points to 26 ridings where aboriginal people account for at least 10 per cent of voters.
On its website, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples has published a list of more than two dozen ridings where the number of aboriginal voters in 2004 was greater than the margin of victory.
Dinsdale's association is planning a campaign with briefing material about election issues to be sent to more than 100 friendship centres nationwide.
"I think, by and large, people have to see a benefit in turning out to vote," says Clement Chartier, president of the Metis National Council.
"I think people see, more and more, the need to do that, and as leaders we need to ensure that they get that message."
Fontaine says politicians are starting to respond.
He cites the desire of all parties to delay an election until after last month's first ministers' meeting on aboriginal issues as an example.
"No one wanted to pull the plug before," Fontaine says. "That tells me they are listening and they see us as an important issue."
The Liberals say they have 15 aboriginal candidates running in this election, while the NDP boasts five. The Conservatives say they don't profile their candidates in that way and declined to give a number.
Keeper knows that one of the biggest hurdles she will face is getting aboriginals into polling booths, so that's what she's telling people on the doorsteps.
"One of the things I've been trying to do is just key-message that: 'Get out and vote. We have to participate,' " she says.
"People need to know that it will impact and that's an important message."
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:02 pm Post subject: NEW ABORIGINAL PARTY
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Wednesday, December 21, 2005.
The following speech will be delivered by Brendan William Cross on behalf of The First Peoples National Party of Canada
http://www.fpnpoc.ca at 5:15 PM Wednesday, December 21st, 2005 at Roca Jack's Coffee House at 1939 Scarth Street in Regina.
Cross, 29, is the former leader of the First Nations Party of Saskatchewan.
A First Peoples National Party of Canada nomination meeting will follow the speech.
Party Leader Barbara will be available to the media in Sault St. Marie.
CONTACT:
PARTY POLICY AND PROCESS
The First Peoples National Party of Canada
By Brendan William Cross
Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 5:15 PM
Tansi, and hello everyone. I bring you greetings from The First Peoples National Party of Canada and its Party Leader Barbara Wardlaw, who is in Sault St. Marie. Barbara will be available to the media this evening there.
I am here today to introduce to you First Peoples Party policy and process. An important part of this process will be tonight’s nomination, which will follow this speech. I encourage you to stick around, there are lots of social events for everyone this evening.
The First Peoples National Party of Canada is dedicated to seeking respectful relations with all living beings which can lead to peaceful cooperation with all. Our Mandate is to unite all Aboriginal, First Nations, Inuit, and Metis- thus strengthening our respective organizations. Together we can both promote local, regional, and national programs and their services, and communicate the needs of all people to the national government. Our values are not only Aboriginal values, they are Canada’s values.
Our party executive is comprised of Leader, President, Vice-President, Chief Agent, Treasure, and Secretary. These positions carry their own specific responsibilities. These positions will be filled by nominating and electing leaders at our National Convention, which will be held after the federal election. It will be similar to the nomination process we will follow tonight.
If you feel in your heart that you are called to be nominated in this party, I would suggest you immediately make that known to our party leader by emailing or phoning her. Now is the time to begin the race.
Any political party is only as good as the vision of the future it seeks to create. Our political party has an ambitious agenda that will engage the entire Canadian electorate and represent everyone with connections to Aboriginal culture. These policies were developed by members of the party over the past year, a process chaired by Party President Jerry Fontaine, who created the First Peoples Party in Manitoba during the nineties. I am proud to present these policies to you today.
Our policy is broken down into four categories: Social, Political, Economic, and Spiritual.
Socially, we believe the elected representatives of this country are obligated to deliver a basic level of service to all peoples. All people shall be removed and protected from hardship, suffering, and poverty that are caused by social injustices and the lack of economic opportunities.
Politically, we believe the elected representatives of this country must represent the interests of their constituents. They must recognize and respect the need to bring into harmony and balance the community needs of all peoples.
Economically, we believe elected representatives of this country have the responsibility to ensure that there is equality of opportunity for all people to achieve the means for economic prosperity and security. This must be achieved through education, training, and other means.
Finally, Spiritually, we believe the elected representatives of this country must develop, apply laws, and regulations that will encourage and promote respect of the Seven Traditional Teachings for the well-being of all people. The Seven Traditional Teachings include Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, Wisdom, and Truth.
Our party was created with the dream of achieving self-determination for First Peoples, the dispossessed, and the poor within their own land. We can speak with a strong, independent and united voice, living according to the teachings handed down by our ancestors.
Our Social Policy includes the development of restorative justice and healing approaches to crime. I, for one, have a criminal record. This is nobody’s fault but my own. However, I am not the only one affected by crime and its consequences.
The First Peoples Party is committed to removing barriers that prevent men, women, and youth from re-entering the work force. Greater rehabilitative measures create healthy citizens who can help others learn self-control over the personal issues that create crime.
We are committed to the elimination of child poverty. Child poverty is a blight on the Canadian conscience. It should never exist. But poverty does exist. The First Peoples Party recognizes that education is the remedy that cures social ills of poverty and underdevelopment. Education breaks resignation to the culture of poverty, which has a culture all its own. Over a long period of time, people come to terms with the culture of poverty. Nobody should be forced to think poverty is as good as it gets.
A Universal Basic Income will ensure nobody is overcome by extreme poverty.
The First Peoples National Party of Canada will work towards the implementation of an income support program that is sufficient for all basic needs.
A basic need that is becoming more and more important to working families is Universal Day Care.
The First Peoples Party believes that accessible day care is fundamental to eliminating child poverty. Parents unable to afford day care have no alternative than remaining on income security programs. Whether day care is billed directly to the federal government or paid by parents with federal allowances, our party believes all Canadians should have access to quality Universal Day Care.
Now, politically, the starting point of our policy is Self-determination. Self-determination does NOT imply secession from Canada. We do, however, agree with the Charter of the United Nations that proclaims:
“All peoples have the right (to) self-determination… (to) freely determine their political status, freely pursue economic, social, and cultural development.”
The First Peoples Party believes all peoples have the right to be self-determining.
A reflection of the self-determining process is our Peace Treaties and the rights and responsibilities that grew from these agreements. The Canadian government wants nothing more than to rid itself of these responsibilities and obligations. Such a direction would guarantee that peace itself between Canada and First Nations would be lost. Peace Treaties must be honoured by both sides.
Our Treaties have always been viewed as covenants, promises, and contracts that committed the Crown to a relationship that would last “as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow.” Only Nations independent and sovereign can enter into Treaties. First Nations became sovereign Nations the moment the numbered Treaties were signed.
Again, our Chiefs and ancestors pledged within the Treaties not only themselves, but their descendants, to maintain perpetual peace. All of the Treaties are Peace Treaties.
The First Peoples Party believes the following traditions are fundamental to Treaty Governance: The centrality of land; The role of Elders; The role of clans, women, men, and youth councils; The restoration of traditional societies; and the Rule of Law.
The First Peoples National Party of Canada will seek to improve inter-governmental relationships with municipalities, the provinces, and the federal government. We also seek to build global linkages. To have international credibility, we suggest creating our own Auditor-General. This would ensure a truly representative financial management.
The First Peoples Party supports the concept of Proportional Representation which will ensure political representation for those without a voice. Proportional Representation will provide balance to smaller groups that are not represented under the big tent of other parties. More women and minorities will benefit from Proportional Representation. This can be assured by our party by placing women and minorities near or at the top of the list of representatives.
Fear-mongers point to the emergence of a Catholic Party, a Protestant Party, a Jewish, Muslim, or Black Party. The First Peoples Party rejects the fears of these detractors. Every segment of society deserves the opportunity to be elected.
We strongly suggest that one third, 33% of the national vote ensure 1 seat in Parliament. In a minority Parliament, a single member may have considerable sway if they decide who forms government.
Regarding Economic policy, I want to first say that Indigenous people have always maintained that they do not consider themselves to be poor. To ensure this belief become real, The First Peoples National Party of Canada believes First Nations governments must have the power to tax, what to tax, and at what level within First Nations territory. Further, First Nations governments must have the power to tax non-citizens, corporations, and other entities that conduct business within our territories.
The property situated on reserves should continue to be exempt from non-Indian government taxation, and Reserve Taxation should not be seen as an alternative to continued federal funding. The integrity of the Canadian tax system will be maintained. The decisions regarding the exercise of taxation powers should be the prerogative of Indian governments.
The First Peoples National Party of Canada recommends First Nations’ debt be written off.
The First Peoples Party proposes the creation and development of a multilateral institution such as an Indigenous Peoples’ Development Bank, which can provide long-term structural loans that would enable economic development and growth.
Government must create new levers of economic change, levers that ensure more education, more training and jobs. Gaining control of these economic levers will enable our Nations to design our own programs, make our own investment decisions, and be accountable and transparent to our own people.
An example of our specific economic policy is the following:
“The First Peoples National Party of Canada will support local economic development that is ecologically and socially sustainable. This can be done by improving access to both grant funding and capital for community enterprise and small business centres. We must encourage and support ethical investment institutions and encourage “Buy Local” campaigns. With local business and industry, we must encourage the creation of durable, high value products made by well-trained, well-treated, and well-paid workers.”
The First Peoples Party will support the creation of an enabling environment that allows for community banks, credit unions, co-operatives, and regional business support.
The First Peoples Party promotes Revenue Sharing. First Nations have been told they are a drain on the Canadian taxpayer, who unwittingly has to pay for and support the existence of First Nations. However, we contend First Nations and their citizens have been paying taxes all along. Canadians must remember where the wealth of this country came from- from land and resources acquired from our peoples and lands.
The First Peoples National Party of Canada proposes that one third of the revenues being realized from resource development be shared with First Nations.
Regarding Environment Protection, we must state- First Nations, Metis and Inuit people must protect the delicate balance of nature and humanity and the sensitive ecologies of biodiversity. Our survival depends on it.
Our party has put health and social security in the Spiritual category of our policy. Spiritual because the health of the body enables the health of the spirit. This I can attest to. I suffer from bi-polar, amongst other psychological conditions. Through incredibly painful mistakes and as a result of unacceptable misbehaviour, I have learned that it is imperative we eat every three hours, go to bed at the same time each night, and get eight hours of sleep. My mind is healthy when my body is healthy. My spirit benefits from the health care I am entitled to.
The First Peoples National Party of Canada supports and promotes the ideal of Universal Health Care and the Treaty concept of “the medicine chest.” The First Peoples Party sees no difficulty with government subsidizing human beings.
The First Peoples Party recognizes and supports the concept of preventative health care and medicine. Our party also support home care as an alternative to institutional care.
The First Peoples Party support health education in areas such as family health, mental health, and socio-economic status.
The First Peoples National Party of Canada believes in universality, portability, and accessibility of health care for all peoples. Human beings are the number one concern for the FPNP.
The First Peoples Party recognizes that poverty destroys the ability of families to maintain a healthy life-style. This can be seen in many of our poorest communities. Very often our poorest people are the poorest of the poor. This must change.
The First Peoples Party supports community involvement in the development and transformation of the health care system. The opportunity to shape policy is intrinsic to this approach. It will reflect the differences in education and income, as well as regional differences. Wellness is a right of all Canadians. The First Peoples Party proposes a health plan that is holistic in mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual in design.
Our party would work towards a Social Care Program that addresses violence, poverty, hatred, and gender inequality.
The First Peoples Party suggests that any effort to address Social Security’s long-term finances should deal with the jump in life expectancy and pressures heightened by the sheer size of the baby boom generation.
Lastly, The First Peoples Party recommends the retirement age be raised from 65 to 67.
I hope this exploration through the policies of The First Peoples National Party of Canada was informative. I know that there are many people right now who are looking for an alternative to the mainstream parties, and I would strongly suggest to those of you who are:
The First Peoples National Party of Canada is not only an Aboriginal party. It is a cultural party capable of including all people. Our culture already does. Whether you support this party with your vote or not, know that you are welcome to participate in Aboriginal culture. That is the culture we seek to represent as Members of Parliament in the House of Commons.
I finished my book by telling how His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, commented on The First Nations Party I led in 2000 and 2001. On the walk in front of the Legislature, within an hour of his arrival, Prince Charles asked, "Will I be seeing you later inside?" (referring to the Legislature). When I replied that we hadn't elected anyone yet, The Prince looked me in the eye and replied, "There's always tomorrow, isn't there?"
The eleventh chapter of my book was going to be titled, "When Tommorrow Comes." However, I never finished that final chapter, because, indeed, tomorrow is here. Now.
Thank you, Merci, Miigwetch!
Contact:
Brendan William Cross
206 - 1765 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK S4P 2B4
Phone: (306) 569-4642
