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From http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/News/260187.html

Treaty 3 Chiefs angered by program funding cuts

By Mike Aiken - Miner and News - October 11, 2006

Treaty 3 chiefs advocated for constitutional challenges and civil disobedience Tuesday, during the first day of the fall National Assembly being held in Seine River.

Upset by what they saw as arbitrary cuts and amendments to programs affecting their children, leaders didn’t mince words.

Delegates at the table focused on the recent cuts to supports for special needs students on First Nations, who usually attend provincial schools in neighbouring communities.

“It’s a clear and blatant violation of our treaty rights,” said the chief responsible for the education portfolio, Chuck McPherson of Couchiching First Nation.

He said families are considering placing their children in the care of family services, so they can ensure they get access to a proper education.

As classes resumed, Couchiching band council found themselves without funding for 16 education assistants, who accompany special needs students in classrooms. Across Treaty 3, the total was $1.3 million in cuts, and members began a letter-writing campaign to protest the drastic changes.

Without the added support, McPherson said three students in the Kenora area have been unable to attend school, which he saw as a violation of the children’s rights under the treaty, as well as their provincial right to be in school and their rights against discrimination listed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The federal government came under criticism in aboriginal circles for a range of cuts last month, as well, which included anti-smoking campaigns and funding for legal challenges.

“The new Conservative government has openly targeted treaty rights and our people,” said Chief Earl Klyne of Seine River.

As First Nations celebrated their recent victory regarding redress for residential school issues, assembly chairman Francis Kavanagh said the clawbacks were already in the works.

“We’re financing our own settlements,” he said.

Others criticized Indian and Northern Affairs for saying the decisions were related to expensive evacuations due to flooding on northern reserves, such as Kashechewan.

Chief Warren White of Whitefish Bay called for civil disobedience when he urged chiefs to force a meeting with Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice over the issue. During their trip to Ottawa in December, he said they should sit in the minister’s office until he agrees to meet with them.

Right to consult denied

Speakers also called for a legal challenge based upon their right to consult in section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. While this right has normally been applied to resource rights, they said it was time to apply it to social policies.

Chiefs also suggested they ignore provincial laws regarding child care, because Queen’s Park ignored their suggestions on changes to the new Child and Family Services Act.

“I can say to you we got diddly,” stated George Simard of Weechi-It-Te-Win, the aboriginal children’s aid society operating in the southern part of Treaty 3.

Simard told the assembly he wasn’t prepared to work with provincial regulators towards harmonizing practices, and their only recourse was to go through the courts and force the province to consult with First Nations.

Lac La Croix First Nation Chief Leon Jourdain challenged his colleagues to commit $3,000 each towards the development of their own child care system, saying it was time to act on their words.

The assembly continues Wednesday with an update on a controversial youth trip to Honduras, followed by a visit from the auditors on the their third and final day, Thursday.