Media.Knet.Ca

May 30, 2007

Colin Mayes
CHAIR
Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Sixth Floor, 180 Wellington Street
Wellington Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A-0A6

SENT VIA FAX: C/O Bonnie Charron, Clerk of the Committee at (613) 996-1962

Dear Sir or Madam:

We would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight. It is our understanding that on May 30, 2007, Minister Jim Prentice conveyed to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development the opinion that the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, in concert with the Alberta Chiefs of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations shared the view that the present Government of Canada “is one of the best governments that they have ever worked with on the ground getting things done.”

Please be advised that the Union of BC Indian Chiefs finds, at this point in time, Minister Prentice's opinion to be completely inaccurate, greatly exaggerated and premature to say the least.

In fact, the Government of Canada's failure to support the Kelowna Accord, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and a formal apology in relation to the Residential School experience has greatly contributed to the rising tensions and frustrations on the part of First Nations across Canada. Hence, the National Day of Action on June 29, 2007.

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs finds such sweeping inaccurate assumptions from Minister Prentice to be counter-productive.

Sincerely,

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
President
Union of BC Indian Chiefs

CC: Members of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Chiefs Council
BC First Nations Leadership Council