Funding provincial programs and services in First Nations required to correct injustices
Follow apology with funding, Fontaine tells premiers
Marianne White - July 14, 2008
QUEBEC - First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine called on Canadian premiers Monday to commit funding to improve the socio-economic conditions of aboriginal nations.
The call follows last month's residential-schools apology.
Fontaine and other First Nations leaders are meeting with the premiers Wednesday as part of the Council of the Federation in Quebec City.
"This is an important meeting for us because it's post-apology," Fontaine said before a meeting of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), also taking place in Quebec City.
The historic apologies delivered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to those who suffered in residential schools will be front and centre at the AFN meeting.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner will address the assembly after a commemorative ceremony Tuesday. Claudette Dumont-Smith, a writer and member of the Kitigan Zibi Algonquin community near Maniwaki, Que., was given a five-year mandate to meet with anyone affected - including students, teachers, church officials and community leaders - and to discuss past wrongs.
Fontaine said the apologies and the work of the commission are "very important" for the survivors - and for the country.
"We hope that one of the positive outcomes will be writing the missing chapter in Canadian history. That would be so significant," he said.
But concrete actions are needed to back all the talking, he added.
For instance, the First Nations want more funding for education, training, and skills development for native children.
"What we want to see from the Council of the Federation is continuous support to fill the gap of quality of life between Canadians and us," Fontaine said.
He didn't put a dollar figure on his demands.
He recalled that the Conservatives refused to move forward with the $5.1-billion Kelowna Accord, which would have helped narrow the gaps in education, health, housing and economic development.
The deal was signed by former prime minister Paul Martin, provincial and native leaders just before the election in December 2005, after 18 months of negotiations.
Martin introduced a private member's bill this year to force the Tories to implement the Kelowna Accord, but there was no money attached to the bill.
"If we are going to make any progress on closing the gap, we are going to need help from the premiers," Fontaine said.
The Quebec minister responsible for native and intergovernmental affairs, Benoit Pelletier, said the premiers will discuss a variety of issues with First Nations officials, but wouldn't comment on any possible outcome.
The Council of the Federation meets Wednesday through Friday. Climate change and interprovincial trade are among the hot topics on the table.