Another Aboriginal group representing all off-reserve forms to take dollars from First Nation funding
OCAP is Formed
October 27, 2008
A new Aboriginal rights based political force was created in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario this weekend called The Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People (OCAP) and its voice is OCAP President Brad Maggrah.
The Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People (OCAP) held its founding Assembly at Sault Ste. Marie Ontario this weekend.
60 delegates representing Métis and off Reserve Aboriginal Communities across Ontario came together to create a new Aboriginal Rights based political voice in the organization called OCAP.
The Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People is the only affiliate of the highly successful National group the Congress of Aboriginal People (CAP). "OCAP delegates elected an Executive and Board of Governors and gave them a strong mandate to work on behalf of off reserve Aboriginal people and the Métis." Stated Ron Swain Newly elected Chair of the Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People
OCAP President Brad Maggrah stated "We are Aboriginal people as defined in section 35 of the Canadian Constitution act of 1982 and have entrenched rights, and our communities are determined to exercise our collective Aboriginal rights."
In a press release on September 29, 2008 Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid stated the Ontario government supports positive dialogue and increased engagement between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, and is committed to building better relationships with Aboriginal people and improving the quality of our lives; Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid also stated the Ontario government invest $600 million annually on programs and services for Aboriginal people through a number of ministries across government.
Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid also stated the Ontario government signed a Gaming Revenue Sharing Agreement with First Nations across the province.
The agreement provides First Nations with a stable source of funding, beginning with $201 million immediately and $3 Billion in total over 25 years for health and education, as well as cultural, and economic and community development projects; The Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People are extremely pleased our First Nations sisters and brothers have tools to address their serious issues, we need Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid to understand OCAP members are denied these opportunities.
The Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People invites the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Brad Duguid to OCAP's head office in Bruce Mines to met with the OCAP executive to begin dialogue in the creation of a process to address our members issues in the areas of health, education, as well as cultural, and economic and community development projects.
OCAP Vice Chief Elmer St. Pierre said "Off Reserve Aboriginal People do not have access to these's millions and millions of dollars Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid stated in his press release of September 29, 2008, in fact all our delegates came from across Ontario to Sault Ste. Marie without one penny coming from the government. We are determined to organize and give a united voice to our communities in an attempt to improve the desperate conditions our people face in the areas of health, justice, employment and training and lack of education. I drove with my family from Kingston and others came from Kenora, Ottawa, Pembroke, Sudbury, and Toronto, to name a few communities."