AFN challenges media and "other sources" to respect residential school process
AFN press release ...
Statement by AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine regarding Truth and Reconciliation Commission
OTTAWA, Nov. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - National Chief Phil Fontaine issued the following statement today in response to the article, "AFN offers plan to salvage residential-schools body," which appeared in the Globe and Mail on Saturday, November 15, 2008.
"As the National Chief and duly elected spokesperson for the Assembly of First Nations, I wish to assure Canadians and especially survivors, that the Assembly of First Nations has full confidence in the integrity of the current process, facilitated by Mr. Justice Iacobucci, to repair the damage done to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a consequence of the resignation of Justice Harry Laforme."
"The primary concern of the Assembly of First Nations has been, and remains, caring for the needs and interests of the more than 80,000 Survivors of Indian Residential Schools and ensuring that the Commission will re-commence its work at the earliest possible opportunity, re-invigorated, strengthened, and free of outside interference."
"I wish to stress that the Assembly of First Nations respects and understands not only the need for the Commission to be independent and strong, we also understand the confidential nature of the sensitive discussions we are now embarking upon with Mr. Iacobucci. Unless confidentially is maintained, the task of repairing the TRC becomes much more time consuming and difficult."
"Over the past few days and weeks, there has been much speculation, misinformation, exaggeration, and improper disclosures from a number of sources. Emotions are running high and many people are speaking out. For example, on October 30,2008 Joe Friesen wrote a story in the Globe and Mail citing sources "close to the Commission" which disclosed information regarding the meetings held with Mr. Iacobucci in Toronto on October 29th. This was improper and should be immediately stopped by those responsible."
"I would also like to make clear that all of the comments attributed to Mr. Ken Young in the article that appeared in the Globe and Mail on November 15, 2008, are speculative, personal and solely his own. Mr. Young is a survivor of Indian residential schools and has the right to express his own opinions on matters relating to Indian Residential Schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. However, his views as expressed in the November 15th article do not constitute the AFN's official position on the matters currently under discussion with Mr. Iacobucci and the other parties to the Settlement Agreement."
" We are committed to the efficient resolution of the TRC problems and regret the confusion, misunderstanding, or difficulties that may have been caused by Mr. Young's expression of personal opinion, or the opinions expressed by numerous others, including those offered by unnamed sources "close to the Commission."
"The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is far too important for the country, for survivors and for First Nations Communities to allow us to get sidelined by speculation and opinion."
"As a party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the Assembly of First Nations remains steadfastly committed to working with all of the parties to the Settlement Agreement to repair and strengthen the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in a timely and professional manner."
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/For further information: Karyn Pugliese, A/Director of Communications, cell: (613) 292-1877, kpugliese@afn.ca/
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AFN proposes expanding reconciliation commission panel
November 14, 2008
The Assembly of First Nations has suggested expanding the residential schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission to five members in an effort to extricate the panel from the mess left by Mr. Justice Harry LaForme's resignation.
The parties to the settlement are still trying to find a new chair after Judge LaForme's resignation last month.
Louise Arbour, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was approached, but declined to pursue it, said Ken Young, director of the Indian residential schools file for the AFN. Edward John, grand chief of British Columbia's First Nations Summit, a long-time aboriginal leader, lawyer and residential school survivor, is now seen as a leading candidate.
The AFN proposal would expand the commission from its original structure of two commissioners and a chair to four commissioners and a chair. It would dilute the influence of remaining commissioners Jane Brewin Morley and Claudette Dumont-Smith, who Judge LaForme said had undermined his authority and tried to outvote him on every issue. Their determination to stay on as commissioners has become a source of controversy, as several native groups have called for a clean slate, and candidates for the top job have expressed reluctance to step into a dysfunctional situation.
Mr. Young, who has been an adviser to national chief Phil Fontaine, said some of the churches support the idea of a five-member panel, and Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl did not oppose it when the national chief raised it.
“The chair has to be replaced and we have to do it as quickly as possible. If there's an appetite for five commissioners, we'll appoint two new commissioners and a chair and have five,” Mr. Young said. “It's beginning to look like more of a possibility as time goes on.”
Mr. Young also said a movement has been launched among chiefs across the country calling for Ms. Morley, a lawyer, and Ms. Dumont-Smith, a native health-care worker, to be removed from their posts.
He has urged the two commissioners to defend themselves against Judge LaForme's criticisms, but they declined to be interviewed Friday. Instead, a commission spokeswoman supplied a statement from Oct. 21 in which the commissioners said they were saddened and disappointed by Judge LaForme's resignation.
A motion on removing the commissioners is expected to be brought forward at an AFN special assembly in Ottawa next month. Mr. Fontaine has so far expressed his support for Ms. Dumont-Smith and Ms. Morley, but if the resolution passes, he will have to accept the wish of the majority, Mr. Young said.
“It's best that the two commissioners do something positive with respect to their interests as appointed commissioners. And they ought to do it quickly,” Mr. Young said.
He added that the AFN at one point believed that Ms. Arbour might be interested in stepping in as chair, but was told she felt she didn't have time.
Mr. John, who attended the Lejac residential school near Fraser Lake, B.C., said it's an honour to be considered for the job.
“I've been involved in these issues in B.C. going back to the 1980s, so I have a good understanding of the issues,” he said.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has a five-year mandate to gather the stories of the 80,000 residential school survivors in Canada.
The parties to the settlement have been meeting with former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci in an effort to negotiate a process for selecting a new commission chair. They are expected to meet again next week, but a new chair may not be named until 2009, Mr. Young said.