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From the Ottawa Citizen

First Nations national calls for new 'public policy project' to replace the Indian Act

By Kathryn May August 24, 2010  

OTTAWA - Assembly of First Nations national chief Shawn Atleo is challenging bureaucrats to help drive a new 'public policy project' to replace the Indian Act and remake the relationship between Canada and 1.3 million aboriginal people.

Atleo made his pitch Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, a captive audience of nearly 700 public servants who work for the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as governments in other countries.

Atleo, the conference's first aboriginal honorary chair in IPAC's 62-year history, said getting his message to public servants - without politicians - is critical because they are key in shaping and influencing policy.

"The practical suggestion emerging from today is that we explore ways First Nations' public servants can work with public servants in the rest of the country so we can begin to work more closely together and build better levels of trust and understanding," Atleo said in an interview.

Atleo made headlines earlier this summer when he called for the government to replace the Indian Act within two to five years. He argued for a regime built on treatises, aboriginal rights and policies that are led by First Nations and not the unilaterial approach of the past that imposed nothing but "constraints and controls."

Atleo says that bureaucrats and politicians at all levels know the act has miserably failed "its policy objectives and failed our people." The act has left "our people at the bottom of every socioeconomic indicator in this country" with the highest suicide and incarceration rates and the lowest education and income levels, he said.

That's why improving education must become a top priority. He's pressing for a legislated funding guarantee so that the per-student funding of aboriginal schools is no longer lower than the rest of Canadian students. First Nations students should also have access to culture and language immersion.

Atleo told delegates a first step and show of respect for First Nations would be Canada's endorsement of the UN declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has signaled his intention to finally endorse the UN declaration after several years of refusing to sign on.

With that endorsement, Atleo said the Canada should host a First Nations-Crown gathering as a sign of a "new standard of federal engagement." Policy makers, he said, need to listen to what aboriginals want rather than the traditional to-down approach.

With these goals, Atleo argues public servants at all levels need to work together, listen to what aboriginals want and IPAC, with its membership reach into all levels of government, including First Nations, is an ideal forum to help build the trust and understanding that has so badly eroded.

This week, IPAC launched an ambitious new Public Service Without Borders (PSWB) network that's built on the highly successful social media platform Canada developed with industry for the G20. With this 'network of network' - which brings together the best of Face-book, Wikis and and You Tube technology - bureaucrats around the country and the world can share ideas, lessons, talk policy, research and even post job opportunities.

IPAC President Denise Amyot said PSWB uses technology to promote collaboration and will link public servants, institutions and governments in politically neutral, non-partisan discussions.

"IPAC recognizes the need to facilitate the flow if ideas and best practices across all levels and areas of the public service," said Amyot.

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