Area native groups will gather in Kenora this coming Monday at 1 p.m. for a rally and march to “speak out against the federal government’s Governance Act.”
”It’s a collection of the Grand Council Treaty #3 and Nishnawbe Aski Nation to speak out,” noted facilitator Joanne Bruyere.
“They say there’s 51 First Nation communities in this area in favour of it [the act] but Nishnawbe Grand Chief Stan Beardy and Treaty #3 Grand Chief Leon Jourdain can’t find the 51 communities in favour of it.”
Called the “Gathering of Drums,” the rally is being organized to protest Bill C-61, the First Nations Governance Act, which Ottawa says will promote good governance as well as requirements for economic development.
But many native groups disagree.
“Minister [Robert] Nault’s solutions won’t work. He doesn’t seem to want to listen to our input and he cannot seem to respect the solutions that are being promoted from within aboriginal government,” charged Grand Chief Jourdain.
“The First Nations Governance Act is a complete denial of treaty and aboriginal rights and will do nothing to solve the problems identified in the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People,” he argued.
One of the major complaints Grand Chief Jourdain has is the legitimacy of Nault’s exercise.
“Self-government is just that,” he noted. “Yes, change is required, but change must come from within.
“A continuation of colonialism, paternalism, and enforced policy is not legitimate, will not work, and is something Canada has apologized for in the past,” he said. “Minister Nault is from a different era.
“Our drums will be our voice of opposition,” Grand Chief Jourdain vowed.
Key speakers at Monday’s rally will include Assembly of First Nations Chief Matthew Coon-Come, Ontario Regional Chief Charles Fox, and regional chiefs from other provinces.
The key messages will be that the First Nation peoples support democratic, accountable, and transparent governments but Bill C-61 fails key tests of legitimacy because it:
•erodes the nation-to-nation relationship confirmed by treaty;
•is built on a discredited Indian Act foundation;
•applies a “one-size-fits-all” approach to nations which are fundamentally diverse;
•violates the fundamental human right of self-determination; and
•is purely a political agenda which prevents workable First Nation solutions.
An invitation to attend the rally was extended to Nault, who also is the local MP, to discuss the act in his home riding.
Nault has not met with the chiefs since he got Cabinet approval to proceed with the First Nations governance initiative in March, 2001.
“The leadership and the members have made the decision to meet with Minister Nault as a Member of Parliament in his constituency office in Kenora to ensure their voices are heard,” Grand Chief Beardy said.
The rally will be co-hosted by Grand Chiefs Jourdain and Beardy at a location yet to be determined.