By JORGE BARRERA
June 13, 2007
Canoe News
Derision, suspicion and guarded hope from Native chiefs and grassroots leaders met a "historic" promise from the Stephen Harper government to "revolutionize" a broken land claims process.
The announcement came amid the growing rustlings of a coming restless summer on the rails and highways.
"Virtually from the day our country was born, aboriginal people have had grievances about the government's attempts to live up to its obligations under their historic treaties," said the prime minister. "The time is long past due for a new approach."
The approach targets the more than 800 claims which stem from grievances over breached treaty rights, broken commitments or the handling of land. The Oka crisis, Ipperwash and the Six Nations dispute in Caledonia resulted from a failed claims policy.
"Today is an historic day for First Nations people. It is a day of hope," said Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine, who shared the stage with Harper and Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice.
The government has promised to create a judge-run independent tribunal to rule on claims of $150 million or less that reach the three-year negotiation mark or are rejected by the feds.
PROMISING $2.5B
The tribunal's binding decisions would be subject to a Federal Court review.
The government also promised to use the existing Indian Specific Claims Commission as a mediator and to make available $250 million every year for a decade for settlements.
Chris Cornish, former senior policy adviser to two Indian Affairs ministers, said the Conservatives face long odds trying to consult, draft and pass enabling legislation through the minority House this fall for implementation in January 2008.
"I think it's very ambitions to get that done," he said.
Rolling River First Nations Chief Morris J. Shanaccappo, point man for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and member of the AFN's specific claims chief committee, criticized the plan because it does nothing to help First Nations get back stolen land in private hands. He said the government leaves it up to communities to buy it back.
"All they are doing is deceiving the public," said Shanaccappo. "How independent is it going to be with Canadian judges lining up to play against us?"
In Tyendinaga Mohawk territory at the Deseronto quarry site near Belleville, grassroots leader Shawn Brant said plans are still on to call down thunder on June 29 -- a declared "day of action."
"Even if they can smoke and mirror something like that through the public, I don't think anyone in the communities buys it," said Brant.
Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer said she hopes the proposed legislation will speed up talks aimed at ending the Caledonia occupation. A council committee will meet next week to discuss whether to renew a contract ending in September 2008 with the OPP, which locals say has done little to end the occupation.