And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes:
NATIVE DEAL COULD BE TEMPLATE FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT
Canadian Press, March 4, 1999
[S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased
or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context.
It is provided for reference only.]
REGINA (CP) -- While the Nisga'a treaty in British Columbia has held the
spotlight, a sweeping deal is quietly being worked out in Saskatchewan that
could have implications for native self-government across the country.
After eight years of low-key discussions, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council --
which represents nine First Nations -- is on the verge of initialling an
agreement in principle with Ottawa.
Some obstacles remain and ratification is still years away, but if
successful, it could help set the standard for self-government. The
agreement, as with the Nisga'a and some other First Nations, would involve
a transfer of power over things like education, health care and resources.
But unlike the Nisga'a, who had no treaty in place, there is no costly land
claim involved.
And just as the Nisga'a set a precedent for First Nations without treaty
recognition, Meadow Lake could help do the same for treaty bands,
negotiators say. "This agreement is the first agreement that is put
together based on treaties as a foundation," said O'Neill Gladue,
vice-chief of the tribal council. "Because of that it will definitely have
impact on all the rest of the treaty First Nations in Canada."
Gladue said the deal would "redefine a whole new political relationship."
But that won't mean a clean break from the federal and provincial
governments. "We will have the ability and the jurisdiction to make laws
and these laws all have to jive with the federal and provincial
governments," Gladue said. "We're doing this within Canada. You've got to
remember that when we signed treaties, our forefathers agreed to coexist.
So we're not looking at our own armies and our own money-printing
machines." The target date for the agreement in principle is March 31, but
both sides say that's unlikely.
Still, things should be wrapped up within a few months, predicted Si
Halyk, the head federal negotiator. "The working relationships have been
excellent and each party obviously respects the other," he said. "I have to
emphasize working well together still doesn't mean a quick solution because
what we're talking about are very complex matters." Gladue said the
agreement will finally fulfil the true intentions of the treaty
signatories, which was for natives to run their own affairs.
Berny Wiens, Saskatchewan's aboriginal affairs minister, said it's high
time natives began exercising their right to self-determination. "The
circumstance we find ourselves in today is that while First Nations have
the right of self-government, they do it under the Indian Act where the
federal government has to approve all their decisions," he said. "I think
liberating people from that federal constraint finally allows them to take
their own future in their own hands which is a universal wish of Canadians
and I think it is huge in that sense."
However, the negotiations aren't without controversy. Some aboriginals
have been critical of self-government, arguing that many First Nations
aren't ready for such a big step.
Richard Gladue, chief of the tribal council, said he recognizes things
will have to move slowly. "When you look at some of our communities and the
social problems we have, it's a challenge," he said. "This agreement is an
evolving process. It's not as if you sign the agreement today, then
tomorrow everything changes." The changes would be introduced over many
years, he said, and would be made in co-operation with the federal and
provincial governments. Protections such as the Criminal Code and the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms would still apply.
Chief Gladue also emphasized that while an agreement in principle is
close, that's no guarantee of a final deal. The pact will have to go to
each First Nation for review -- a process that could take up to three
years. It would then have to be ratified by band members.
Negotiations with the federal government began in 1991. The Saskatchewan
government, which has no direct power over reserves, joined in five years
later to build a co-operative relationship.
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SOVEREIGNTY NOT "SELF-GOVERNMENT"
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is
distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed
a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only.
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S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2
EMAIL : <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html
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