Indigenous leaders question Quebec’s commitment to feds’ new framework

Carolyn Bennett, minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, said consultations will include rethinking what constitutes a nation, a term whose current definition dates back to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in the mid-1990s.

Quebec’s Indigenous affairs minister, Geoffrey Kelley, said his government had little warning before the proposed framework was announced but is prepared to come to the table.

“We only have the broad outline of what they intend on doing through the course of this year, but Quebec is more than willing to participate in this new approach,” he said in an interview.

Kelley defended his government’s track record on empowering Indigenous governments, pointing to the school boards, health agencies and regional police forces that exist in some Cree and Inuit communities.

Quebec has a role to play in enhancing Indigenous autonomy within areas of provincial authority, including health, natural resources and education, he said.

“Children leave schools in their communities and come to high schools or colleges or universities in the Quebec system, so obviously we can do a much better job of sharing and co-ordinating responsibilities in that area.”

The federal government recognizes 634 Indian bands in Canada, which fall within 50 to 60 First Nations.

In her keynote address to Quebec Indigenous leaders, Bennett described the treaty negotiation process as flawed in the way it pits the government against Indigenous groups through long and costly court battles. She stressed First Nations should not have to surrender or extinguish their rights in exchange for land or money.

“We believe that rights exist,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to fight for those rights in court.”

While developing a new framework will not involve reopening the constitution, Bennett acknowledged that some of the powers under consideration fall under the purview of the provinces.

“There is no question that the collaboration and co-operation of provinces and territories will be imperative,” she said in an interview.

The minister flew to Atlantic Canada on Thursday to begin the consultation process.

Trudeau has said the new legislative framework, to be unveiled later this year, will help First Nations who are interested to reach self-government and break out of the Indian Act, which Bennett described as a straitjacket.

“We want your rights protected, but not in that paternalistic way that the Indian Act still restricts you,” she said.

— Follow @gwomand on Twitter

Geordon Omand, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Indigenous leaders question Quebec’s commitment to feds’ new framework

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