First Nations Voice

MARCH 2016 • PAGE 3 Are you aware that the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG), the city and the Province of Manitoba are all on Treaty One land and the province was established by the Metis? Jaimie Isaac wanted to acknowledge the Indigenous roots of Winnipeg and Manitoba with her first exhibition at the WAG as the Gallery's new Curatorial Resident of Indigenous and Contemporary Art. "I really wanted to acknowledge where the WAG is situated geographically," said Isaac, "To also acknowledge the territory we are within that is Treaty One territory." Isaac's mother is from Sagkeeng First Nation, she said with a smile, and pointed out it too is in Treaty One territory. While the collection does include, for example, a replica of a Treaty One medal given out to the chiefs who originally signed Treaty One. The exhibit also includes art from around the province from First Nation artists and First Nation artists who have had an impact on Manitoba. The art exhibit is also complimented by historical objects on loan from the Manitoba Museum. Isaac said there is a tendency to dismiss and confine historical objects to the past with little relevance in modern life. However, just like the treaties, the historical objects are just as relevant today as more modern Indigenous artists. "I have a contention with museums holding our Indigenous property and bringing them out of the collection and into the context of a contemporary art gallery to really challenge the fact that they are artifacts and really art. It took a really long time for someone to bead that bandolier bag," said Isaac. She did take the time to acknowledge how helpful the Manitoba Museum staff were as she set up the exhibit. Other artists featured in the exhibit include: Robert Houle, Rosalie Favell, KC Adams, Lita Fontaine, Murray McKenzie, Caje Shand, Daphne Odjig, Jeffrey Thomas and Jackson Beardy. Isaac stops by a Daphne Odjig painting and smiles. She says that if I can remember that far back that Odjig, originally from Northern Ontario, was one of the first to open her own art gallery on Donald Street here in Winnipeg back in the early 70's. As for my own personal opinion, I was blown away by everything in We Are On Treaty Land. By Trevor Greyeyes ART, NoT ARTIFACTS: WE ARE oN TREATy LANd EXHIbIT While it is true in part that the Liberal government did nix the FNTA to curry favour from First Nation peoples, the primary reason was to save the taxpayers a lot in expense and in time. Onion Lake First Nation had already won its first case on October 16, 2015 against the law passed by the previous Conservative government. It really shouldn't come as no surprise that the then Harper government passed a law that would not stand up to judicial review. Federal Court of Canada Justice Robert Barnes rebuked the government for its unilateral action and "failure to consult" with the bands. Sound familiar? That was the same decision handed down in the Kapyong case that the federal government under then Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Also, as someone who personally interviewed Justin Trudeau before he became prime minister. As Trudeau said to me and has repeated many times in the mainstream media that he would repeal all laws unilaterally imposed on First Nation. Why? The answer is quite simple and has been demonstrated in many court cases that laws imposed without fulfilling the duty to consult and accommodate will not withstand a court challenge when it's in direct contravention of Canada's constitution. At the time the FNTA was passed I pitched to the mainstream media that the FNTA would not stand a court challenge but there was no interest. In fact, there are still columns being published lamenting that the Liberals set aside the FNTA. Want to know something else? It didn't work. By any metric, such as the so-called million dollar chief, Kwikwetlem Chief Ron Giesbrecht, who won again after news spread about his outrageous salary. First Nations are still falling into co-management and third party arrangements at the same rate. The Toronto Star found the median salary of a First Nation chief in Canada is $60,000. From a personal view of someone who is not a band member, you have zero influence whatsoever on band politics and administration. And here's some more numbers for you. In the 2015 report A New Direction: Advancing Aboriginal and Treaty Rights by Douglas Eyford, commissioned by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, revealed that in the previous five years alone the department spent over $100 million on legal services for litigation involving Aboriginal Peoples. And as First Nations Voice contributor Bill Gallagher has noted, the First Nations legal winning streak now stand at 228 by his count. In fact, Gallagher calls that winning streak, I call it a winning record because First Nations have lost the occasional case here and there, the most under reported story in this country. Either the mainstream can accept this or not. It really doesn't matter. Indigenous peoples are finding solid footing in court cases and making a case to participate as full partners in Canada's economy. By Trevor Greyeyes Replica of a Treaty One medal THE REAL REASoN THE FIRST NATIoNS FINANCIAL TRANSpARENCy ACT WAS AXEd

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