Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/68073
PAGE 6 • JUNE 2012 The beating goes on & on… Aboriginals have limited constitutional rights UPDATES: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, endorsed by Canada's federal government, affirms funda- mental human rights in relation to the particular historical and contemporary circumstances of Aboriginal peoples. It echoes fundamental val- ues, embraced by the Canadian constitutional tradition, of self-determination, equality, local decision-making and secure property, and re- spect for cultural identity. Rupert's Land Sacred Circle Homecoming: "Lighting the Home Fires" Friday June 15, 2012 at 7pm until June 16, 2012 St. Peter Anglican Church in Dynevor East Selkirk The Rt. Rev Mark MacDonald Keynote Speaker: There is no cost to this event, but folks must register by calling 992-4200. More informaton is also available on our website at www.dioceseofrupertsland.ca A Gospel Jamboree that night will feature our Nationl Indigenous Anglican Bishop mark MacDonald. Those with guitars or musical instruments are welcome to come and share their talent. The theme is "Lighting the Home Fires" and is designed to assist and honor indigenous or Aboriginal survivors in their journey of healing and reconcilation. Our diocesan bishop, Donal Phillips will lead the closing service that features a healing piece and a giveway at the end, followed by a feast. "Our inherent and treaty rights are interna- tionally recognized and constitutionally pro- tected. There's an obligation on the Canadian government to respect and begin a relation- ship that will look at resource revenue shar- ing in this coun- try. Our natural resources were not ceded nor surrendered. As a party to Treaty No. 6, it is clear that a sharing of lands with the newcomers was for settle- ment purposes only. There was no join modern Canada, but we haven't invested a moment of time into showing them how. When remote reserves slide into crisis be- cause of chronic poverty and a lack of train- ing, Canadians respond by rearing up into high tual intellec- dudgeon about the "In- dian problem." The chiefs are corrupt! It's the fault of the feds! The provinces are to blame. It is this incessant bureaucrat ic hampering that has surrender A Bank that's committed to you. of the lands and resources. If the govern- ment want to use those lands and resources, they would have been subject to further negotia- tions as under- stood by the Treaty," stated Chief Wallace Fox of the On- ion Lake Cree Nation. A recent On- Superior decision tario Court has reaffirmed that neither the Crown nor mining companies may ignore their "duty to consult" before beginning mineral exploration on Crown lands that lie within the traditional territory of First Nations. In August 2011, Ontario Justice Mary- Proud to be a 2012 AFN Annual General Assembly Host Committee member. ®/The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of the Toronto-Dominion Bank or a wholly-owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries. Anne Sanderson ruled that Aboriginal rights to hunt and trap are enshrined in the Treaty 3 agreement signed in 1873 with the fed- eral government. According to the 312-page judgment, Ontario does not have the right to unilaterally limit Treaty Rights by "taking up lands under the Treaty" for forestry, mineral development, settlement or other purposes. The Court said that before the province can issue land authorizations that would substan- tially interfere with Treaty harvesting rights to hunt, trap and fish, it must obtain the approval of the federal government. Provincial attempts to infringe such Treaty rights "are ineffective" due to a combination of Canada's jurisdiction over Indians under section 91(24) of The Constitution Act, 1867 and the special protection afforded to Treaty rights under section 88 of the Indian Act. "We ask them to "get over the past" and a once self- reliant to their knees. We can leave them there, out of sight and out of mind, sleep- ing in shifts in mouldy homes while we en- gage in grandi- ose philosophi- cal discourse. Or we just offer to lend a hand. Prime Minister Stephen Harper – AKA Chief Speaker: Please tell us why? nership for Children, a coalition of NGOs, private companies, universities and individuals working with Ojibway and Cree communities. Over the entire 2001 to 2026 period, the cumulative effect on GDP of increased Ab- original education and labour market out- comes is an estimated $401 billion. (Centre for the Study of Living Standards) Despite unanimous support in the House of Commons for "Shannen's Dream" – a bill that commits the federal government to rais- ing the standard of First Nations' K-12 schools to the same level as their provincial counter- parts – the $100 million in the first year falls far short of the $1.5 billion required. There are no provisions for education at a time when 75 per cent of Inuit students in Nunavut do not finish high school. "Our most precious gift is our children, and all children have a right to education without compromises. It is unacceptable that in 2011, and with the immense wealth held by a very few in this country, that the basic right to edu- cation is not extended equally to Aboriginal children. The indifference shown by Stephen Harper and the Tories in Ottawa towards Ab- North-South Part- journalist and an adviser to the Pearson is a ~Patricia brought people