Government held accountable as anniversary of Royal Proclamation marked

The signing of the British Royal Proclamation 250 years ago was commemorated with what one organizers referred to as a resurgence of the Idle No More movement.

“And we took a powwow break and that’s okay,” said Taz Bouchier, speaking from the steps in Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton. “But we’re back and we’re not going to stop and we’re not going to stop until this government understands (they) have to abide by the law… and stop creating laws that are going to take away who we are as a people!”

Bouchier had no difficulty rallying the crowd of 150 strong in a chant of “idle no more” accompanied by fist pumps.

Bouchier challenged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to listen to Indigenous people.

“You are in partnership with me, Harper. I have Treaty status. I’m your partner. I have equal voice, equal say. When are you going to wake up to that fact?”

And she challenged Indigenous people to come together in delivering a strong message.

“Well, Harper will wake up to that fact when we all stand together in solidarity and we say, ‘Enough is enough,’” said Bouchier.

That solidarity was evident on Oct. 7. The rally in Edmonton, which included a march from the Edmonton Public School Board building to mark fair and equal education for Aboriginal children and opposition to the First Nations Education Act that tops the government’s agenda when Parliament sits again, was one of over 50 Idle No More events held across Canada and the United States as well as locations in the United Kingdom, India and Croatia. Events also took place in Calgary, Lethbridge and St. Paul.

Bouchier chided Harper for laying claim to the minerals below the six inches of soil that was agreed to for gardening and farming in the treaties.

“That revenue you’re giving to us… is not people’s tax dollars, it is our revenue that we are entitled to as a nation of people,” she said. “We should be the richest people in this land because those minerals belong to us.”

And she called out both the provincial and federal governments for their lack of consultation.

“In this country we are a democratic society and our vote counts and our voice counts and you need to consult with us especially us who are under the Treaty status. We have an agreement and that agreement is binding by law. That agreement is binding internationally by law. We’re not just making this up,” she said.  “And now we’re smart enough to see the fine print. And now we’re smart enough not to take the beads and the glass and those small items that buy us and buy our voice. It’s not happening anymore.”

The Royal Proclamation, which was issued by King George III in 1763 “is a seminal document in our history. It laid the foundation for constitutional recognition and protection of Aboriginal rights in Canada, and established the protocols and procedures that govern relations between the Crown and First Nations,” says a statement released from the Prime Minister’s Office to mark the 250th anniversary.

Not all First Nations share the same view on the proclamation. While some see it as a starting point for honourable negotiation for Treaty and land claims, others see it as a racist historical document.

“There will be different perspectives coming from different groups,” said Clayton Thomas Muller, who organized the Oct. 7 nation-wide INM rallies. “There is no one single interpretation of Canada’s colonial history, certainly no one pan-Aboriginal voice that represents how to break that down in any way.”

In his statement, Harper also said, “Our Government is committed to continue working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to make concrete progress on common goals and initiatives. This includes ongoing dialogue on the treaty relationship and comprehensive land claims.”

Speaking in Ottawa on Oct. 7, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo, said, “The approach, laws and policies of federal governments have been paternalistic at best and assimilationist at worst. Our work today is about returning to approaches that recognize First Nations authority over our lives, our lands and our peoples, where First Nation governments are strong, the Treaties are alive and honoured and Treaty-making allows all of us to thrive. Let today mark an ‘era of action.’ It’s clear to everyone that the paternalistic approach is not working and the status quo is failing everyone. We must commit today to return to the original relationship and act together for change.”