First Nation leaders draft position paper for meetings with Trudeau

November 3, 2015.

If Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau has any doubt that First Nations leaders will be “holding his feet to the fire” then that doubt will be wiped away by a position paper that will be presented to him when he meets with Chiefs individually.

Assembly of First Nations Alberta Regional Chief Craig Mackinaw was among the 50 or so Chiefs and their proxies to attend a Chiefs’ summit hosted by Tsuu T’ina First Nation at Grey Eagle Resort and Casino yesterday.

“The message will be clear,” said Mackinaw. “We want the prime minister to follow up on his election promises.”

The Chiefs and other band representatives hashed out post-election strategy to ensure the Liberals follow-through on their expansive promises to the Aboriginal people.

“There’ll be a position paper drafted up so it can be presented in the near future to the prime minister when various Chiefs do meet with the prime minister,” said Mackinaw. It will be a concerted effort to ensure Trudeau understands that promises without action will not be accepted.

Photocaption: Alberta Regional Chief Craig Mackinaw (left) with Assembly of First Nations National Perry Bellegarde.

(Photo: Shari Narine)

The Liberal platform comprised a generous education package for First Nations students, including building and refurbishing schools on reserve; additional post-secondary funding; a “renewed, respectful, and inclusive nation‐to‐nation process that fully respects Aboriginal and Treaty rights;” an immediate launch of a national public inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women; equitable funding for child and family services on reserve; and implementation of all 94 calls to action outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in response to the legacy of Indian residential schools.

Mackinaw says Chiefs did not prioritize any of Trudeau’s promises, but there are some quick deliveries that Trudeau can make.

Tomorrow, the new Liberal cabinet is announced.

“We want someone there (as Aboriginal affairs minister) that we can work with. That’s the key,” said Mackinaw. “I know there will be other ministers that will have to be involved in the discussions as they progress.”

With eight of 10 successful Indigenous candidates elected as part of the Liberal government, Mackinaw says he would like to see at least one chosen as minister. But he’s not sure if having an Aboriginal MP serve as minister for Aboriginal Affairs would be beneficial.

 “It would be nice, but then I know that they have to follow the party line so I guess it would be interesting to see how that works out,” he said.

Another quick delivery would come in calling for a national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women. New Democratic Party leader Tom Mulcair had committed to making that call within his first 100 days in office had he been successful. Trudeau made a similar commitment in his election night victory speech.

National Chief Perry Bellegarde was also in attendance and spoke to the paper Closing the Gap, which AFN presented to all party leaders for response. In an earlier interview with Windspeaker, Sweetgrass’s sister publication, Bellegarde said the Liberal’s presented “a very robust plan in terms of responding to closing the gap” and that AFN and Chiefs would hold “their feet to the fire” in delivering on that plan.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that things will change but it’s just a wait and see how things will go as we move along here in the next few months and how we discuss these items with the federal government,” said Mackinaw.