Displeasure with federal legislation made known

Indigenous peoples from across Treaty territories gathered at Onion Lake First Nation Oct. 28-30 as part of a two-day action strategy.  On the table was discussion about the imposition of various proposed federal legislation being pushed by the Harper government without consulting First Nations. From Bill C-428 to Bill C-45 and the highly controversial Omnibus Bill C-38, these new proposed laws will severely impact Indigenous peoples within their traditional territories resulting in further economic marginalization. “We are putting Canada on notice and will no longer accept this manufactured consent on proposed legislation. Our Nations are united and strong and won’t accept that the State of Canada continues to disenfranchise us from our territories and natural resources,” said Onion Lake Chief Wallace Fox. Voices of dissent from the two-day event were only the most recent. The Chiefs of the Confederacy of Treaty Six have made known their opposition to the proposed federal legislation as has the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. “Everyone should be concerned as to why the federal government is once again, taking such undemocratic steps to push through such a broad spectrum of legislation,” said Grand Chief Marvin Yellowbird, Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, in a news release.