First Nations concerned with Alliance policies

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In the Nicola Valley and elsewhere, First Nations groups are expressing serious concern about the Aboriginal rights policies of the Canadian Alliance party.

Nicola Tribal Association Chairman George Saddleman said the policies are aimed at removing the recognition of Native title in land claims and treaty processes.

The policies of this party- the Reform party or this new party - really go against grain of First Nations thinking when it comes to making an agreement with the federal Crown, he said.

"The kind of policy statements they're making don't lend to any kind of relationship with the First Nations people. They put us in a museum and leave us there."

In the policy declaration dated January 2000 found on the Canadian Alliance website, the party states its commitment to individual freedom and equality is "the key principle from which we will approach Aboriginal affairs policy," and that Aboriginal self government will be a "delegated municipal level of government rather than a sovereign third order of government."

The document also states that allocation of harvest rights to natural resources will not be race-based, and that "Aboriginal Canadians should have the same rights and responsibilities as all other Canadians."

During his visit to Merritt recently, Day stated that equality for all Canadians, including Aboriginal people, was a key part of his party's stance. Saddleman, however, feels that equality is still a long way off.

"When he talks equality, there's a lot of catching up to do," Saddleman stated. "Look at the World Health Organization discussion of where First Nations people in Canada stand. Three years ago we were 42nd on the world list; a report came out in January that said we were slipping down to 67th on the list. If he's talking equality, there's a long way to go to get First Nations people back on the track.

Alliance's disagreement with the Supreme Court of Canada Delgamuukw decision that acknowledges First Nations' title to traditional lands could lead to lengthy court battles costing the taxpayers plenty, Saddleman said.

"The Supreme Court is supposedly the highest judicial body in our constitutional system; if someone says they want to change the law, they have to do a lot more than just say those things," Saddleman said. "I don't know if that's what people are wanting. We didn't want to go to court in the first place. It'll take a lot of dollars and they'll be using federal dollars to do that, especially if they get into power."

If the Alliance becomes the government, Saddleman believes there may be confrontations down the road.

"If we have to go up against an opinion like Stockwell Day's, we're going to have to do something about it. I don't know how we'll do that until First Nations people come to some sort of understanding," he said. "I belong to the Interior Alliance, and they're saying 'No, this kind of policy talking is not doing anybody any good. It's just muddying up the water more than what's happening now.'"