1992 saw Native peoples get a say in own government

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Pikiskwe

The new year has arrived. Now is the time for reflection on the previous year. I believe 1992, more than any other year, allowed Native people to be involved to a much greater degree in the mechanisms that affect this country.

Of course, the referendum was the most important event that took place this year. I think it was not the result that made this event so memorable, it was the fact that Native people were involved in the discussions that affected them. For the first time, the feds were not handing us a policy that had already been written and accepted.

There were spin-off benefits as a result of the high profile involvement of Native people in the referendum discussions. The mainstream media brought the voice of the aboriginal peoples to the front page of the nation's newspapers. The press presented fairly both yes and no aboriginal perspectives to the arguments.

Chief Ovide Mercredi was one of the nation's top newsmakers of the year. This in effect personalized the aboriginal position more so than any other single media event previously.

Other major events were not so positive but somehow they happened. Some momentum or new experience will be gained by the aboriginal community. They include the inquiry into the police and justice system handling of the shooting of Leo LaChance

by a white supremacist, the new inquiry for Wilson Nepoose and the staying of the sex charges against Bishop O'Connor.

These events in the aboriginal community started a momentum for change. The combination of these events started the aboriginal and some members of the non-aboriginal communities to seriously question the Canadian judicial system.

Last week, Tony Mandamin, Native lawyer and member of the Edmonton Police Commission, stated it is now time to begin implementations of some recommendations made from the Cawsey Report. In addition, there have been a number of calls for an inquiry into the staying of charges against Bishop O'Connor from both the aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities.

I feel this momentum for change is a step towards a new awareness for both communities and this can only be seen as a positive development.

From my family to yours, all the best in the new year.