ACFN Chief hopeful Liberal government isn’t “business as usual”

November 2, 2015.

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam isn’t meeting with his national counterparts today to discuss how to move forward in ensuring that the new Trudeau government delivers on its promises.

In fact, Adam isn’t convinced that Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau will do any better than previous federal governments, Conservative or Liberal.

“We’ve got to remember that before Conservatives took power 10 years ago, 11 years ago, the Liberals were there. They only made the promises when the elections came. So you tell me? Is it because of the Conservatives that the First Nations people are in this situation when we only held two governments since 133 years?” asked Adam.

Adam isn’t sure what to make of the message he received from Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada that is it is “business as usual.” That was what he was told when he phoned the office.

“So if it’s business as usual … if they don’t want to deal with our issues, they’re going to continue to see opposition from our side. If they want to work with us, well then, we’ll be able to work together,” said Adam. “It will be in their interest to work with us instead of against us.”

Meanwhile, Tsuu T’ina hosted a Chiefs Summit at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino today. Adam says there is some value in the Chiefs meeting and forming strategy on how to deal with the new government, but changes will only come about if the Liberals are inclined that way.

“If (the Liberals) want to make reconciliation, they’ll make reconciliation, because they were there when the residential school era was there, too,” said Adam.

Trudeau has promised to enact all 94 calls to action delivered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in June in response to the impact of Indian residential schools.

One move that will be a positive step forward will come when Trudeau names his Cabinet on Nov. 4.

“I wish to see a fair Cabinet. He’s got some Aboriginal people there (in the party), put some Aboriginal people inside there,” said Adam.

Ten Indigenous candidates were elected, eight of whom are Liberal, including Assembly of First Nations BC Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould and Winnipeg mayoral candidate Robert-Falcon Ouellette. The only Indigenous Liberal candidate in Alberta, Garry Parenteau, placed a distant second in the northern riding of Lakeland riding, which was won by the Conservatives.

Then Trudeau needs to get on with the business of working on Aboriginal concerns, says Adam.

“First Nations have just as much issues, if not more, as ordinary citizens so let’s deal with that too, because it’s long overdue,” he said.

During his campaign, Trudeau delivered an Aboriginal platform that included investing money in education, renewed nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations, and a national public inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women.

The Tsuu T’ina summit invited Chiefs from Treaties 1 through 11, from over 400 First Nations, to begin forming strategy in order to maintain pressure on Trudeau. Kevin Littlelight, business development officer for the Tsuu T’ina First Nation, expected about half the Chiefs to attend.