Commitment from the highest office has Atleo hopeful

A letter stating the commitment of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his office and the top levels of the federal government to tackle issues facing First Nations “is significant,” said Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn Atleo.

The correspondence from Harper came on the last day of the AFN’s Special Chiefs Assembly held in Gatineau, Dec. 14 to 16. The theme of the assembly was moving from endorsement to action. Canada had endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenouse People on Nov. 12. Implementation is the next step forward on that front.

Harper’s promise to commit came as U.S. President Barack Obama met with tribal leaders in his country and endorsed the declaration.

“It’s really good to have high level commitment. Now we need to see results from it,” said Atleo.

Harper’s letter follows a meeting between the Prime Minister and Atleo held Oct. 28, and correspondence from Atleo in November. Harper committed officials from his office, the Office of the Privy Council, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to a meeting to assess the viability of a First Nations-Crown gathering to set out plans to transform the approach to First Nation education, economies and governments.

The prime minister’s words are far-reaching and sweeping, said Atleo.

“In my view he acknowledges the failure over the course of history of government policies where he acknowledges that fundamental reforms are needed in relation to First Nations economies and First Nations governments and that a specific plan is required,” said Atleo.

Education was one area specified by Harper in need of renewal.

Under the leadership of the AFN’s Chiefs Committee on Education, education forums, specifically tailored to regions and individual First Nations, will take place over the next six months. The report from those forums will be considered for action and recommendations at the AFN’s assembly in Moncton in July.

It will also go to the government. Atleo said no action will be finalized with the government until the chiefs have deemed any proposal on education reforms acceptable.
“We don’t know what that final outcome looks like. What we do know is we shouldn’t take forever to do this work. . . . We need to organize our work so we can build on 30 years of advocacy for First Nations’ control for First Nations’ education,” said Atleo.

The push is for kindergarten to Grade 12 education, because that area is “very anchored in the Indian Act,” said Atleo, but post-secondary education is also a priority.
The AFN is hosting a virtual summit on Jan. 27 to look at aspects of higher education.

“First Nations are very resolved to make sure post-secondary education for our people is protected, sustained and, in fact, should be enhanced,” said Atleo.
Reports like the one tabled in March 2010 by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy, which calls for post-secondary funding to bypass the band and go directly to the student, is on the agenda for the virtual summit, which will include input from young people.
“I’m very concerned about this report, very concerned about our treaty rights and title land rights being overstepped,” said Atleo.

While the national chief believes that education is a “shared value amongst all people” and that, in part, is responsible for Harper prioritizing First Nations’ education, Atleo said there is also a practical side to Harper’s new focus.

“I think Canada’s concerned about the economic future and see (that) Aboriginal people forge a large part of the potential for the economic future of the country. And, of course, First Nations are playing a more prominent role in the economy in terms of resources and how the economy is progressing, and the relationship with First Nations is going to play an increasingly important role,” said Atleo.

Over the next 18 months of his term, Atleo said education, economy and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, will remain his priorities.

Atleo said the declaration moves treaty rights and Aboriginal title rights forward, which was supported by numerous resolutions passed by the chiefs at the special assembly.

He noted that fighting for these different aspects of First Nations’ society, whether economy, education, or development, was fighting for the rights of First Nations people.

“The ancestors knew when they forged treaties that these are one and the same and they needed to be treated as such. So all of our work is about supporting the advancement of First Nations treaties and First Nations title land rights. If you talk about education, you’re talking about treaty rights and title land rights. It goes in my view that way across the entire spectrum of the topics we might talk about,” said Atleo.

“I know there’s a strong desire for deep and rapid change to the conditions in our communities. I think that’s going to be what will continue to propel us forward, the shared sense of urgency of the need for a better day for our people,” said Atleo.