Equal opportunity required

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Self government is a major key to the resolution of many of the pressing issues facing Aboriginal people, a Sudbury conference of Elders has been told.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Phil Fontaine, was speaking at Laurentian University on March 9. He said eradicating poverty, dealing with poor housing, and addressing health issues, like rampant diabetes, are major challenges facing Canada's Aboriginal people. He also listed high unemployment and the high incidence of incarceration as other challenges.

Fontaine said Canadian governments and the country's people need to undergo a fundamental attitude shift if a sensitive understanding and appreciation about value and cultural differences is to take place.

The national chief said 25,000 new housing units are required just to catch up to the current housing needs in communities. He said Native people's health is generally poor with rampant diabetes a foremost concern. High unemployment and high incarceration rates complete the picture, said Fontaine, noting Native men between the ages of 16 and 24 commit suicide at a rate four times the national average.

Fontaine believes poverty can only be dealt with when Native people have access to both land and resources.

"It very much represents the wealth of Canada," he said, adding it was First Nations' land first, though now less than one per cent is occupied by Aboriginal people.

"People shouldn't fear our development," he said, "because it will be good for the culture."

Fontaine confronted a belief that Indians are not ready for self government and listed the excuses he's heard to support this belief. Native people are regarded as unaccountable, unable to manage well, prejudiced against their own people, and some Canadians see Native chiefs as corrupt and lining their pockets while their people starve, he said.

It is "criminal, immoral and racist" to suggest Aboriginal people have no right to self government, Fontaine said. He cited Saskatchewan's former Devine government where former ministers, including the deputy premier, were convicted of fraud as an example of the double standard Aboriginal people face in their fight for self government.

"It's never suggested the Saskatchewan people aren't ready for self government."

The national chief said Canada and Aboriginal people need a more "respectful and qualitative relationship. We've tried to convince government we're ready, but a fundamental shift is needed."

Citing the recent social union talks among first ministers, Fontaine noted "we weren't invited," because officials termed the talks an "administrative arrangement" and not constitutional. But the issues under discussion impact Native people, said Fontaine.

"Under section 35, our rights are protected. The Supreme Court said we need to be consulted."

Fontaine said Native people must return to treaty relationships that were not just real estate transactions but about sharing and peaceful co-existence.