Government continues attempts to silence critics, says chief

Patrick Madahbee wants to make it clear to the United Nations Special Rapporteur that what the Canadian government is saying abroad is not what Indigenous people are living at home.

“We have a situation here in Canada where the federal government is going on to the international scene and saying everything is fine here with their relationship with First Nations and they’re consulting and accommodating us…. They not only haven’t consulted and accommodated First Nations, they haven’t received our consent to take the resources out of our territories, there’s been violation of treaties, there are so many issues,” said Grand Council Chief Madahbee, who is temporarily replacing Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy with the Chiefs of Ontario.

James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People, will be in Canada Oct. 7 to Oct. 15. Anaya’s schedule is still undetermined, but Madahbee expects the special rapporteur to tour Ontario and hopes to accompany Anaya, as well as sit in when Anaya meets with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo.

Madahbee said Anaya’s visit is in part due to the many Indigenous delegations that attended UN forums, including making trips to Geneva, to talk about living conditions in Canada, which do not conform to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, although Canada has endorsed that document.

“…It is alarming that Canada, a country at the centre of the global extractive industry, continues to fight against recognition and implementation of the human rights protections set out in the UN Declaration,” said a joint statement issued in September by 15 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations, including Chiefs of Ontario, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, Grand Council of the Crees, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Native Women’s Association of Canada, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

Furthermore, said Madahbee, poor living conditions have been exacerbated by cuts the federal government announced in 2012 and continue to implement despite calls by Aboriginal organizations for discussions with the government. Those cuts have meant proposal-driven funding only, instead of core funding.
But federal cuts run deeper than surface effects, said Madahbee.
“This is another strategy on the part of the government, with Idle No More and just with the pressure being put on the government. That’s the way to silence your critics and to cut out the advocacy is to cut the ability for advocacy. That’s exactly what they’re doing,” he said.

Madahbee said with limited funding available from the federal government, First Nations will choose to put funding directly into the community and not to tribal councils or First Nations advocacy organizations.

“It’s a deliberate tactic; how to weaken anybody that opposes their legislative and policy agenda,” he said.

Madahbee points to the delays in getting Anaya to Canada and the protocol that needed to be followed and he is concerned about what Anaya will be allowed to see when he does make the trip.

“The government is managing this as best they can to keep the parameters of what (Anaya) wants to talk about and what he wants to see to a limit,” said Madahabee.

But he is hoping that Anaya will visit reserves, especially northern communities.

“These are basically Third World conditions, inadequate water, high costs of even trying to live, horrendous prices for food. It’s just a never-ending cycle of dealing with poverty and lack of opportunity,” he said.

Madahbee is optimistic that Anaya’s visit will create awareness both internationally and Canada-wide.

According to the Web site for the Special Rapporteur, Anaya’s “findings… will be reflected in a preliminary report that will be submitted to Canada for its comments and consideration. A final version of the report will be circulated publicly and presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The report will include recommendations to Canada, Indigenous governing bodies and, possibly, other interested parties on how to address issues of ongoing concern to Indigenous peoples.”