Indian Affairs minister calls for quick action

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Indian Affairs Minister John Munro said in a press conference March 7 that he is trying to have the sexually discriminatory Section 12(1)(b) of the Indian Act repealed and Indian self-government legislation passed in parliament before June of this year.

Munro said he would link the issue of the Indian women losing their treaty status when they marry anyone who is not treaty Indian with Indian self-government in order to have both issues dealt with quickly in the House of Commons adding, "Indian self-government just won't happen if we don't get it through by the end of June."

The federal government has estimated that about 20,000 women and 40,000 of their children have lost their treaty status as a result of Section 12(1)(b). Munro said he expects about 60 percent of those women to apply to regain their status after the proposed federal legislation is passed. Under the proposed legislation, women who have lost their status through marriage, and their children and grandchildren, would be eligible to regain their status and return to a reserve. However, Munro said he anticipates that only abot 20 percent of the 60percent of the women who choose to regain their status will also choose to return to their reserves.

In this case, he estimated that the annual cost to the federal government will be between $30 and $60 million to help pay for the additional band members.

Munro said he may face opposition on the repeal of Section 12(1)(b) from wealthier bands who are afraid many women will want to come back to the reserve to share the wealth. He held a meeting with the chiefs of Hobbema on this and other topics after the press conference.

Chief Jim Omeasoo of the Samson Band attended a meeting with Munroe and said there were still many unanswered questions concerning the repeal of Section 12(1)(b).

Chief Omeasoo said Munro told the chiefs there would be an additional fund set up to help pay for women and children who would return to their reserves after the Indian Act was changed, but the specific arrangements of the fund had not been worked out yet.

Originally the Four Bands were opposed to any changes in the Indian Act, said Chief Omeasoo, but now he was resigned to the fact that the federal government was going to change the act and he just wanted the bands to have some say in the changes.