Letter to the Editor: Retribution not an issue

Dear Editor:
Re: "A little retribution," May 2006

It is unfortunate for your readership that your editorial was out of date by the time it was published. The editorial alleged that the final agreement on residential schools reconciliation was in jeopardy because of some perceived political pay-back by the Conservative government. This was immediately proven to be false and ill-informed when the government officially approved the agreement on May 10. The federal Minister of Indian Affairs, Jim Prentice, made this announcement in the House of Commons, and also announced that the early payment of $8,000 to elderly residential school survivors would begin to flow immediately. I witnessed this announcement first-hand at the invitation of the minister. The first early payments went out May 29.

Your editorial states that the residential schools agreement, as well as the commitments achieved at the First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Issues in Kelowna, were neither "agreements" nor "historic." The residential schools agreement is, in fact, both. This is the largest settlement of its kind in Canadian history. More importantly, survivors will at long last see justice, compensation and some measure of resolution in our lifetime.

I am always concerned when I see inaccurate media reports that misrepresent our people and our issues. This is made worse when inaccurate reports serve to foster a sense of hopelessness and despair among our citizens.

This inaccuracy undermines the broader point in your editorial: that somehow the AFN is being punished for not supporting the Conservative party during the federal election. The AFN did not endorse any political party during the election. Rumors of deals with any party are wrong and we ask Windspeaker to substantiate these unfounded and false allegations. No proof is provided to support this assertion in the editorial, and no names (or even job titles) are given of anyone able to verify the information. The only references are to vague, unidentified sources.

We flatly and categorically deny these rumors. They are not true. We would like Windspeaker to substantiate the allegations or issue a retraction. We understand the need to protect sources where necessary, but we trust Windspeaker also understands the need to back-up over-the-top allegations of this nature. We trust the editor­the gatekeeper of truth and accuracy-is not held to a lower standard than Windspeaker journalists.

The AFN works with the federal government, not with any one political party. Our co-operative approach of constructive engagement continues with the Conservative government, and with Opposition parties as well. If Windspeaker maintains there is punishment underway, they must account for the residential schools final agreement, our regular and on-going discussions and meetings with the Minister of Indian Affairs, and the joint announcements we have made such as that dealing with clean drinking water.

We do agree that the agreements from the First Ministers Meeting must be honored and implemented. It would be a mistake and a step backwards to abandon these historic commitments that are aimed at achieving social, moral and economic justice for First Nations. The lack of action by the current government is unfortunate, but cannot be seen as any move against the AFN because these agreements were achieved with representatives of the Metis and Inuit, as well as all provinces and territories. Are we all being punished?

Your editorial requires substantiation or a retraction. The editor of Windspeaker was clearly speculating based on bad information, and guessed wrong.

I believe we share similar goals: to foster better understanding between non-Aboriginal Canadians and the First Nations of this land and, ultimately, to improve the lives of First Nations people. We serve neither goal by playing to cynical speculation and innuendo. We must and should expect more of our media.