Manitoba sends positive signals to Native community

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Manitoba's new NDP government has sent a clear message to Aboriginal people that it is intent on improving the province's relationship with them by appointing two Aboriginal MLAs to cabinet.

Rupertsland MLA Eric Robinson is the new minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, a portfolio renamed from the Northern Affairs Departmenet by new Premier Gary Doer.

And The Pas MLA Oscar Lathlin has been appointed as the new minister of Conservation.

The two appointments have been universally applauded by provincial Aboriginal political organizations.

"We welcome the move by the premier to send our people a sign that they are breaking with the past government's confrontational approaches and failure to recognize our important role in this province" said Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Rod Bushie. "It's an historic moment to have two of our people placed in such prominent positions within the government."

In fact, the province has never had two Aboriginal MLAs serve in any cabinet before.

Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand also lauded the appointments.

"The Métis people have a number of issues that the previous government showed little signs of listening to or taking seriously. The initial indications from this new government is that they are recognizing the importance of Aboriginal people and are prepared to develop a new relationship built on including our people."

But the new government's signals have not simply been confined to appointments of Aboriginal MLAs to positions of political power.

Premier Doer also confirmed that plans are underway to quickly establish an Aboriginal Justice Commission to make good on its campaign promise to deal with the primary recommendation of the 1991 Aboriginal Justice Inquiry report to create a body to implement the inquiry's wide-ranging recommendations.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak Grand Chief Francis Flett said the impending announcement of the commission satisfies the demands of the northern First Nations organization for the government to immediately address a host of policing and justice issues that have remained outstanding during the last decade.

Doer has also said he will move quickly to reopen negotiations on the Northern Flood Agreement with the Pimickimakinak First Nation of Cross Lake, based on the First Nation's position that the agreement is a modern-day treaty.

That announcement marks a fundamental shift from the previous Conservative government's refusal to negotiate with the community and the refusal by Manitoba Hydro (a Crown corporation) to admit any major responsibility in the breakdown of flood agreement negotiations with the community.

One government source said the new government is seriously considering removing present Hydro chairman, Bob Brennan - a Conservative government appointee - and replacing him with someone the First Nation has not had an adversarial relationship with.

"In order for an agreement to be reached where all the parties have a positive sense of trust and be able to start with a clean slate this will have to take place," said the source.

The NDP government has also signaled that it rejects the Conservative mantra that federal fiduciary responsibility precludes direct provincial intervention and assistance to Aboriginal communities.

As the new Aboriginal Affairs minister, Robinson has already announced the start of a significant project review for the development of a hospital and improved medical services for the Island lake Region, which has been plagued by a lack of basic medical services for the 9,500 people that comprise the community.

And First Nations' demands for on-reserve gaming also appear to be within reach for the first time after a summer marked by confrontation and a police raid on the Dakota Tipi First Nation, which had unilaterally established gaming on the reserve late last summer.

Terry Nelson, noted First Nations political activist and special gaming advisor to Dakota Tipi, said he too believs the change of government provides an opportunity for First Nations to realize significant progress.

"It is now time for First Nations to put aside the threats of railway blockades and confrontation in the hope that [the] First Nation NDP MLAs will make a difference in the government of Manitoba.

"First Nation people must not believe that money will now fall from the sky. They should expect however that the provincial government of Manitoba will be a government they can work with."

But Nelson also issued a warning for Premier Doer by citing the list of former Progressive Conservative ministers who were defeated during the election.

"Gone is Vic Toews, the man we hold responsible for the 'jail the Indians attitude' in Manitoba. Gone is David Newman, the man who told us First Nations' casinos were canceled due to Native protests at the legislature. Gone is Jim McRae. Don't forget that Premier Gary Doer. First Nation people have a long memory."