Martin meeting with chiefs, promising hands-on approach

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As he awaits the time when Prime Minister Jean Chretien departs and he finally moves into the highest political office in the land, Paul Martin has been meeting with First Nation leaders and saying that their issues will be a priority for him.

National Chief Phil Fontaine confirmed that he met with the future prime minister at the Assembly of First Nations' Ottawa headquarters.

"I must say I was very pleased with the discussion. Our approach of revitalizing the AFN is consistent with own approach which is about change and renewal," Fontaine told the press on Oct. 7.

The national chief said he got the impression that many aspects of his $1.73 billion Getting Results Agenda would find support with Martin.

The Liberal member for LaSalle-Emard also met with Atlantic vice-chiefs Rick Simon and Len Tomah and the two co-chairs of the Atlantic Policy Conference, Chief Lawrence Paul and Chief Second Peter Barlow.

On Oct. 16, Simon told Windspeaker they met with Martin "three, four months ago."

"Paul Martin told us right up front. He said, 'I know I'm going to be in for at least one term. I'm not going to try and accomplish everything, but I'm going to take two portfolios myself personally and one of them's going to be Aboriginal Affairs.'

Talk in Ottawa is that the Martin team will revamp the "machinery of government," meaning some dramatic changes could be coming.

"I would advocate for that because obviously the Indian Act and Indian Affairs structure isn't working. We've got a minister that's so arrogant. He says he knows the best things for us because he's got 52 First Nations in his riding, and chances are they're going to oust him in the next election," said Simon. "To me he has no say in the matter because the Public Service Commission is the ones dictating how big the Department of Indian Affairs will remain. So the only way to change that is to actually abolish that department, stop fighting with the public service and look to the First Nations to say how can we develop a better relationship."

In a speech to the chiefs on Oct. 8 at a special assembly at the Squamish Nation, Fontaine said he expected "real changes" under Martin's watch.

"We've had that first meeting. There will be other meetings. We must work together to prepare for those meetings," he told the chiefs.