Meech Lake - Leaders demand negotiations

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National aboriginal leaders are demanding a renewal of the constitutional process dealing with their right to self-government.

"Our agenda is unfinished," said National Chief Georges Erasmus of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) as he appeared before the special joint committee on the 1987 constitutional accord, August 19. "The process should continue until the agenda is complete," he added.

"We need and amendment guaranteeing conferences so our rights can be guaranteed," said Metis National Council (MNC) president Jim Sinclair. "The (federal) government has not yet lived up to its moral responsibilities. If votes come from oppressing our people, they'll do it," stated Sinclair, claiming that the government's main aim is votes, not justice.

Sinclair and the MNC are concerned with how the creation of a Metis land based would be affected by the Meech Lake-Langevin Accord. The AFN is concerned with how provincial control over immigration will affect such things as land claims, especially those in British Columbia. Both leaders expressed concern over recognition of Quebec as a 'distinct society.'

"It is as if the people of the first nations never existed," said Erasmus. "If anybody is more 'distinct' surely it is the peoples of the first nations."

The issues which seemed to be of most concern to the leaders was that of the new ammending formula for the constitution. Under the new formula, there must be unanimous consent among the provinces for any constitutional changes. Also, any province could stop the creation of a new, predominantly aboriginal province, any change to the senate that would guarantee aboriginal representation of any change in the status of aboriginal peoples.

Both Erasmus and Sinclair spoke of the lack of political will to arrive at a fair solution for Canada's aboriginal peoples. Erasmus spoke of a double standard when dealing with natives and Quebec in recent constitutional meetings.

"Look at the wording we were looking for in our talks," exclaimed Erasmus. "It's all been included in Langevin accord. Aboriginal people must have access to upcoming first minister's conferences to defend their rights. We cannot simply be an agenda item."

The Native Council of Canada will be making a submission to the joint committee August 25. The Prairie Treaty Nations Alliance has made a written submission to the committee, but so far, they have been unsuccessful in their request.