National Briefs

First Nation woman regains Indian status

An Ontario Superior Court ruling on March 5 ruled that a Matachewan First Nation member, Laura Flood, should have her legal status granted back under the Indian Act after she lost it under a 1952 enfranchisement policy.
During the 1950's, the Government of Canada policy had her surrender her legal status as an Indian to become a Canadian citizen so that she would have the right to hold land in fee simple. The enfranchisement application she signed was prepared by an Indian agent, given to her to sign by the Chief of her community, and submitted to the Government of Canada.
She challenged her 1952 enfranchisement together with her daughter Dorothy Flood and her granddaughter Angel Larkman. Their case - which has been ongoing since 1996 - asserted that Flood did not speak or read English at the time and therefore did not know what she was signing.
"This is an important decision for all those that have been denied 'status' because (of) their ancestors' enfranchisement," said Aboriginal Legal Services Toronto Executive Director Kimberly Murray, in a news release. "Enfranchisement was an oppressive policy designed to assimilate Aboriginal people and, in this case, was used by the Government of Canada to deprive the Flood family of their identity." Murray represents the Floods' in court.
An estimated 7,000 Aboriginal Canadians lost their legal status as Indians through enfranchisement during the 1950's and 1960's stated a media release issued by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), a political territorial organization that represents 49 First Nations within James Bay Treaty 9 territory and the Ontario portions of Treaty 5.
NAN points to a central Indian registry in Ottawa that defines "Indian" as a legal term and "status Indian" as a person registered on a band list. At several points in Canada's history, status Indians were struck off that list by Indian Affairs Department officials with women losing their status under the Indian Act if they married non-Indians.
"The case opens the door for First Nation people, not only within NAN territory, but across Ontario, who may have lost their Indian status in a similar fashion," said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. "I encourage all NAN members and First Nations across Ontario in this situation to request copies of the enfranchisement records from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to confirm their validity. If one community member was stripped of their status without their knowledge and consent, others likely have been too".

UPSG finalizes joint venture with Lil'wat Nation & T'musta7 Services

United Protection Security Group Inc. (USPG) has signed a three-year formal joint venture agreement with the Lil'wat Nation and T'musta7 Aboriginal Consulting Services.
The agreement allows UPSG to explore new business opportunities that involve provisions for security officer training, deployment, housing of security personnel and other business opportunities that may arise before, during, and after the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. It also establishes the roles of UPSG, the Lil'wat Training and Employment, Recruitment and Training Service (LTERTS) and lead negotiator, T'musta7 Aboriginal Consulting Services, while addressing responsibilities and the equal distribution of revenues and profits.
Don Allan, chief operating officer of the wholly owned subsidiary of UPSG, United Protection Services Inc., points out that the joint venture is only the first of several anticipated in the future.
"We believe that the many business opportunities associated with the 2010 Olympics will provide short and long term meaningful employment to members of the Lil'wat Nation," he said in a March press release.
As part his company goals, Allan intends to work closely with the Lil'wat Nation to ensure that all parties of agreement benefit both financially and through the creation of sustainable businesses for its members long after the Olympics are over.
UPSG is a security protection, Canadian-based company that focuses on high impact, high visibility, and high-risk security situations. It is coupled with one of the industry's broadest ranges of traditional private security services.

New agreement to help strengthen Yukon's economy

The governments of Canada and Yukon have signed a new Framework Agreement worth $242.91 million that is expected to address Yukon's public infrastructure needs and priorities through environment-friendly initiatives.
The agreement operates under Building Canada, the Government of Canada's new long-term infrastructure plan, and gets $60 million of its total funding support from the Gas Tax Fund Agreement.
The Gas Tax funding is available to local governments for environmentally sustainable projects that lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air or cleaner water.
"The signing of a Framework between the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon will result in significant infrastructure initiatives that will strengthen Yukon's economy and communities, and contribute to a cleaner environment," said Minister of National Revenue, the Honourable Gordon O'Conner, at the March 17th announcement, which was attended by several government representatives.
"The support for municipal infrastructure improvements in Whitehorse announced is a concrete example of our collaborative approach in our desire to modernize public infrastructure in Yukon and across Canada. Further, these investments support the Canada's Northern Strategy," said O'Conner.
The Canada-Yukon Framework Agreement outlines how the Building Canada Plan will be one of the investment priorities. They will work together to address infrastructure priorities such as water, wastewater, green energy, regional and community airports, and safe roads. Through the agreement, the two governments will also report to Canadians on the results of these investments.
The governments of Canada and Yukon also announced that the City of Whitehorse will invest in nine infrastructure projects thanks to the $16 million from the Canada-Yukon Gas Tax Agreement. Projects range from a water sampling station, upgrades to sidewalks, to compost program improvements.
Through combining the Building Canada Fund and $25 million per year in Base Funding, an allocation of $182.91 million will be available until 2014 to help address core infrastructure priorities at both the territorial and community level, including First Nations.
Through its new $33 billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada allots long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada.

Musqueam Band receives settlement for land dispute

The Musqueam Indian Band have signed an agreement with the Province of British Columbia to settle three outstanding court cases in which the band will get a $20.3 million cash payment and ownership of lands surrounding the University Golf Course, Bridgepoint Casino, and Pacific Spirit Regional Park areas.
The landmark Reconciliation, Settlement and Benefits Agreement was announced in Victoria by Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Michael de Jong and Musqueam Indian Band Chief, Ernest Campbell on March 11.
"The Musqueam people have ratified a fair and honourable agreement, which validates the New Relationship as well as a new level of co-operation between the Band and the Province that is built on respect and rightful consultation," said Chief Campbell in a news release. "This agreement allows the Musqueam to achieve even greater independence for our people and for future generations."
The Musqueam Indian Band represents roughly 1,200 Coast Salish people who belong to the Hun'qum'I'num linguistic group and has three reserves in Greater Vancouver. Under the agreement, the Musqueam band agrees to affirm 7.3 hectares of the University Golf Course lands and 1.2 hectares of Block F in the Pacific Spirit Regional Park as parkland and ensures the university golf course area remain a golf course until 2083.
The agreement - a full and final settlement to three outstanding court cases - was supported by ninety-eight percent of members of the Musqueam Indian Band at a general band membership meeting on March 10, 2008. It resolves all legal issues related to the sale of the University Golf Course lands, the relocation of the River Rock casino to Richmond's Bridgepoint lands, and remediation for environmental damage to the Celtic Lands in South Vancouver.