NCC defends principles despite funding cuts

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Despite financial restraints, the Native Council of Canada (NCC) remains undeterred and continues to battle for the entrenchment of Native rights and self-government in the Canadian constitution.

As one of four major Canadian Native organizations, representing the interests of Canada's Native people, NCC stand firm on five basic principles they want recognized by government:

The recognition of the Aboriginal right to self-government within Canada, a commitment to negotiation of agreement on the powers and jurisdiction of the institution of self-government, the constitutional entrenchment of agreement under Section 35(1), the provision for financing and resourcing of Aboriginal government institutions, and provision for further constitutional reform on Aboriginal matters.

NCC vice-president Christopher McCormick says their approach is not a "hard nosed" one, but "a human right."

McCormick likens the principles to those of England or Italy whose "cultures are no further ahead than Ojibway, Cree or Blackfoot."

The council obtained a commitment from the House of Commons June 12 that there would be funding provided to all Aboriginal groups to continue to lobby and negotiate on the Aboriginal right to self-government, explains McCormick.

The Inuit and the MNC are in financial trouble, as is the NCC, which is trying to "supplement its constitutional coordinator with monies from other programs," admits McCormick. Because of lack of funds, the organization is virtually unable to travel to meetings with the other three major Aboriginal groups. It is a "major" problem, he confesses.

Recently, the NCC representatives travelled to Europe to solicit support from the North America ? European Support Group which is comprised of ten countries.

And, Smokey Bruyere, Georges Erasmus and Gordie Peters are scheduled to submit a report to the United Nations at Geneva this year. The World Council of Indigenous Peoples (WCIP) was also supportive when approached during their annual assembly in Peru this year.

McCormick says it is pointless to write to Prime Minister Mulroney as to how "he has violated human rights."

One nation not present at the European meeting was Britain, says McCormack and blames that nation for the problem facing Canada's Aboriginal population at this time.

McCormack also mentions the formation of a new group, the North American Regional council, which is "a direct arm", to the WCIP which is made up of the MNC, the AFN and the NCC, plus a United States Indian counterpart."

NCC Was also one of the organizations represented when Native leaders met with Pope John Paul earlier this year.

"I felt that the Pope understood our endeavours because he's of Polish descent and the Polish . . . being overrun by the Russians . . . are in the same position as the Aboriginal people in Canada," McCormick explains.

He is hopeful that the Pope's visit to Canada next month will result in some very direct and fundamental statements that may trigger constructive reaction from the Canadian government.

Constitutions issues are slated to be the focus of this year's annual assembly of the NCC in Federicton, New Brunswick August 19 ? 21.