NDP leader criticizes Conservatives Disregard of inherent right to self-government "arrogant"

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Native issues sprang to the forefront of federal electoral politics last month during the Assembly of First Nations annual meeting near Calgary.

Federal NDP leader Audrey McLaughlin blasted Prime Minister Kim Campbell

and the federal Conservative party for "their arrogant" disregard of Natives' rights to self-government.

"A disregard for Aboriginal issues has increased since Kim Campbell became leader of the Conservative party," she said.

She also criticized Mississauga South Conservative MP Don Blenkarn for remarks he made at a barbecue two weeks ago. Blenkarn said there should be a Native reserve in his riding so his voters wouldn't have to pay income taxes.

"(Blenkarn) should ask to have his city's land taken away," McLaughlin said. "He should ask to have his culture ridiculed, his language stolen, his children taken away and forced to forget their past. He should ask to be discriminated against, to be shut out of the corridors of power and then to be blamed for it all."

Assembly Grand Chief Ovide Mercredi also said he was upset at Blenkarn's remarks.

"There have been a lot of jokes about Indian people," he said. "None of them

are funny. It shows an arrogance and ignorance on the part of the prime minister."

Prime Minister Kim Campbell said she has made it clear to Blenkarn that his comments were off-base.

Mercredi also criticized Ottawa for dismissing Native issues in the wake of last year's "No" vote on the Charlottetown Accord and blasted Minister Pauline Browes for saying Ottawa no longer supports Native self-government.

McLaughlin assured the assembly of about 200 chiefs that Native rights are a priority for the NDP. Once elected, the New Democrats would gradually hand self-rule back to the First Nations, although the Indian Act would not be abolished right away.

Ethel Blondin, Liberal MP for the Western Arctic, also said her party supports Native self-government.