New Democrats outline Native policies

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The Alberta New Democrats have declared their recognition of Indian and Metis claims to land and economic activity in the province. In a campaign position paper entitled "Aboriginal People in Alberta," the ND party has committed itself to "policies and measures which offer fair choices to Alberta's Aboriginals."

The paper portrays Alberta's Native people as a financially and educationally disadvantaged group. "Aboriginal people may represent only 4% of Alberta's population, but these citizens are disproportionately represented among the poor, the under-educated and the unemployed."

In committing itself to changing those problems, the New Democrats address four issues: self-government and Aboriginal rights, the Metis Betterment Act and mineral rights case, Indian land claims, especially Lubicon Lake, and Aboriginal economic development.

They recognize the Assembly of First Nation's claim to Native self-government as a constitutional right, including political, social, economic and social autonomy, "as well as the right to a land base." But they charge that neither the federal nor any of the provincial governments seem too eager to implement a tripartite federalism; to recognize Natives as a sovereign people.

"The Tory government in Alberta is adamant about denying rights when the implications of their provision are perceived as costly in terms of authority, land and money."

The paper demonstrate that while the Tories agreed to recognize "existing" Aboriginal rights at a First Ministers' meeting on the Constitution, they did not define those rights within the constitution. Then, when claims were made on the basis of "existing" rights, the Tories refused to recognize those claims because they were not defined.

"The Tory position is that self-government need not be considered, now or in the future, regardless of what historically legitimate claims Aboriginal people put forward."

The commitment of the New Democrats on the issue of self-government is to define and entrench all of the rights of Native people, and to "place a clear responsibility on the provincial government to recognize and deal with Aboriginal land titles." As well they promise to speed up the Tory promises to grant settlement land to Metis settlement Associations.

Secondly, the paper attacks the Tory stand on the Metis, including settlement mineral rights. Although the provincial government set aside settlement areas and allowed settlement councils to form, it did not recognize the mineral rights claims of those councils. According to the New Democrats, the Tories have not even allowed the claims to proceed to trial.

The Metis are in a similar situation as Indians - but worse. Like the Indians, they are recognized under the Constitution as Native people. Unlike Indians, Metis have no treaty or reserve base on which to bargain. The Tories have used this to their advantage, turning "Metis Aboriginal rights into a political football.

"It is as futile to count on Tory support for a constitutional amendment allowing for Metis mineral rights, as it is to count on their co-operation to effect a fair and just political settlement of the claim."

The New Democrats have promised to co-operate with the Metis to revise the Metis Betterment Act, and to settle the mineral rights claims. "We will allow the court to decide the important test case soon, by removing all the legal impediments the Tories have erected to prevent a speedy trial."

Indian Land Claims, especially those of Lubicon Lake Band, are the third issue addressed in the paper. It demonstrates how the Alberta Tory government has consistently and continually "rode roughshod over the Aboriginal rights" of the Lubicon, especially when it was found that there was oil under the claimed land.

The New Democrats charge that the Tories acted like an occupying nation in the land which had been granted to the Lubicon by the federal government. Instead of turning it over after the Crown released it, th Tories blocked any attempt to give up the land. The Court of Queen's Bench backed the Tories in 1985, when the Lubicon tried to keep oil exploration off the area, saying that "the financial harm which would be done to the oil companies by the injunction would far outweigh the harm which would be done to the band and its livelihood.

"Once a proud, self-sufficient people with a healthy hunting, trapping and fishing economy, the Lubicon Lake Cree have been devastated by the destruction of their environment and the lack of employment available. Close to 95 per cent of band members must now rely on social assistance," says the paper.

"New Democrats are committed to pressing the federal government to establish a reserve for the Lubicon Lake Band. We will strive to resolve the 45-year Lubicon Lake deadlock within 100 days of coming to office, "continues the paper. As well, they promise to compensate the Lubicon for their losses, grant the band local control, and "protect Aboriginal hunting, trapping and fishing rights."

The New Democrats divide Aboriginal economic development into two issues: general conditions and business ventures. Alberta Natives are an impoverished, badly educated people, they say, with a lower proportion of Natives employed than non-Natives and Natives generally making less money. As well , Natives achieve lower levels in school, often because of poverty. The Tories have done little things to change this.

The New Democrats propose that development companies be encouraged to hire local when they work in the field. They push affirmative action for Natives.

The New Democrats also charge that Aboriginal people have been prosecuted by Tories under fishing regulation when they have treaty rights to fish, hunt and trap for money as well as food. The promise here is to review provincial wildlife statutes to recognize Native rights.

"Above all, we will implement measures to put a stop to the involuntary economic assimilation Alberta's Natives have had o endure under Tory policies. We recognize that rights to self-determination, and self-government, necessarily and fundamentally include the right to pursue traditional livelihoods," says the paper.

Finally, the paper says that Tory approaches to Native business ventures "has been inconsistent and piecemeal at best." The funding for provincial Native Affairs is .04% of the whole provincial budget. Almost half of what the department does get is eaten up in administration.

The Native Venture Capital Corporation and the Business Assistance for Native Albertans Corporation suffer from "weak and restrictive mandates" and "too little financial support." As a result, neither is very effective. The New Democrats promise to expand the mandates of both agencies "to help promote and enhance Aboriginal business development. Further, we will encourage equity financing and listen to recommendations from Aboriginal communities before establishing such agencies and mechanisms.

"The New Democrats think it's time Natives in our province got a fair shake," based on aboriginal assessments of how that can be accomplished. And we will provide the support necessary to making those alternatives real."