New funds to enhance land and resources

Ontario provincial government has announced the release of funds to enhance Aboriginal communities' capacity to negotiate with government and the private sector regarding their land and resources.
The initial investment of $25 million over two years, a response to the Final Report of the Ipperwash Inquiry released in May 2007, is being called a "new relationship fund". Ontario Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Michael Bryant said it is an initial investment to support "First Nations and Métis communities to enhance their consultation capacity to participate in meaningful consultations with stakeholders interested in development initiatives. It will also support increased skills development and the building of business partnerships for Aboriginal individuals, organizations and First Nations and Métis communities.
Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse said the $25 million falls far short of capacity needs, and should be viewed as an initial investment only, adding there is a general lack of understanding of what the true capacity needs of First Nations are within the government and the general public.
He explained the term "Aboriginal" is misleading ­ a term used to encompass the three constitutionally recognized Indigenous groups in Canada: First Nations, Métis and the Inuit.
"We are very diverse peoples. There are critical distinctions between us, including the fact that First Nations people occupy their traditional territories, and we have signed treaties with the Crown. This makes us very unique and we expect to be dealt with on a distinct basis," Regional Chief Toulouse said.
He added the stated purposes of the new fund were not derived from consultation between First Nations and Ontario. Only one meeting was held between political leadership and Minister Bryant, and the decision to push ahead with the funding program goes against "the process we agreed to follow," he said.