Women protest AFN report

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The Native Women's Association came out swinging against the report of the Assembly of First Nations' Circle on the Constitution, saying it is not a true reflection

of the Native community's grassroots.

In an association media release, circle commissioner Sharon McIvor slams To the Source for misrepresenting community attitudes towards Quebec, the treaties and the Charter of Rights.

"This report was drafted at the AFN, but the AFN and for the AFN," said McIvor, who is also an official with the association. "The assembly's politics are rampant in this report."

To the Source was released as part of the assembly's parallel constiutional processs. It is based on public hearings in 80 Native communities and received more

than 1,500 written and oral submissions.

Key recommendations in the report called for recognition of the Native community as a distinct society, promotion and protection of treaty rights and the creation of a Native bill of rights.

According to the report, the aboriginal community is sympathetic to Quebec's special interests but is not prepared to support separation, especially in the aftermath of the Oka crisis.

But McIvor said the comments from the Native people printed in the report are negative and "are not representative" of the positive comments made to the committee.

McIvor also criticized the report for not printing comments linking the treat process to the recognition of Native bands as sovereign nations. She said the majority

of presentations emphasized the treaties as "international" documents recognizing the independence of First Nations and their freedom from the Canadian constitution.

To the Source also said applying the charter to Native governments is "no answer" to fears that self-government will be dominated by men and insensitive to women's needs.

McIvor said the circle heard many arguments both for and against charter application and found there was no clear mandate on how to deal with the issue.

Meanwhile, the association has announced it will appeal a federal court decision that thwarted its attempts to block constitutional funding for four national Native organizations. The association wants a seat at the constitutional table and a share of Ottawa's $10 million constitutional grant to the organizations. The association does not want to be represented by the male-dominated assembly because, they say, it does truly reflect women's concerns.