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Conference Report Conference Report Treaty No. 6 Territory Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Teachers Credit Union Place March 26-27, 2008 Introduction “As Long as the Sun Shines” was a first-of-its-kind national event consisting of a national Treaty Elders Gathering and a national Treaty Implementation Conference. The event was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the Traditional Territory of the Treaty Six First Nations in March 2008. The National Treaty Elders Gathering was held from March 24-25, 2008 at Wanuskewin Heritage Park and was hosted by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Center. The Treaty Implementation Conference took place from March 26-27, 2008 and was jointly organized by the Assembly of First Nations and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. This event brought together Elders, First Nations’ Chiefs and political leaders from across the country, federal representatives and various speakers with expertise on Treaties and Treaty implementation issues. The conference delegates discussed Crown-First Nations Treaty implementation issues in all regions of Canada from pre- Confederation Treaties of peace and friendship to the diverse Treaties entered into between the Crown and First Nations from 1867 to the present day. The purpose of the conference was to provide a national forum to share perspectives on options for advancing Treaty implementation in all parts of the country. The conference objective was to start a process for developing a joint First Nations-Crown action plan to address Treaty implementation issues. This conference was borne of the work under the First Nations~Federal Crown Political Accord of May 31, 2005 and a commitment made as part of the specific claims reform process in November 2007 between the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. This conference DRAFT was developed as a first step and delivered in partnership between the Assembly of First Nations and Indian Affairs and Northern Development with assistance from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Conference Highlights The Conference was co-chaired by Perry Bellegarde, councilor from Little Black Bear First Nation (Treaty 4 territory) and Michèle Audette. The Co-Chairs welcomed and thanked the Elders, Chiefs, federal representatives and all the delegates. Co-Chair Bellegarde acknowledged the prayers and ceremonies of the Elder. He reviewed the agenda and encouraged the participants to share their perspectives and ideas about Treaty implementation. Elder Harry Blackbird of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation was asked to provide an opening prayer. In the plenary sessions and discussions in small group sessions, First Nations leaders and representatives of the Crown had an opportunity to engage with one another. They shared their knowledge and understanding of Crown-First Nations Treaties, fundamental aspects of the Treaty relationship and their views on what is needed to ensure Treaty implementation. Throughout this historic event, revered Treaty Elders from Treaty regions across Canada met with each other and with the conference participants. They provided guidance to the participants, conducted prayers and ceremonies at the beginning and end of each day, and throughout the conference shared many teachings and knowledge about Treaties, the Treaty relationship and Treaty implementation. Treaty Elders identified many understandings that they hold in common about the nature of Treaties, the significance of the Treaty-making process and the spirit and intent of core Treaty commitments jointly made between indigenous and non- indigenous peoples. Treaty Elders explained the spiritual, cultural and legal significance of the Treaty protocols and ceremonies in which the Treaty parties engaged. These protocols and ceremonies in each Treaty territory formed an integral part of the Treaty-making process and were necessary to the validity of the Treaties. Tribal Chief Joe Quewezance of the Saskatoon Tribal Council expressed his thanks to the Elders for the ceremonies and prayers they had conducted during this event and welcomed all of the participants to a place that has long been an historic gathering place for First Nations tribes for thousands of years. Chief Quewezance expressed his belief that the event would undoubtedly be recognized as an historic gathering. He reminded the delegates that they had been charged with finding common understandings and moving forward with a contemporary implementation framework for our Treaties. Discussions would no doubt be complex and intense but the delegates must never forget that the people they represent at the grassroots are often the 2 DRAFT knowledgeable people who have kept the history of our Treaties. The Elders who are still with us, he said, are unfortunately a valued resource that is fast diminishing. Chief Quewezance encouraged the delegates to use the Elders’ understanding of the Treaties that were left to them to carry forward from generation to generation. Chief Lawrence Joseph of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations thanked the Elders for their prayers and the Chiefs for being resilient, strong and determined to keep the Treaty promises alive and well. He said that the old people and the young people who had come to the conference came with hope and with great expectations. He said “You come here hoping that there will be no more grandstanding, no more dialogue - let’s get on with drafting an agenda that will implement Treaty.” He called on the conference to produce an action plan and encouraged the participants to examine the work of the FSIN in developing “Ten Treaty Implementation Principles”. He stressed that in this work, the Treaties themselves are not negotiable. Chief Joseph spoke very highly of the work of the Chiefs and the federal representatives involved in developing the proposed specific claims resolution legislation, and of the support of the Prime Minister for that work. He suggested that that process be looked at in developing a vehicle to go forward with the task of implementing Treaty promises. “We have waited too long. We want to get moving. We have been studied to death and every study that has been made about us has articulated and substantiated that we are getting a raw deal. We are getting a raw deal from the Treaty promises that were made. …. I am pleased that the Minister of Indian Affairs is here to actually listen to us. And I really respect the fact that he made time to come and sit with us and hopefully will take home to his colleagues in government that we need to do something and that the way to do it is to sit together based on mutual respect, mutual understandings and to acknowledge and respect the prayers of the Elders, the nations and the leaderships for equal opportunities for social and economic development.” Chief Lawrence Joseph National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations said that Treaties are a matter close to the hearts of First Nations and are central to their identity as the First peoples of this land; and they matter in 2008 because Treaties go to the heart of our nation-to-nation relationship. Treaties confirm the fact that the First peoples are nations and always have been nations. The National Chief said that Treaties are a legal reality, are enshrined in s. 35 of Canada’s Constitution and their relevance has been continually upheld by the highest court of the land. He stated that Treaties are a political reality, they are the founding documents of this nation and that without treaties, there would be no country called Canada. Treaties are the basis of First Nations’ relationship with Canada and they provide the means to renew and guide that relationship. He advised resisting calling our Treaties ‘historic treaties’ because they 3 DRAFT are not historic, but rather living documents, shared agreements and sacred promises to one another. National Chief Fontaine restated the call of First Nations for Canada to endorse and honour the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He said recent events in northern Ontario demonstrate the relevance of understanding Treaties and the Treaty relationship. He explained that Chief Donny Morris and several other members of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (a signatory to Treaty No. 9) were sentenced to 6 months in jail for trying to prevent a mining exploration company from drilling in their Traditional territory. National Chief Fontaine expressed support on behalf of all First Nations for the struggle of the KI leadership and its people. He said that, during the conference, First Nations have an opportunity to participate and engage with their Treaty partner on important matters such as the words of the Treaty, the spirit and intent, roles and responsibilities and the mutual benefit of treaty. “Treaties should be for all peoples. Our Treaties were not designed to ensure that one party dominates the other. The Treaties were not designed and negotiated to have one party impose its will on the other party. The treaties were not negotiated nor designed to have one party deprive the other of its rights and interests. Our Treaties were not negotiated and designed to have one party impoverish the other party to these sacred agreements.” National Chief Phil Fontaine The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Nothern Development, spoke about the important role of Treaty relationships, their role in shaping Canada’s history and the ongoing importance of Treaties to our shared future. Minister Strahl spoke of his conviction that working together in partnership is the only way real progress will be achieved and said his presence at this conference was an indication of his commitment to work collaboratively. He emphasized the importance of Treaty implementation as the means of achieving the mutual goal of a better quality of life for First Nations in Canada. He said the Treaties are the highest expression of a respectful relationship between the Crown and First Nations — a living, breathing relationship that compels us all to work together to find common solutions and to make real headway on real challenges.
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