Indian Residential Schools Resolution Media Clips

Résolution des questions des pensionnats indiens Canada Manchettes

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 ™ mercredi, 18 janvier 2006

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Table of Contents/ Table des matières

IR S A R T IC L E S-A R T IC L E S D ’IR S

R E SID E N T IA L SC H O O L P A Y O U T ...... 3

CONSERVATIVE STRATEGIST SANDRA BUCKLER ON FONTAINE COMMENTS ...4

P H IL F O N T A IN E P R E SS C O N F E R E N C E O N F M M A N D R E SID E N T IA L SC H O O L C O M M IT M E N T S...... 5

FONTAINE WORRIED BY TORY ABORIGINAL AGENDA...... 7

FONTAINE INTERVIEW...... 8

AN EXCLUSIVE WEB COMMENT: PHIL FONTAINE ...... 1 0

NATIVE LEADER TO VOICE CONCERNS WITH TORY...... 1 1

M A R T IN C O U R T S N A T IV E S ...... 1 3

B C -R E SID E N T IA L -SC H O O L S...... 1 5

B C -C D A -N E W S-D IG E ST (A L SO C P N E W SW IR E )...... 1 6

F SIN V IC E -C H IE F F E A R S T O R IE S W O U L D A L T E R D E A L ...... 1 7

F IR ST N A T IO N V O T E S K E Y F O R N Y ST R O M (SIM IL A R IN T H E L E A D E R P O ST )...... 1 8

TORIES CRITICIZED FOR POSITIONS ON FIRST NATIONS ISSUES ...... 20

O T H E R A R T IC L E S-A U T R E S A R T IC L E S

ROBERT NAULT REDUX?...... 2 1

THE ELECTION: ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS ...... 22

TO REVISIT NATIVE POLICY...... 2 4

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Source: Canada First Perspective - Scanterbury,Manitoba,Canada

Date: Jan 17, 2006

By-line: N/A

Residential School Payout

The agreement to provide compensation to residential school survivors should be secure regardless of which party forms the next government, says Grand Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations.

On Nov. 30 the federal cabinet approved the agreement in principle, which had been accepted by AFN days earlier. Among other measures, people who attended schools were to have the option of settling for a payment of $10,000 plus $3,000 for each year they attended school.

“We anticipate this will not be affected by a change in government,” Fontaine said in an interview in early January. The November agreement sets out the basic terms of the agreement. Initially the plan was to have details worked out by the end of January. Fontaine now says the overall package should be finalized by March.

The final text would have to be approved by the government and sent to seven jurisdictions within Canada for court approval. The agreement is also to include a mandatory waiting period for survivors who use the common experience plan and for early payment for survivors who are 65 or older.

Fontaine said he doesn’t expect any future government to attempt to go back on the deal. When asked whether the next government could tie up the process through negotiations or administrative delay, Fontaine said he did not expect that to happen either.

For information about the compensation deal individuals can search the AFN website at afn.ca or call the following AFN toll-free number 1-866-869-6789.

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Source: DON NEWMAN POLITICS Date: JANUARY 17, 2006 By-line: N/A

CONSERVATIVE STRATEGIST SANDRA BUCKLER ON FONTAINE COMMENTS

>>Don: Sandra, as we get closer to the election day and with the Conservatives continuing to lead in the polls, we saw Phil Fontaine a moment ago talking about his worries that a Conservative government wouldn't honor two agreements that the government when it was run by the Liberals reached with Aboriginal Canadians. We saw Jack Layton taking a shot at the financial commitments or lack thereof in the Conservative platform. So obviously with five days to go, you are the target. Does Phil Fontaine have anything to worry about?

>>Buckler: No, he doesn't. And I just want to make sure we put this issue forefront on the table even though you're not here. We want to make sure that Phil understands that our critic Jim Prentice has met with him exactly on this issue. The Conservative party supports the residential school compensation program. It's unfortunate that about twice as much money has gone to the administration of this program than money to victims, but we stand behind this agreement. I'm also quite proud to say that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples have also endorsed the party. So we believe that the Aboriginal people have nothing but hope in our platform. We look forward to working with them. As for the Kelowna Agreement, we've gone on the record saying we endorse and support the targets of the Kelowna Agreement. Both our Finance Critic and our Aboriginal Critic are both in unison on this issue. We want to make sure we work with the Premiers and First Nations regarding the costing. We want to make sure it's an accurate costing and we haven't seen it so we want to make sure we have a look at it, but we fully support the Kelowna Agreement targets.

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Source: Phil Fontaine Press Conference Date: January 12, 2006 By-line: Transcript

PHIL FONTAINE PRESS CONFERENCE ON FMM AND RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL COMMITMENTS

>>Don Newman: Let's go now live to a news conference that is just beginning in ottawa. Phil Fontaine, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations is holding a news conference. Fontaine has expressed concern that the Conservatives if they form a government will bring back some parts of the new native accountability act that the Chretien government was promoting along with Bob Nault, when he was Indian Affairs Minister, but which Prime Minister Paul Martin cancelled when he became Prime Minister.

>>Fontaine:...that they will honor these historic agreements. Concerned, however, that one party, the Conservative party, has said categorically that they will not honor the agreements. As well, they have provided the qualified and frankly disconcerting response regarding the residential school agreement. Let me be clear on the first nations position. We view both of these agreements as agreements with Canada. Not with any one political party or political leader. The residential schools agreement has been endorsed by all the key groups involved. The federal negotiator, federal representative, the federal government, survivors, first nations and the lawyers involved in some 20 class actions and 15,000 individual claims. The Conservative party stated recently that he may make slight adjustments to this agreement.

This is deeply concerning and dangerous. Even the slightest of changes will legally undo the agreement. The result would be thousands of survivors forced back to the courts, costly and time-consuming class, suits against Canada, and more tragically, survivors dying without justice or resolution. We are not likely to see another agreement that is this comprehensive being endorsed by all of the key participants in our lifetime.

On the First Ministers Meeting, we want to remind the conservative party that these agreements were crafted over 18 months of hard work and negotiations with provincial and territorial premiers. Aboriginal leaders and the government of Canada. This is not a partisan agreement. The first ministers represent political parties of all stripes, and they have all signed on. There is a critical mass of support, and this demonstrates that this agreement is good for Canada.

The First Ministers meeting was largely about eradicating poverty in our communities and fostering a new age of prosperity for our people. The poverty of our people will not change because of a change in government. In both cases, if the conservative leader and his party walk away from these agreements, they're abandoning a historic opportunity to build a better Canada. We have heard the Conservative party call for new processes to get agreement on these issues. We have agreements. We have consensus. Starting over will only cost taxpayers more money and more time and squander the significant resources used to achieve these agreements.

Let me conclude by saying that I am aware that many of our comments during this election have been directed toward the conservative party this is because our concerns are a result of conflicting and contradictory statements as well as our concerns about stated approach. They say they have a better plan for us. If that is true, we have no involvement in it. It is our view that the conservative party is out of step with current thinking, and all of the parties and all the other parties imposed solutions will fail. History has proven this. Leading edge research from institutions like Harvard and the University of British Columbia conclude that First Nations have to be involved in designing and implementing solutions, that our ability to exercise our rights is directly related to improving our quality of life.

After January the 23rd, we will be ready to work in partnership in any government to implement these agreements. We have made a commitment to work with governments, any government, to advance our issues. But it will be difficult to secure that commitment if governments have policies and approaches that

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undermine our governments, our citizens, and our rights. I'm here to speak to the importance of finding mutually acceptable solutions, not imposed ones.

I'm not here to speak against the conservative party. I'm here to speak for these unprecedented agreements. Taken together, they deal with our shared past and our shared future. They allow us to turn the page on a tragic legacy from our past and begin writing a new chapter for our future. There is still time for the conservative party and its leader to rethink their positions on these key issues, and do what's right for Canada. This is about Canada honoring its commitments. I have said many times that what is good for first nations is good for the country. As first nations grow and prosper, so too will Canada. That is the promise. That is our goal. And we will be vigilant. Thank you.

>>Question: Karen from aboriginal peoples television network. It was my understanding according to a summary that was passed out at the last assembly that was here in Ottawa that with the residential school compensation, it was court-ordered process, and the election wouldn't affect it one way or the other. Could you clarify?

>>Fontaine: Well, first of all, let me reiterate this one point that is of great concern for us. And this is part of the conflicting and confusing messages we've received. And it is particularly disturbing in this regard. Because we have an agreement that is based on the AFN proposal, and the political agreement we signed with Canada on may the 30th. And so the negotiations process brought all of the parties together. It had Canada at the table, the lawyers representing individuals as well as class action. It had the churches and their representatives. And the agreement that we concluded, this is as a result of all of these diverse views and interests, and what we -- the agreement we reached is in the view of all of the parties at the table a fair and just proposition. It's generous. And it's needed because we're dealing with essentially very poor people, many of them elderly, and sick. And all of them anxious to see a conclusion to this tragic part of our history. And we know now the steps that have to be taken. It still has to go back to the government. We're still working on details around the trust and reconciliation commission, the individual assessment process, and in fact we're still working on the early payment -- commemoration, and we're still working on the early payment to the elderly. And weapon of course hoping that would happen very quickly.

All of this has to go back to the government. And because we have 21 class action lawsuits plus approximately 15,000 individual claims, these have to collapse. And these -- that can only happen through the courts. And so once this agreement goes through cabinet, and our target date was sometime late march, march 31st, and the target date for having this agreement be court-approved was may the 1st. And so we now have a situation where we wil have an election, 23rd we will have a new government elected. And we've heard that while the conservative party has said yes, we will honor the agreement, we will make slight adjustments, and they've also talked about saving money.

>>Don: This is Phil Fontaine, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations expressing concern that a Conservative government if elected on January the 23rd is not going to honor at least completely the Residential Schools agreement that was finally agreed to last year. And also the Kelowna accord which pours billions of dollars back into Aboriginal Canadians' lives in an effort to improve their economic well being.

The aboriginal agreement of course on Residential Schools is to compensate people who were in these residential schools ov the years and who suffered abuse at the hands of the people running the school. So Phil Fontaine saying these are two agreements, they are with the government of Canada, not with a political party. And the Conservatives should honor them if they form the government next. And expressing concern that and the Conservatives will make adjustments that will change these agreements and he says as far as the assembly of first nations is concerned, that is not on. So a new issue coming on to the election platform just with five days left in this campaign.

Source: CBC News

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Date: January 17, 2006

By-line: CBC News

Fontaine worried by Tory aboriginal agenda

The Assembly of First Nations is concerned that a Conservative government will change two agreements aboriginals reached with Ottawa, national chief Phil Fontaine says.

Although negotiated with the Liberal government, the deals are not partisan arrangements. "This is about Canada honouring its commitments," he said.

"I'm not here to speak against the Conservative party. I'm here to speak for these unprecedented agreements."

The agreements are a $5 billion deal to provide support for education, housing, health and infrastructure, dubbed the Kelowna accord after the B.C. city where it was announced, and compensation for the 15,000 aboriginals who attended residential schools.

Conservatives have suggested changing the deals, but that will create real problems, Fontaine said.

The residential school settlement is a legal deal, and "even the slightest of changes will undo the agreement," forcing survivors to resume class-action lawsuits and leaving them without justice, he said.

The Kelowna deal took 18 months to negotiate and was endorsed by the provincial premiers, the federal government and native leaders. It will be difficult to get all the parties to agree to changes.

The Conservative website says the party supports all of the objectives, targets, and principles as laid out in the $5 billion deal, and a Conservative government will work "to develop a responsible fiscal plan to meet these objectives."

However, Fontaine said the Tories have made conflicting statements about the Kelowna deal.

Moreover, the Conservatives "say they have a better deal for us. If that is true, we have no involvement in it," and imposed solutions will fail, he said.

Some Métis reject endorsing Liberals

While Fontaine said he was not taking a partisan position, the Métis National Council and the Manitoba Métis Association have – come out in favour of the Liberals.

That has angered some Manitoba Métis, who resent being told how to vote.

"I feel they're asking me to do something that I don't want to do, because I had no intention of voting Liberal in the first place," said Cliff Lamirande, a Manitoba Métis, who cast a ballot in the advance polls that ended Monday.

Richard De La Ronde, a member on the federation's board, also disagrees with the association's position.

Source: CBC Newsworld

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Date: January 17, 2006 By-line: N/A

Fontaine Interview

>>Nancy: The Chief of the Assembly of First Nations weighed in on the election today. Phil Fontaine says he's concerned about what he calls the Conservatives' "lack of commitment to the outcome of the First Ministers' Meeting on Aboriginal issues in Kelowna last November and about the Conservatives' plan to make slight adjustments to the deal compensating native people who suffered abuse at residential schools.

>>Fontaine: This is deeply concerning and dangerous. Even the slightest of changes will legally undo the agreement. The result would be thousands of survivors forced back to the courts, costly and time consuming class action suits against Canada, and more tragically, survivors dying without justice or resolution. We are not likely to see another agreement that is this comprehensive being endorsed by all of the key participants in our lifetime.

>>Nancy: Well, the idea of adjusting anything that's been fought for and achieved doesn't sit well with First Nations people. Delia Opicaque is an Aboriginal lawyer and joins us in . Would most aboriginal voters share Phil Fontaine's concerns just expressed?

>>Opicaque: Many Aboriginal voters would share his concern in respect of the slight adjustments that may have to be made if the Harper government gets in with respect to the residential school settlement, potential settlement.

>>Nancy: And the biggest concern is any slight adjustments would lead to a larger backtracking or revisiting the essential arrangement?

>>Interview: That's correct. Any slight adjustments would mean that the terms of the settlement would have to be renegotiated with the different participants and parties, and the problems with reaching a meeting of the minds with all those proponents would be very difficult logistically.

>>Nancy: Beyond that concern, what worries you most about what the Conservatives might do if they're elected?

>>Interview: My personal concern would be this residential school potential settlement. It affects thousands of people, not only the people that were in the schools themselves, but their families in respect of the attempts that this government is making on reconciliation. That is going to be of major concern to many people because it may have been the start of a healing that could have affected the families and the communities.

>>Nancy: Certainly, there was a lot of optimism expressed after the first ministers' meeting in November in Kelowna when there was an all-encompassing deal that dealt with efforts to improve the quality of life of the aboriginal population. Again, if that deal were to be re-assessed or revisited, what would worry you most about looking at that deal and possibly changing parts of it?

>>Interview: If you're dealing -- if you're referring to the total deal, the Kelowna accord which touched not only on the residential school matters but also on education, on infrastructure in the communities in order to improve the quality of life of people, that would I think affect a lot of people, and it could potentially hurt a lot of people. My hope and concern is that the Harper government, potential government, will realize that there is something positive to these agreements and that they should live up to so many of them in order to improve the lives of the people in the communities.

>>Nancy: What's your expectation if, in fact, the Conservatives form the next government? Would you anticipate that Aboriginal leaders would be quick to go to Ottawa and seek assurances that that which has been achieved isn't changed?

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>>Interview: I believe so that Aboriginal leaders would be going to Ottawa to seek such assurances, but there are Aboriginal leaders already that are, in fact, campaigning or in favor of the Conservative government. Certainly I've heard of people who are participating in the campaigns on behalf of certain candidates in the west, and they have met with Harper in some of the campaign headquarters or trails, and they are speaking to the Conservatives at the community level. Those people that potentially will be elected, and so they are doing their homework in that context.

>>Nancy: So just so I'm clear, based on what you've heard talking to some of the Conservative candidates and some of the Aboriginal voters who are supporting and helping them with their campaign, they are getting at least in the early going some initial assurances about what might happen again should Stephen Harper form the next government.

>>Interview: Yes, they are getting some initial assurances, and there are certain of the candidates, for instance, Jim Prentice who is the critic on Indian Affairs who is very knowledgeable on Indian issues and is a very honorable man and I think would respect the honor of the crown and the need for reconciliation and healing.

>>Nancy: Very interesting, thanks so much for being with us today.

>>Interview: Thank you.

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Source: Globe and Mail

Date: January 18, 2006

By-line: Phil Fontaine

An Exclusive Web Comment: Phil Fontaine

This federal election will be one of the most important in our country's history. It comes at a time when long-awaited fundamental change and reconciliation between ourselves and Canada is within our grasp. The past few months have seen the culmination of two historic agreements that, together, have the potential of healing the deep wounds that have hampered our ability to mature and grow as a nation. We believe this changed direction signals a new era in Canada's relationship with the first nations of this country.

We want this momentum to continue regardless of the election outcome. It would be disastrous if any political party reneged on the historic solution to the residential schools legacy and the economic, social and cultural commitments made at the first ministers meeting. To do so would betray good-faith negotiations and sacrifice our future growth and prosperity by partisan politics.

The long-awaited settlement for residential schools survivors provides for a base financial compensation for all those who attended such schools with recognition for the amount of time they spent there. Additional compensation and counselling were committed for those who suffered physical, sexual or mental abuse. A promised truth and reconciliation commission will provide the sorely needed education and understanding of this tragic chapter in our shared history.

The first ministers promised us $5-billion for housing, health and education, to be delivered over five years. This is part of the Assembly of First Nations' 10-year plan to close the gap in quality of life between first nations and the rest of the country. It builds on a joint commitment, years in the making, to deal with first nations rights and title in light of Canada's commitments in the treaties. The AFN's "getting results" strategy, combined with the diligence, drive and commitment of first nations leaders and citizens across the country, resulted in these historic breakthroughs. We believe these agreements transcend partisan politics. They represent a bargain between the first nations and Canada as a whole, including the governments of every province and territory.

The AFN is a non-partisan body that represents Canada's first nations. While we do not endorse any individual party, we would never recommend a party that opposed or is not prepared to honour these critically important commitments. Consequently, we will be seeking clear and unequivocal support from all the parties for both the residential schools settlement package and the Kelowna first ministers commitments. The well-being of our people must extend beyond partisan politics.

We only obtained the right to vote in federal elections in 1960. At that time, our influence was minimal. Today, because of our proportion of the population, we could determine the outcome in 63 ridings. Everyone knows this election will be close. Every seat will count. We will be looking for the parties to publicly address first nations and aboriginal issues.

Phil Fontaine is national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

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Source: Calgary Herald (Similar Article in the Montreal Gazette) Date: January 18, 2006 By-line: Jason van Rassel

Native leader to voice concerns with Tory

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine is scheduled to meet today with a high-ranking Conservative MP over the party's intentions to honour a compensation plan for those abused at residential schools.

On Tuesday, Fontaine accused the Tories of sending out "conflicting and confusing messages" that could threaten the $2-billion package reached in November for 86,000 Indians, Inuit and Metis subjected to isolation and abuse while attending residential schools run by church organizations on Ottawa's behalf.

"What we want to hear is a clear and unequivocal statement of support for the settlement package because we know it's fair and just and generous," Fontaine told reporters in Ottawa Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday evening, Conservative Indian Affairs critic Jim Prentice said he has asked Fontaine to meet him in Ottawa today where he plans to clear up any uncertainty about the residential school plan, which is still subject to court approval.

"We're prepared to honour it. There shouldn't be any controversy," said the -North MP.

The controversy resulted from comments by top Tories over the fate of a related, $5.2-billion deal reached in Kelowna, B.C., between Ottawa, the provinces and territories and five national aboriginal groups to improve health and living conditions for natives.

The Conservatives have said they will honour the five- and 10-year targets set out in November's Kelowna agreement if they are elected on Monday, but will sit down with the signatories to discuss the costs of meeting them.

"Our concern is the Liberals have not put forward any plan to implement that accord," Prentice said.

The $5.2-billion cost that's been attached to the accord was "floated" by Prime Minister Paul Martin, said Prentice, adding the Liberals never allocated such an amount in their pre-election budget.

But Liberal MP Andy Scott, Indian Affairs minister when the Kelowna agreement was signed, said the Tories' commitment to the pact is hollow because they haven't said how much they would spend.

"You can't say, 'I agree with the principle of building houses' without paying to build those homes," Scott said in an interview with the Herald.

"It would be a tragedy if that deal were scuttled," Scott added.

However, one of the Kelowna signatories endorsed the Conservatives' aboriginal platform earlier this week. The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, which represents Indians and Metis living off-reserve, announced its position after meeting with Prentice.

The Conservatives are also pledging to encourage private property ownership on reserves, settle outstanding land claims and replace the Indian Act with more modern legislation and better accountability measures.

A local candidate running for a new political party aimed at boosting aboriginal participation in federal politics, however, said he has concerns about some of the Tory promises.

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Encouraging private property rights on reserves threatens the existing concept of communal land ownership and may result in communities selling their land base out from under themselves, said Doug Dokis of the First Peoples National Party of Canada.

"Given the economic situation on most reserves, it creates a situation where people may sell their land just to get cash immediately," said Dokis, who is running against Prentice in Calgary Centre-North.

The Liberals are also encouraging home ownership, but in a way where applicants would borrow money from their band and the land their home is on would remain owned by the band.

That model exists in approximately 50 of Canada's First Nations communities.

"This is not something we accept, it's something we promote," Scott said.

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Source: The StarPhoenix Date: January 18, 2006 By-line:Julie Saccone, Martin courts Natives

Tories would abandon $5.2Bfunding deal

Prime Minister Paul Martin emphasized in Saskatoon Tuesday the "stark" difference in values between himself and Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, whose values Martin warned may put in peril a $5-billion aboriginal funding package struck last year.

During a campaign stop at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Martin dispelled charges by a Conservative MP that the $5.2-billion agreement for federal investments in aboriginal housing, health, education and economic development, reached in November in Kelowna, B.C., was hastily written on a napkin on the eve of an election. Harper has not committed to the deal, should he be elected.

"Mr. Harper may think that he is saving himself $5 billion by abandoning this agreement, but the price to be paid will be very steep," Martin said. "In a country that is as rich as ours, in a country that is envied around the world, it is nothing short of a moral imperative. We (have to) act together to ensure the first people who lived here (are) able to contribute to, and benefit from, our collective responsibility and our collective prosperity."

Calling it an historic agreement, Martin, who was joined by aboriginal leaders, elders and supporters, pointed to the 17 to 18 months the government worked with aboriginal leaders on the deal -- a deal he promises not to let anyone take away.

"We're not talking simply about a piece of paper, we're talking about improving the lives of young aboriginals, who are an important part of our society, who are going in many ways to determine whether in fact my grandchildren or other people's grandchildren are going to succeed," he said. "We are talking about people's lives here (and) what we can do to make them better."

Martin endorsed Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River riding Liberal candidate Gary Merasty. The riding is one, next to Finance Minister 's Wascana riding, the Liberals think they have a good shot at winning.

Merasty praised the prime minister in bringing the groups together to nail down an agreement and forge a residential school settlement, a $2-billion package reached last November for 86,000 Indian, Inuit and Metis subjected to isolation and abuse while attending residential schools.

"We have no assurances on what (other parties') plans are and what they'll do when it comes to respecting this agreement," he said. "Your opponent Mr. Harper and his colleagues could easily walk away from this agreement."

An election is about choice, Martin said.

"To progressive voters I say this, it appears that Jack Layton can live with a Conservative government," he said. "The issue is can you."

While polling indicates the Conservatives are on the cusp of a majority government, Martin maintains the election is far from over.

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"This election is about values," he said during a press conference. "This election is about the issue that we're here today for. This election is about whether Mr. Harper's values would lead him to tear up a historic agreement," he said.

Martin made the campaign stop after spending the morning in Burnaby, B.C. That is the only province where polling seems to indicate the Liberals are holding on to their votes.

A CanWest News Service and Global National poll conducted Jan. 13-15 found the Conservatives holding strong to their national lead over the Liberals. The poll indicates the Conservatives are at 38 per cent, the Liberals at 26 per cent and NDP at 19 per cent.

An recent Ipsos Reid poll, which included seat projections, suggests the Conservatives will take much of the Prairie vote. It projected the party may take all 28 seats in Alberta and 20-24 of the 28 seats in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

That considered, Chris Axworthy, Liberal candidate for Saskatoon-Wanuskewin, said Martin's visit wasn't a waste of time in an almost entirely Conservative province.

"If we don't find ways to build the relationship between aboriginals and non-aboriginal people in this country then we are going to lose the stark opportunity of what Mr. Martin did with the premiers . . . and many, many leaders in the aboriginal, Inuit and Metis community were in Kelowna. It was a historical agreement, to put aboriginal peoples issues firmly on the future agenda of the country," Axworthy said. "Not much more (is) important than that, and Mr. Harper wants to destroy that."

The prime minister came to Wanuskewin to be endorsed by First Nation leaders in the country and to talk about the Kelowna accord and residential schools resolution, which are under serious threat, he added.

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Source: BC Broadcast News Date: January 18, 2006 By-line: N/A BC-Residential-Schools

VANCOUVER -- A Vancouver law firm wants to revamp a tentative agreement dealing with the abuse of aboriginals in residential schools.

The agreement-in-principle was reached in November between the federal government and some aboriginal organizations.

It involves more than two (b) billion dollars in federal payments and healing programs, to atone for decades of abuse in the schools for native children.

But law firm Donovan and Company says the deal has major flaws and should be amended.

The firm represents a tiny percentage of aboriginals involved in the case.

It takes issue with a clause in the agreement that it says would release the government and all churches who ran the schools from all further liability.

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Source: Canadian Press Newswire Date: January 17, 2006 By-line: CP

BC-Cda-News-Digest (also CP Newswire)

AFN warns Tories not to mess with residential school compensation

OTTAWA (CP) _ A $2-billion compensation plan for aboriginals abused in residential schools could collapse if a Conservative government tried to make even the slightest changes, the Assembly of First Nations warned Tuesday.

National Chief Phil Fontaine said he's frustrated by what he calls''conflicting and confusing messages'' Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and Opposition critics have been sending about the deal, announced just days before the election was called last November.

''Even the slightest adjustment or change to the agreement will unravel the whole thing,'' said Fontaine, himself a victim of sexual and physical abuse at a school in Manitoba.

''What we want to hear is a clear and unequivocal statement of support for the settlement package because we know it's fair and just and generous.''

The deal, which must still be approved in court, would compensate survivors of rape, beatings and cultural isolation in the once-mandatory school system.

Fontaine said he's concerned by comments the Conservative party may want to make ''slight adjustments.''

Hollywood studio to produce feature based on tainted blood scandal

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Source: The StarPhoenix (Similar article in the Leader Post) Date: January 18, 2006 By-line: Saskatchewan News Network

FSIN vice-chief fears Tories would alter deal

REGINA (SNN) -- Some First Nations people are worried the compensation package Ottawa approved last November for former students of Indian Residential Schools will not be honoured by a Conservative government.

"The Conservatives said they would make adjustments to the agreement in principle and what adjustment means we don't know and obviously the survivors are scared of the unknown," said Morley Watson, vice-chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN). "Our understanding is when you have an agreement, it's an agreement and when you start making adjustments to agreements, it has the potential of unravelling."

Watson was among FSIN and Assembly of First Nations representatives who met with more than 500 people at Queensbury Downs in Regina Tuesday to hear details about the historic agreement-in-principle.

Francis McArthur, a councillor at White Bear reserve east of Weyburn, said the agreement has raised the hopes of many survivors who have waited years for closure. He wants assurance the agreement will remain unchanged. "I don't know what kind of reaction we'll have from those who have waited so long if it doesn't go ahead," he said.

Jim Prentice, the Conservative party critic for aboriginal and northern affairs, said the party will honour the agreement.

"The agreement-in-principle had two conditions -- one was court approval and the second condition was that it requires the preparation of a final agreement," said the Conservative MP from Calgary Centre- North. "Our position simply has been that we will honour the agreement, but it has to go back to court and it also will require a final text to be finalized and we trust that is in the hands of all the parties and the lawyers, but we will honour the agreement that was reached."

The $1.9-billion settlement was reached Nov. 20 between the Government of Canada, Assembly of First Nations, churches and a consortium of lawyers. The agreement covers about 80,000 people who can apply for $10,000 plus $3,000 for each year they spent in a residential school. Candidates over 65 can apply for a fast-track payment of $8,000.

"We have somewhere between 16,000 and 18,000 survivors here in Saskatchewan -- maybe as many as 19,000 -- and what we want to do is get the most recent and most accurate information out to all the survivors and the informational sessions are one way of doing that," Watson said.

Charlene Belleau, manager of the Indian Residential School unit for the Assembly of First Nations, is based in Ottawa. She helped negotiate the agreement-in-principle and led the information session in Regina.

"Having been involved over the last year and a half with the different governments and being part of the standing committee, I know the problems the Conservatives had with the lump sum payment or an apology -- they just weren't on the table back then. They say they will honour the agreement, but the uncertainty is just too great," Belleau said.

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Source: The StarPhoenix (Similar article appeared in the Leader-Post) Date: January 18, 2006 By-line: Murray Mandryk

First Nation votes key for Nystrom (Similar in the Leader Post)

The warm, tidy little house in north-central Regina is like a jolt of caffeine for Regina-Qu'Appelle NDP candidate Lorne Nystrom. In fact, it's places such as this where Nystrom and his campaign team feel this diverse riding may be won or lost.

He's greeted at the door this Saturday morning by a young First Nations man. The man says he's originally from the North, and invites Nystrom into a home that's neatly decorated with aboriginal art.

Inside are two young women. One is a SIAST student, and the other says she's willing to work as a poll clerk on Monday to get the vote out at her home on the Starblanket First Nation.

Nystrom beams as he hands out the familiar orange and green Jack Layton campaign flyer, along with the more recent pink and green leaflets with which the NDP has been blanketing this riding the past few days.

The pink pamphlet is labelled "Important information for voters." It says "more than 60 per cent of voters in the riding voted against the Conservatives," and that the "Liberals have not represented any part of Regina Qu'Appelle in 50 years."

And most critically: "Only Lorne Nystrom and the NDP have the necessary support in this riding to unseat the Conservatives, and to prevent Stephen Harper from becoming prime minister."

The second green pamphlet, entitled "Keeping the Promise on Treaty Rights," is even more pointed. It includes the reproduction of a Jan. 11 article in the Leader-Post. "The Tories would ignore the $5.2 billion deal to improve housing and health care for native communities," it states.

"A promise made should be a promise kept, no matter who forms the next government," the pamphlet stresses, adding, "the Conservatives have indicated they will break that promise." And again, "The Liberals have not won this riding in decades."

The pamphlet goes on: "If you want to ensure that the government keeps its promises to First Nations people, this time vote NDP."

Nystrom then launches into Conservative finance critic Monte Solberg for promising to "scrap the Kelowna Accord." It's an issue that rings alarm bells in this particular house.

"We were just talking about that the other day," says the SIAST student. "It's just taking from the poorest of the poor."

Given his loss by 861 votes to Conservative MP Andrew Scheer in 2004, it's houses such as this that buoy Nystrom's spirits.

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"The challenges are to get out the Native vote and to not split the Native vote," he says. "Solberg has helped on both accounts."

However, both issues still appear to be big challenges for him. It's getting close to 11:30 this Saturday morning and not all those who answer the door reek of the enthusiasm and optimism that Nystrom just experienced. There's no one home or no one awake at the first 10 homes, and among the assortment of curious odours wafting under the 12th door is the unique smell of burning marijuana. The voter there is quick to offer Nystrom his support, but whether he'll find his way to the polls come Monday is another matter.

Poll 121 is one of the few that Nystrom hasn't canvassed, but is about as good a poll as it gets for the NDP. The party took 28 votes here in 2004, compared to 19 for the Conservatives and 15 for the Liberals. The problem is, the area has 273 eligible votes, meaning that the turnout was a paltry 23 per cent.

The point of Nystrom being here this morning isn't necessarily just to create a favourable impression on the doorstep for the accompanying reporter (although that's always a consideration). According to his campaign manager, Rick Pollard, an appearance by the candidate close to election day encourages voters to come out.

Winning the city big -- even bigger than last time -- is critical to Nystrom's electoral hopes. While he won the Regina portion of the riding by 1,000 votes, Nystrom lost the rural area -- the 30 per cent of the Regina-Qu'Appelle seat that includes farms and small towns west to Wolseley and north to Wynyard and Ituna -- by a whopping 1,800 votes.

Pollard said the NDP is again running under its philosophy that every vote in this riding will be contested. Nystrom, who often jogs between houses and says he's lost 10 pounds since he started the campaign, has personally knocked on half the doors in the riding. In fact, almost four months before the writ was dropped, he already was knocking on doors at farms and in small towns in hopes of neutralizing the Conservatives' big lead in the countryside.

But if the NDP is to win this riding, it may come down to the reserves, where there was no problem with voter turnout in 2004 but a big problem for the NDP in convincing voters to vote for the party.

On the Starblanket reserve, Liberal candidate Allyce Herle, who has worked extensively with the local First Nations communities, out-polled Nystrom 62 to 19. On Gordon, ground zero for the residential school settlements, Liberals out-polled the NDP 151 to 37. On Kawacatoose, they swamped the NDP 182 to 27.

Nystrom thinks the reserves will be different this time, especially after receiving the endorsement of Indian leaders such as Gordon nation Chief Glen Pratt. Liberal campaign sources, however, insist their party's First Nations vote is holding.

Whatever the case, there's little question that the 59-year-old Nystrom, a 33-year veteran of the Commons, sees the First Nation support as key to his comeback.

"Can you do that for me?" he asks an elderly First Nations woman. "Not for me, but for all of us. We have to remain united."

She nods yes.

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Source: The Leader-Post Date: January 18, 2006 By-line: Shaunna Grandish

Tories criticized for positions on First Nations issues

Even though the Conservative party was a no-show at a First Nations University of Canada's (FNUC) candidates' forum on Tuesday, the Tory agenda still was a major focal point with the other candidates.

Liberal Allyce Herle, NDP Lorne Nystrom, and Green party candidate Brett Dolter, all representing the Regina Qu'Appelle riding, took turns criticizing both Conservative MP Andrew Scheer's absence and his party's platform, especially regarding aboriginal issues.

Scheer, who was out of Regina campaigning Tuesday, said he didn't mean any disrespect by not attending. He said he hadn't received enough notice and could not fit it into his schedule during this last week of campaigning.

Scheer's empty chair was taken as a sign by Herle and Nystrom that a Conservative government would not honour the 'Kelowna Agreement,' which would see $5.2 billion in funding go towards health, housing, education, and economic development for aboriginal communities on and off reserves. Part of this money is also the residential school agreement.

"(I am) noticing today there's an empty chair. It's interesting there's an empty chair because the Conservative party has made it clear that it would not honour the Kelowna agreement," said Nystrom. "It should galvanize First Nations people from coast to coast."

According to Herle, the empty chair was a sign of "disrespect" towards First Nations people by the Conservatives.

"What we have in place for First Nations people ... (is) going to be denied" if the Conservative party forms the next government, said Herle, adding that would be "an absolute crime."

Kerrie Ahenakew, chief of the Student Association of the FNUC, said that she was also concerned about a Conservative government.

"The Conservative party is really not for First Nations people," she said. "It's actually quite scary for us as a whole to get them in government because they would like to take away our treaty rights and abolish the Indian Act, which is basically holding us together."

But Scheer said he was proud of his record with working with First Nations groups and reserves.

He also said that the purpose of these attacks, especially by Herle, is a way of diverting attention from the Liberal's 12-year record of failures towards First Nations people.

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Source: National Post (Similar on CP Newswire) Date: January 18, 2006 By-line: N/A

Robert Nault redux?

Little more than two years ago, the federal government was set to legislate desperately needed reforms to Canada's aboriginal policy. Then Paul Martin took over for Jean Chretien as prime minister, Robert Nault was ousted as Indian affairs minister and Ottawa effectively returned to the practice of blindly throwing money at reserves -- culminating in a $5.1-billion package reached with the provinces and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) on the eve of the current election campaign this past November.

We had hoped that, in nearly two months on the hustings, the parties and their leaders would have a full debate about the future of our Indian policy. That has not happened. But last weekend, in the form of a letter to the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), Stephen Harper's Conservatives sent an encouraging signal that real reforms might finally be back on the agenda.

To begin with, the Tories appear poised to resurrect the key components of Mr. Nault's First Nations Governance Act -- the bill that Mr. Martin did not have the stomach for, but which Mr. Harper has described as "a strong pillar to advance the important reforms" that the Tories "strongly support." In so doing they stand to finally bring a measure of fiscal and democratic accountability to reserves by, among other things, forcing bands to adopt standardized electoral rules and practices; requiring band councils to disclose their internal administrative rules, annual budgets and salaries; and creating mechanisms for launching complaints against band leaders.

But the Conservatives, it seems, are also prepared to go a step further. Based on their letter to the CAP, their plan is to shift some aboriginal funding from reserves to meet the needs of off-reserve and non- status natives.

This will no doubt prove to be a controversial step. But it is an enormously worthwhile one. For far too long, Ottawa's funding system has encouraged natives to remain in remote communities with no economic prospects, appalling living conditions and minimal education opportunities. However much the Liberals and others delude themselves, the no-strings-attached cheques they continually throw at unaccountable native leaders will not do anything to better the existence of reserve Indians living in third- world conditions. The only practical solution, impolitic though it may be to suggest it, is for natives to go where the jobs, infrastructure and educational opportunities are.

This is anathema to the AFN, an organization that represents the interests of band leaders, not rank-and- file natives. So it is to Mr. Harper's credit that he does not share the Liberals' slavish devotion to that organization -- instead giving equal time to the CAP, which concerns itself primarily with off-reserve natives and has been rightly critical of reserve governments.

As Conservative Indian Affairs critic Jim Prentice has pointed out, at least 60% of natives live off-reserve. For too long, their needs have been ignored while federal policies have been designed to keep natives on-reserve. A government willing to stop pretending that natives can exist in some sort of hunter-gatherer utopia and commit to actually giving them decent lives is long overdue.

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Source: Globe and Mail Date: January 16, 2006 By-line: Bill Curry

THE ELECTION: Aboriginal Affairs

Tories signal shift in native policy would implement controversial bill dumped by Liberals after protests

A Conservative government would bring in the main measures of the controversial First Nations Governance Act, a proposed bill that was abandoned by the Liberals in 2003 after months of widespread protest from aboriginals. The move is just one of several major policy changes Conservative Leader Stephen Harper outlined in a letter to the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, a national organization that publicly endorsed the Tory plan over the weekend.

Mr. Harper's letter, which was obtained by The Globe and Mail, puts forward a host of measures that would add up to a major shift in federal aboriginal policy. They include a greater focus on the needs of urban aboriginals and measures to encourage the collection of GST on reserves.

Conservative Indian Affairs critic Jim Prentice waded into the minefield of aboriginal politics Saturday as he welcomed the congress's public endorsement during a joint news conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa.

The appearance with the congress, which has been in a heated battle with the Assembly of First Nations for influence in Ottawa, could risk straining relations with Canada's chiefs even before the Tories, if they were to be elected, would take office.

Mr. Harper's letter to the organization provides the most detail yet as to how a Conservative government would approach aboriginal issues.

The letter includes pledges to:

* Bring in a "realignment" of federal aboriginal funding to better serve off-reserve and non-status aboriginals;

* Revive talks on rules for elections and accountability for on-reserve first nation governments along the lines of the failed First Nations Governance Act, a bill Mr. Harper says "was a strong pillar to advance the important reforms and we strongly support this bill";

* Encourage band councils to collect GST on reserves, which the government would later return in full to native bands, with matching funds, to provide services.

Over the past several years, relations between the AFN and the congress have been extremely strained as each has claimed to better represent aboriginals.

The AFN is essentially a collection of chiefs from about 633 reserves, but Phil Fontaine, the assembly's national chief, has stressed lately that he speaks on behalf of all aboriginals on and off reserves.

The CAP is focused mostly on aboriginals who live off reserves, but is a vocal critic of what they say is a lack of democracy and accountability by chiefs and councils on reserves.

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The changing dynamics could pose a political dilemma for Mr. Fontaine as his term expires this summer. He was elected by chiefs on a platform of being less confrontational with Ottawa and promptly hired several senior Liberal staffers for his inner circle.

Now, having attacked the Conservatives' refusal to commit to the $5.1-billion Kelowna agreement he reached in November with Ottawa and the premiers, Mr. Fontaine will have to decide whether to continue with a confrontational approach toward the Tories at the risk of being sidelined by the CAP.

There continues to be significant resentment toward the congress by some first nations over the fact that the group was a strong backer of the First Nations Governance Act, which critics saw as paternalistic for imposing minimum standards for elections and transparency.

But Mr. Prentice, the Tory Indian Affairs critic, said his party is not choosing favourites and intends to work closely with the AFN and other groups.

He met recently with Mr. Fontaine and was in the process yesterday of responding to some of the AFN's questions about the Tory platform.

Mr. Prentice noted, however, that at least 60 per cent of aboriginals live off-reserve and the poverty many of them face has been ignored by the federal Liberals and provincial governments.

"They've been trapped in a jurisdictional twilight zone," he said.

By endorsing the Conservatives now while the AFN and the Metis National Council are criticizing them, the CAP is hoping to become far more influential in Ottawa.

Patrick Brazeau, congress vice-chief, said the AFN does not speak for most aboriginals.

"The Assembly of First Nations have impeded much of the progress that could have been [made] under the Liberal government," he said. "We're trying to do real things for real people. The AFN has taken the position of 'Give us all the money and we'll solve all the problems.' "

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Source: GLOBE AND MAIL

Date: January 17, 2006

By-line: N/A

To revisit native policy

It was reported this week that the Conservative Party will take a hard new look at aboriginal policy if it forms the government.

Nothing could be more welcome.

Prime Minister Paul Martin promised to make it a priority to raise the living standards of Canada's native people, but his approach -- as in so many areas -- was long on big talk and big money, and short on new thinking. That approach was epitomized by last year's giant talkfest in Kelowna, B.C. Billions were promised. Soaring speeches about hope and potential were delivered. But to what effect? One of the first things Mr. Martin did as Prime Minister was to kill important legislation proposed by native affairs minister Robert Nault. The First Nations Governance Act aimed to make band and reserve leaders more accountable to those they governed. To prevent those leaders from lining their pockets, independent audits would have been required. To prevent leaders from crushing dissent, band members would have been given the power to challenge their leadership through a dispute-resolution process.

A Conservative government would take up those ideas, which Mr.

Martin cravenly abandoned after native leaders protested. In a letter Mr. Harper sent to a native organization, he said his government would revive talks on new election rules and accountability standards for native groups. He called Mr. Nault's killed bill "a strong pillar to advance the important reforms" and said "we strongly support this bill." The Conservatives would also devote more money to helping natives in towns and cities, as opposed to reserves; encourage band councils to collect the GST on reserves, with Ottawa returning the money collected directly to the bands; give native parents more choice in where to send their children to school, "with funding following the students"; work to clean up the backlog of native land claims; promote private property ownership on reserves; and replace the Indian Act with a "modern legislative framework which provides for the devolution of full legal and democratic responsibility" to natives.

None of this is guaranteed to work. The plight of natives is a complex problem that has defied the efforts of many governments.

Some of the Tory ideas are already being tried. Mr. Martin, for example, has signed on to the concept of promoting native home ownership.

Settling "all outstanding land claims" (as the Conservative platform promises to attempt) is easier said than done.

Even so, the Tory approach is refreshing. The emphasis on helping natives in cities, where half of them live, is especially welcome.

With help, natives who move from isolated reserves to the cities should have a better chance of entering society's mainstream and leaving behind the reserves' culture of dependency. The Conservatives seem to understand that, although Ottawa must respect its moral and constitutional obligations to natives, they will progress only if they have a chance to pull themselves out of poverty

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