l)7í . ©< . HP. WHAT'S INSIDE QUOTABLE QUOTE +~ 4 February 1998 Canada's National Aboriginal News Source Volume I S No. 10 Gerald Morin, president of the Métis National Council. "It's quite obvious the AFN and the Government of Canada have been involved in painstaking negotiations which have resulted in an active First Nations agenda. What bothers us is there's no similar process for Métis, off-reserve people, Inuit people or Native women. Indian Affairs' traditional focus has been on- reserve and this new direction simply perpetuates past policy" STATEMENT OF RECONCILIATION PAGE 2. APOLOGY OR COMPROMISE? PAGE 3. s L.00 where applicable PUBLICATION MAIL REGISTRATION #2177 POSTAGE PAID AT EDMONTON AD DEADLINES The advertising deadline for the March 1998 issue is Thursday, February 12, 1998. Government ADDRESS: -_, Z w a DEEPLY SORRY, s. * I owe cá' ó ^ m rw but is if an apology? g 3 °. n =.o ñ o N c-jc O - W Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First 3 C6 ' Nations, is G presented with a copy of the federal De 4 0 government's Statement of Reconciliation by Minister of Have your say! Rio M Indian Affairs Jane Stewart. The government handed down Windspeaker 00 its response to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples wants to hear from you. ,o report in Ottawa on Jan. 7. The response, entitled Gathering Call our response line and tell our o0 readers CV Strength, Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan, promises a more what you think of the In effective working relationship between Canada and government's response to the RCAP Aboriginal people. report. DETAILS INSIDE. February 1998 Page 2 WINDSPEAKER0.1107r February 1998 Statement of Reconciliation Feds offer new deal Apology Learning from the Past By Paul Barnsley communities by building a real "The Government of Canada By Paul Barnsley Windspeaker Staff Writer with Aboriginal peo- role it played Editor's note: Windspeaker has reprinted, in its entirety, the partnership acknowledges the Windspeaker Staff WI federal government's statement of reconciliation which was pre- ple, including the development in the development and admin- OTTAWA mechanisms to recognize Particu- EDM sented to the Aboriginal people of Canada on Jan. 7. of sus- istration of these schools. As Aboriginal and non -Aboriginal Canadians seek to tainable and accountable Abo- larly to those individuals who move forward together in a process of renewal, it is essen- The federal government wants riginal governments and institu- experienced the tragedy of sexual The federal goven tial that we deal with the legacies of the past affecting the a fresh start in its relationship tions. An essential aspect will be and physical abuse at residential attempt to "deal with i Aboriginal peoples of Canada, including the First Nations, with Aboriginal people in to work closely together with schools and who have carried cies of the past" is be Inuit and Métis. Our purpose is not to rewrite history but, Canada. On Jan. 7, two federal Aboriginal people to define that this burden believing that in jected to very dose rather, to learn from our past and to find ways to deal with cabinet members unveiled the partnership and shape a corn - some way they must be respon- this month. Aborigina the negative impacts that certain historical decisions con- action plan they say the federal mon vision of the relationship sible, we wish to emphasize that can't help but feel that tinue to have in our society today. government will follow to make between us." what you experienced was not ernment's apology an The ancestors of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples that new beginning a reality. Federal negotiators had been your fault and should never have ises to change its way lived on this continent long before explorers from other Indian Affairs Minister Jane meeting with the AFN team happened," the Indian Affairs good to be true. continents first came to North America. For thousands of Stewart and Ralph Goodale, the (Chief Fontaine, Aboriginal law- minister read. "To those of you Residential school years before this country was founded, they enjoyed their federal Interlocutor for Métis and yer Mary Ellen Turpel -Lafonde who suffered this tragedy at and Aboriginal leaden own forms of government. Diverse, vibrant Aboriginal na- non -status Aboriginal people, and Winnipeg lawyer Jack Lon- residential schools, we are picious of the way th tions had ways of life rooted in fundamental values con- were present during a noon -hour don) for several months to work deeply sorry." government's Stateme cerning their relationships to the Creator, the environment, ceremony on Parliament Hill to out the starting points of the plan. The government's response to onciliation was worde and each other, in the role of Eldèrs as the living memory make the announcement. Prime "The Assembly of First Nations the royal commission's five -vol- suspect that a fine h of their ancestors, and in their responsibilities as custodi- Minister Jean Chretien did not is proud of the role it played in ume, 4,000 -page report is out- was split when the ans of the lands, waters and resources of their homelands. attend, though he was in Ottawa laying the foundation for today's lined in a 36 -page booklet enti- ment chose to expre The assistance and spiritual values of the Aboriginal peo- at the time of the announcement. federal response to the landmark tled Gathering Strength - Cana- found regret" for its ple who welcomed the newcomers to this continent too often Assembly of First Nations Na- report of the Royal Commission da's Aboriginal Action Plan. In de- tions and then say have been forgotten. The contributions made by all Aborigi- tional Chief, Phil Fontaine, ac- on Aboriginal Peoples," Fontaine scribing the details of the plan, "deeply sorry" for tt nal peoples to Canada's development, and the contributions cepted a copy of a Statement of said. "It took some courage on Stewart said it is built around and physical that they continue to make to our society today, have not been Reconciliation that was offered to the part of the minister and the four main objectives: to renew abuse suf- properly acknowledged. The Government of Canada today, Aboriginal people on behalf of government to take this historic partnerships; to strengthen Abo- fered in resi- on behalf of all Canadians, acknowledges those contributions. the federal government by Min- step, to break with the past, and riginal governance; to develop a dential Sadly, our history with respect to the treatment of Abo- ister Stewart. to apologize for the historic new fiscal relationship; and to schools. riginal people is not something in which we can take pride. During the speech from the wrongs and injustices committed support strong communities, Many are throne Attitudes of racial and cultural superiority led to a sup- on Sept. 23, which marked against our people. It is therefore people and economies. wondering if pression of Aboriginal culture and values. As a country we the debut of the re- elected Liberal a great honor for me, on behalf A $350 million healing fund for the words are burdened by past actions that resulted in weakening government, the government of the First Nations, to accept the the victims of abuse at residen- which were the identity of Aboriginal peoples, suppressing their lan- pledged to respond to the report apology of the government and tial schools will be established. included in of the Royal guages and cultures, and outlawing spiritual practices. We Commission on people of Canada." Few details were released about the statement Aboriginal Peoples "as soon must recognize the impact of these actions on the once self - as If the government follows how that money is to be used, intentionally possible." Minister Stewart sustaining nations that were disaggregated, disrupted, lim- said through on the commitments although all parties agree it will avoided any the January announcement was contained in the 7 be used to ited or even destroyed by the dispossession of traditional ter- plan, Jan. will support the develop- direct admis- ritory, by the relocation of Aboriginal people, and by some that response. She added that become known as one of the ment of a community-based the commission report was sion of guilt provisions of the Indian Act. We must acknowledge that the the most important days in the his- healing system. by the gov- inspiration for the federal gov- tory of Aboriginal in Details in other sections of the result of these actions was the erosion of the political, eco- people ernment. ernment's decision to re- invent Canada. As important as plan are equally sketchy, but nomic and social systems of Aboriginal people and nations. the Some of the Against the backdrop of these historical legacies, it is a the way it deals with Aborigi- promises the minister made that some of the initiatives the gov- nal people. ernment will explore as it seeks suspicion is remarkable tribute to the strength and endurance of Abo- day, was the apology which out- related to riginal people that they have maintained their historic di- "The action plan responds to shone all others parts of the an- to fulfil each of Gathering the Royal Commission and nouncement. Strength's four main objectives, comments versity and identity. The Government of Canada today for- sets made by the for new suggest that Cabinet has decided mally expresses to all Aboriginal people in Canada our directions a course based As she read the plan's State- minister on profound regret for past actions of the federal government on greater co- operation with ment of Reconciliation, Stewart to introduce new money for Abo- Aboriginal groups and riginal issues not as much as Oct.31 which which have contributed to these difficult pages in the his- prov- apologized on behalf of the fed- - were re- inces," Stewart said.