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RENEWING THE
PARTNERSHIP
Aboriginal
Peoples olicy Platform
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Aboriginal Peoples Commission
Commission des peuples autochtones
Liberal Party of Canada • Parti
liberal
du Canada
2 0 0 2 0 0 ouest, avenue Laurier Avenue West• Ottawa,
Ontario•
KzP 6M8
•Tel
6i:3) 237-0740
•Fax
{6z3 235-7208
PREF CE
In
1990, the Aboriginal Peoples Commission of the Liberal Party of
Canada was officially created
by
way of constitutional amendments
which were passed unanimously at their LPC
1990
Biennial
Convention
t
has been through the efforts of the Aboriginal Peoples Commission
and
·many members of the Liberal Caucus, including the Leader of the
Party that aboriginal policy has evolved within the Liberal Party of
Canada.
The booklet contains the Liberal Party of Canada s position
on
aboriginal peoples issues.
PART
1:
1992
LPC Biennial Convention Resolutions;
PART
2:
Chapter of the Red Book on Aboriginal Peoples;
PART
3:
October
8, 1993
Aboriginal Platform Release.
Should you require any further information regarding the Aboriginal
Peoples Commission or details of the Liberal Party of Canada s
aboriginal policies please contact:
National Director
Aboriginal Peoples Commission
Liberal Party of Canada
200 Laurier Ave.
OTTAWA,
ON
K1P6M8
PHONE:
613)
237-0740
FAX:
613)
235-7208
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riority Resolutions Resolutions prioritaires
RIGHT OF
SELF-GOVERNMENT
it is the sincere desire of all Aboriginal Peoples in
to determine their
own
future;
and
the
Liberal Party
of
Canada recognizes the right
of
tal right in a free
and
as
organized societies
the right
of
self-government prior
to
the arrival
of
ns in Canada;
and
the Supreme Court of Canada in the Sioui Case
of
Aboriginal
in Canada;
and
AS the right of self-government
of
Aboriginal Peoples
r been extinguished;
and
the
Supreme
Court
of Canada in Guerin
and
held that the Federal
Crown
has a fiduciary responsi
Aboriginal Peoples;
and
AS the Liberal
party
considers that
one of
the objects
ry responsbility
of
the federal government is the
of self-government for Aboriginal Peoples;
and
an
existing right
of
Section
35
of the Constitution Act 1982.
greater certainty should
be
explicitly recognized and
in the Canadian Constitution: and
of
Indian Affairs as presently
is a serious impediment
to
the achievement of self
for Indian First Nations,
ral Party
of Canada
endorses
the
explicit recognition
of
the inherent right of self-government
of
all
Peoples within
the
Canadian Constitution;
22.
DROITS INHERENTS L'AUTONOMIE ADMINIS
TRATIVE
A'IJ'ENDU que les peuples autochtones du Canada desirent
sincerement decider
de
leur propre
avenir,
A
TIENDU
quele
Parti liberal
du Canada
reconnait
quele
droit
des peuplesa e gouverner est
un
droit fondamental
dans
une
societe libre
et
democratique,
A
TIENDU que
les peuples autochtones existaient comme
societes organisees x r ~ ~ m t le droit
d autonomie
administra
tive avant l'arrivee
des
Europeens
au
Canada,
A
TIENDU
que la
Cour
supreme
dans
l'affaire Sioui a reconnu
le statut historique
de peuples
autonomes des peuples
autochtones au Canada,
ATIENDU que le
droit
a
l'autonomie administrative des
peuples autochtones
n a
jamais ete aboli,
ATIENDU
que
la
Cour supreme
du
Canada dans
l'affaire
Guerin
et
Sparrow a declare
que
l'Etat federal avait une
responsabilite fiduciaire vis-3.-vis
des
peuples autochtones,
A
TIENDU que
le Parti liberal considere
qu un
des objets
de
la
responsabilite fiduciaire du
gouvernement
federal est le
retablissement
de l autonomie
administrative des nations
indiennes,
ATIENDU que
le droit
a
'autonomie administrative est un
droit existant
au
sens
de
l' article 35
de l
Acte constitutionnel
de
1982 mais devrait, pour plus de certitude, e tre explicitement
reconnu e t affirme
dans
la Constitution canadienne
et
A
TIENDU que
le ministere des Affaires indiennes, tel qu'il est
actuellement constitue, represente un serieux obstacle
a
la
realisation de l'autonomie administrative des Premieres na
tions indiennes;
IL EST RESOLU que:
a) le Parti liberal du
Canada appuie
la reconnaissance et
'affirmation explicite
du
droit inherent a 'autonomie admi
nistrative des
peuples autochtones dans
la Constitution
canadienne;
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riority Resolutions Resolutions prioritaires
b) the Liberal Party
of
Canada
believes
that
the
right
of
self
government should
be
immediately
and
unconditionally en
trenched;
c)
the Liberal Party of Canada supports the creation of a
new
senior Ministry of Aboriginal Peoples
and
First Nations Rela
tions, as recommended in the Penner Report,
to
oversee the
implementation of self-government through negotiations;
d) the
mandate
of
the
Ministry of Aboriginal Peoples
and
First
Nations Relations:
i) shall reflect the fiduciary responsibility
of
the Crown
as expressed in the Guerin
and
Sparrow decisions of
the
Supreme Court of Canada;
(ii) shall have as one of its primary objectives,
the
achievement of self-government
by
Aboriginal Peoples
and
First Nations;
e) the existing Department of Indian Affairs shall
be
reconsti
tuted as a subsidiary ministry to the Ministry of Aboriginal
Peoples
and
First Nations Relations, in accordance with the
following: ·
(i) it shall
be
maintained for the delivery of programs
and
services for those First Nations who are not ready to
re-assume those responsibilities;
and
(ii) it shall
be
gradua lly eliminated at a pace which is in
step
with
resumption
of
self-government responsibili
ties
by
First Nations;
and
(iii) senior management within the Department
of
In
dian Affairs shall
be
replaced by qualified aboriginal
persons selected in consultation with Aboriginal Peo
ples;
0 the Leader
and
Caucus shall act on this resolution with
complete consultation
and
cooperation
of
Aboriginal Peoples
affected;
and
·
g) this resolution supersedes all resolutions of the Liberal Party
of Canada
on
the
subjects which are dealt with in this resolu
tion, passed at previous conventions.
Aboriginizl Peoples Commission
National
iberal
aucllS
23. TREATIES
AND
LAND CLAIMS
WHEREAS the Royal Proclamation
of
1763 confirmed the pre
existing rights of Aboriginal Peoples and provided that their
lands could
not
be alienated to anyone but the Crown, thereby
establishing
the
historic treaty-making process
whereby
Aboriginal Peoples treated directly with the
Crown with
re
spect to their lands;
and
b) le Parti liberal
du
Canada precoiiise
de
constitutionnalis
immediatement
et
sans conditions le droit
a
'autonomie a
ministrative;
c)
lePartiliberalduCanadapreroniselacreationd unnouve
ministere des Relations avec les Peuples autochtones et l
Premieresnations,telquerecommandedanslerapportPenne
afin
de
surveiller la mise
en oeuvre de
l'autonomie politiq
par
voie
de
negociations;
d) le
mandat
du
ministere des Relations avec les Peupl
autochtones et es Premieres nations:
(i)
doit refleter
la
responsabilite fiduciaire
de
Couronne, telle qu' exprimee dans les decisions Guer
et Sparrow
de
la
Cour supreme du
Canada et
(ii)
doitavoir , parmi ses principaux objectifs, 'accessio
des Peuples autochtones et des Premieres nations
l'autonomie administrative;
e)
le ministere actuel des Affaires indiennes soit reconstitu
comme departement d'Etat auxiliaire
au
departement d'Et
aux Relations avec les Peuples autochtones
et
es Premier
nations, sachant que:
(i) son role sera limite
a
execution
des
programmes
services destines aux Premieres nations qu i ne sont pa
pretes
a
eassumer ces responsabilites;
(ii) il sera progressivement elimine au fur
et a
mesu
que les Premieres nations reprendront les responsabilite
correspondant
a
eur autonomie administrative et
(iii)
la
haute
direction,
au
sein
du
ministere des Affair
indiennes, sera remplacee pardes autochtones qualifie
selectionnes
en
consultation avec les peuple
autochtones;
f)
le chef
et
le
groupe
parlementaire mettent cette resolution e
oeuvre
en
consultation
et en
collaboration avec les peuple
autochtones
et
g) cette resolution
prime
sur
toutes les autres resolution
adoptees jusqu'ici par le Parti liberal
du
Canada
sur
ces differen
sujets.
Commission des peuplts autochton
Caucus
liberal
nation
23.
TRArrES
ETREVENDICATIONS TERRITORIALES
ATIENDU
que
la Proclamation royale
de
1763 a confi rme
Je
droits preexistants des peuples autochtones
et prevu
que
leur
terres ne puissent etretransferees
qu a
a Couronne, etablissan
ainsi le processus historique
de
traites
par
lequel es peuple
autochtones traitaient directement avec la Couronne
pour
tou
ce
qui
concernait leurs terres,
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riority Resolutions Resolutions prioritaires
WHEREAS
the
impediment
on
the alienability
of
lands by
Aboriginal Peoples imposed a fiduciary obligation on the
Crown to act in the bestinterests of Aboriginal Peoples, accord
ing to the Supreme Court
of
Canada in Guerin and Sparrow;
and
WHEREAS numerous land claims have arisen as a result of he
failure of the Crown to fulfil its fiduciary obligations to Abo
riginal Peoples; and
WHEREAS the Canadian public is overwhelmingly in favour
of the resolution of long-outstanding land claims by Aborigi
nal Peoples in Canada; and
WHEREAS the Auditor General in his report released on
December 3
1991
identified a serious backlog in land claims
and unreasonably slow progress in the settlement of claims by
the Department of Indian Affairs (of 600 specific claims re
ceived in the last
20
years only 8 percent have been settled); and
WHEREAS the Auditor General s report also identified a
conflict of interest on the part of the Department of Indian
Affairs with respect to its role in
the
settlement of land claims
becauseithasafiduciarydutytoaboriginalclaimantsbutmust
also represent the interests of government which are often
adverse to the interests
of
claimants; and
WHEREAS land claims policies were originally introduced by
a Liberal Government in the early 1970s in response to the
Calder decision of the Supreme Court of Canada; and
WHEREAS there have been no substantive improvements to
the land claims policy regime since originally introduced by
the Liberal government despite the changes to the law in recent
Supreme Courtof Canada decisions, i.e., Guerin and Sparrow:
and
WHEREAS the Tory Government has responded to the need
for changes in the comprehensive claims policy by
ad
hoc,
arbitrary, incremental and uneven changes in the application
of the policy in different regions of the country; and
WHEREAS the Tory Government has responded to needed
changes to the specific claims policy
by
minimal and incremen
tal changes to the specific claims process (not policy) without
the full consultation and approval of Aboriginal Peoples; and
WHEREAS the claims policies (comprehensive and specific)
are inadequate and
do
not respond to the needs of Aboriginal
Peoples or the Canadian public,
BE
IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada supports
major reforms to the land claims policy regime of the federal
government of Canada as follows:
A1TENDU que cela imposait a la C::ouronne I ob igation
fiduciaired agirdansl interetdespeuplesautochtones,comme
le confirme la decision de la Cour supreme du Canada dans
l affaire Guerin et Sparrow.
A1TENDU que
de
nombreuses revendications territoriales
ont surgi parce que la Couronne a failli a ses obligations
fiduciaires vis-a-vis des peuples autochtones,
A1TENDU quela populationcanadienneesttouta faitfavorable
au reglement des revendications territoriales des peuples
autochtones au Canada,
A1TENDU que le verificateur general a, dans son rapport
publie le 3 decembre 1991 signale un serieux retard et un
rythme
deraisonnablement lent
dans
le reglement
des
revendications territoriales par le ministere des Affaires
indiennes (sur les 600 revendications specifiques ~ s ces
vingt dernieres annees, 8 p. cent seulement ont ete reglees),
A TENDU que le rapport
du
verificateur general a egalement
signale
un
conflit d interet pour le ministere des Affaires
indiennes qui d un cote regle les revendications territoriales et
d un autre doit representer les interets du gouvernement qui
sont souvent contraires a ceux des demandeurs,
ATIENDU que les politiques concernant les revendications
territoriales ont a rorigine ete presentees parun gouvemement
liberal au debut des annees 70 suite a a decision Calder de
la
Cour supreme du Canada,
A1TENDU que le regime de reglement des revendications n a
pas ete sensiblement ameliore depuis, malgre les revisions
apportees
a
la
Joi
dans les decisions recentes
de
la Cour
supreme du Canada dans l affaire Guerin et Sparrow.
ATIENDUque le gouvemement conservateur n a pas modifie
la politique concernant les revendications globales mais a
apporte des changements arbitraires, ponctuels, graduels et
irreguliers
a
application
de
cette politique dans differentes
regions du pays,
ATIENDUque le gouvernement conservateur n a pas modifie
la politique concernant les revendications spectfiques mais a
apporte des changements minimes et graduels au processus
sans avoir pleinement consulte
Jes
peuples autochtones et sans
avoir obtenu leur approbation et
ATIENDU que
Jes
politiques touchant les revendications
(globales et specifiques) sont inadequates et ne repondent pas
aux besoins des peuples autochtones ni de
la
population
canadienne;
IL EST RESOLU que le Parti liberal du Canada preconise une
reforme majeure
de
la politique federale concernant les
revendications territoriales:
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riority Resolutions esolutions prioritaires
a) there shall
be
a general claims policy encompassing
all types
of claims including specific claims, comprehensive claims,
and
claims
of
another.nature arising
out
of the Royal Proclamation
in Quebec
and
the Maritimes,
and the
artificial distinction
between specific
and
comprehensive claims shall beeliminiated;
b) claims based on aboriginal title
and
treaties shall
be
settled
in accordance
with
the spirit
and
honor of the historic treaty
making process.
c) the right
of
self-government should
be
included in claims
relating to aboriginal title
and
treaties
and
other types
of
claims as appropriate.
d) the requirement for extinguishment shall be removed from
claims based
on
aboriginal title
.
e) there shall
be
removed
by
statute:
i)
the
notion that claims based
on
aboriginal title
may
be
superseded by law;
(ii)
the defence of the Statute of Limitations
and
laches;
f) an independent
Commission shall
be
created by legislation,
with the following features:
(i)
it shall
be
composed of members jointly selected
by
Aboriginal Peoples and the federal government;
(ii)
the
Commission shall report regularly to Parlia
ment;
(iii) the Commission shall
be
responsible for chairing
and facilitating claims negotiations;
(iv)
the
Commission shall
be
empowered to establish
binding timeframes;
(v) the Commission shall
be
empowered to develop
criteria for validation
and
compensation in consultation
with Aboriginal Peoples
and
the federal government;
(vi) the Commission
may
inquire into the need
to
clarify
and
renovate treaties to make the express terms of the
treaties consistent with their spirit
and
intent
and
the
understanding of
the
treaty signatories;
(vii) the Commission will
be
responsible for providing
funding for research
and
negotiations;
(viii) the Commission shall have
an
ongoing role in the
implementation of claim settlement agreements includ
ing the provision of remedies in the event
of
breach
by
any
party;
g) the Leader
and
Caucus shall act
on
this resolution with
complete consultation and cooperation of Aboriginal Peoples
affected;
and
h) this resolution supersedes all resolutions of the Liberal Party
of Canada
on
the subjects which are dealt with in this resolu
tion, passed at previous conventions.
Aboriginizl
Peoples ommission
a)
une
politique
generale englobera tous
les
types
de
revendications (specifiques, globales et autres revendications
decoulant
de
la Proclamationn royale
au
Quebec
et dans
les
Maritimes) et la distinction artificielle entre revendications
specifiques
et
globales sera eliminee;
b)
Jes
revendications fondees
sur
les traites
et
titres autochtones
seront reglees conformement
a
l esprit
et a
l honneur
du
processus historique
des
traites;
c) le droit
a
autonomie administrative devrait etre inclu dans
les revendications touchant le titre
et
Jes traites autochtones et,
eventuellement,
d autres
types
de
revendications;
d) les revendications fondees
sur
le titre autochtone ne seront
plus li s a
I
extinction
de
droits;
e) la loi supprimera:
i) la notion
que
les revendications fondees sur
un
titre
autochtone peuvent etre contoumees
par une
loi
et
(ii) la defense basee
sur
la prescription
et
le
manque de
diligence; · ·
f)
i
sera
ree
une
commission independante qui:
(i) sera composee de membres
selectionnes
conjointement par
les
peuples
autochtones
et
le
gouvernement federal;
(ii}
fera regulierement
rapport au
Parlement;
(iii) sera responsable
de
presider
et faciliter les
negociations;
(iv) sera habilitee
a
ixer
des
delais executoires;
(v) sera habilitee
a
laborer
des
criteres
de
validation et
d indemnisation
en
consultation avec les
peuples
autochtones
et
le gouvernement federal;
(vi)
pourra
faire enquete
sur
la necessite
de
clarifier et
de
moderniser les traites afin
que
leurs libelles exacts
correspondent
a
esprit,
a
ntention
et
a
entendement
de
leurs signataires;
(vii) sera responsable
du
financement
de la
recherche et
des
negociations et
(viii)
aura un
role permanent
dans
la mise
en
oeuvre
des ententes
sur
le reglement des revendications et
dans
la recherche
de
solutions
au
cas oil
l une
des parties ne
les respecte pas;
g) le chef et le groupe parlementaire donneront suite a cette
resolution
apres avoir pleinement
consulte
les
peuples
autochtones concernes et
obtenu
leur concours et
h) cetteresolution remplacetoutes les resolutions
sur
les sujets
en
question
adopteesa
d aut res congres
par
le Parti liberal du
Canada.
ommission
des peuples
autochtones
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riority Resolutions Resolutions prioritaires
37. ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS
WHEREAS the Liberal Party of Canada is committed to a fair
and just society which supports and assists Aboriginal Peoples
in dealing with outstanding socio-:economic issues, such as
poor
and
inadequate housing, irrelevant educational systems,
poor community health services, inadequate water and sanita
tion services, severe unemployment, high mortality rates and
other deplorable conditions; and
WHEREAS a judicial system is one of the main components of
a democracy, hence its successful application
is
crucial in
fostering a stable and conducive social environment and Cana
da's justice system in its present form
is
foreign and woefully
inadequate in its treatment of Aboriginal Peoples, given their
disproportionate numbers in penitentiaries; and
WHEREAS
the
Liberal Party of Canada is committed to the
recognition and implementation of the inherent right of self
determination and self-government of Aboriginal Peoples as a
way of ameliorating their deplorable socio-economic situation;
BE
IT
RESOLVED that the Liberal PartyofCanada shall adopt
the following programs when in government for the imple
mentation and realization of self-government for Aboriginal
Peoples:
a) the Government of Canada shall promote the implementa
tion of self-government of Aboriginal Peoples over their terri
tories in matters which include, but are not limited to, culture,
language, education, health, justice, social development and
natural resources;
b)
as a first priority, a separate aboriginal justice system shall
be created so as to provide a legal process for Aboriginal
Peoples inclwding counselling, taking into account aboriginal
culture, history, and values, and taking into account the con
clusions of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba;
37. AFFAIRES AUTOCHTONES
ATIENDU que le Parti liberal du Canada defend le principe
d'une societe juste et equitable qui encourage et aide les
peuples autochtonesa regler des problemes socio-Economiques
tels que la penurie de logements, l'insuffisance des services
d'education,
de sante, d'adduction et d'egouts, un ch6mage
eleve, une forte mortalite et d'autres conditions deplorables,
ATIENDU qu'un systeme judiciaire est l'un des principaux
elements de l dcmocratie et done crucial pour creer un
environnement social stable
et
que sous sa forme actuelle, le
systeme canadien ne repond absolument pas aux besoins des
autochtones, si
I
on en croit leur nombre disproportionne dans
les penitenciers,
AITENDU que le Parti liberal
du
Canada preconise la recon
naissance et 'application du droit inherent des peuples
autochtones a disposer d'eux-memes et a se gouverner eux
memes comme moyen d'ameliorer
leur situation socio
economique deplorable,
IL EST RESOLU que le Parti liberal
du
Canada adoptera les
programmes suivants quand l seraau pouvoirpour concretiser
l'autonomie administrative des peuples autochtones:
a) accession des peuples autochtones a l'autonomieadminis
trative sur leurs territoires en ce qui concerne notamment
la
culture, la langue, 'education, la sante, la justice, le
developpement social
et
les ressources naturelles;
b) creation en priorite d'un systeme de justice autochtone
distinct offrant aux peuples autochtones
un
regime judiciaire
tenant compte de la culture, de l'histoire et des valeurs
autochtones ainsi que des conclusions de l'enquete sur la
justice vis-a-vis des autochtones au Manitoba;
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riority Resolutions Resolutions prioritaires
c) the
Government of
Canada
significantly increase Indian
education services
and
resources, consistent with aboriginal
and
treaty rights; and establish a relevant education program
with the offices
of
Indian
and
Northern Affairs Canada. This
renewed education program will provide maximum
support
for Aboriginal Peoples
to pursue
their education goals
and
to
assist them
to
contro1
and
manage their
owned
ucation systems
which will
be
a significant step
towards
their self-determina
tion objectives;
d) a special national program
be
developed
under
the leader
ship of Aboriginal Peoples
and
First Nations governments,
with the cooperation
and
resourcing of federal
and
provincial
governments
and
the private sector to deal with the serious
backlog of housing in aboriginal communities;
e) there shall
be
established a new national economic develop
ment
program
for Aboriginal Peoples to promote the develop
ment of a
sound
economic foundation for aboriginal commu
nities. The program shall have as its objective to bring the
economic standards of Aboriginal Peoples to the level of the
rest
of
society. And the program shall be operated
under
the
leadership of Aboriginal Peoples with the cooperation
and
resourcing
of
the federal government;
0 the Leader
and
Caucus shall act on the foregoing with the
complete consultation
and
cooperation of the Aboriginal Peo
ples affected.
BEITFURTHERRESOLVEDthattheLiberalPartyofCanada
rejects the G.S.T., and more particularly, categorically rejects
the imposition
of
the G.S.T. to First Nations
and
their citizens
throughout Canada
on
the grounds that it is in violation of
their aboriginal
and
treaty rights which are recognized
and
affirmed in
the
Constitution,
and
is inconsistent with the
principle
of
self-government.
BEITFURTHERRESOLVEDthat theLiberalPartyofCanada
will
do
its
utmost to
encourage greater involvement
of
Abo
riginal Peoples in its policy process
and
management func
tions,
and
greater participation of Aboriginal Peoples
as
candi
dates in parliamentary elections.
AborigiMI
Peoples
Commission
38. JUSTICE (RECOGNITION OF LOUIS RIEL)
WHEREAS the leaders
of
he
Metis people at Red River Colony
in the Northwest Territories (Rupertsland) took effective demo
cratic action to protect their traditional rights
and
property;
and
c) amelioration sensible des serVices
d education
et
ressources destines aux lndiens, confonnement aux dr
autochtones et issus
de
traites; instauration
d un
program
d education pertinent
en
collaboration avec le ministere
Affaires indiennes
et du
Nord.
Nouveau
programme
apportera aux peuples autochtones
un maximum de
sou
pour
poursuivre leurs objectifs d educa tion
et
les
aide
controler et
a
gerer leur
propre
systeme d education
en
d atteindre leurs objectifs d autonomie;
d) mise sur pied d un
programme
national special sou
direction
des
peuples autochtones
et
des gouvernements
Premieres nations avec la cooperation et les ressources
gouvernements federal et provinciaux ainsi
que
du
sec
prive
en vue de
remedier
a
a forte penurie
de
logements c
les autochtones;
e)
etablissement
d un
nouveau programme
national
developpement economique
dont l
object if serai t
de penne
aux peuples autochtones
de
parvenir
au
niveau economi
du
reste
de
la societe.
·Ce programme
serait dirige par
peuples autochtones avec la·collaboration
et
les ressources
gouvemement federal et
f
toutes ces mesures ne seraient prises
par
le chef
et le
cau
qu apres
consultation generale
et
accord des peup
autochtones concemes,
Que
le
Parti
liberal
du Canada
rejette la TPS
et,
p
particulierement, l imposit ion
de
la TPS aux Premieres nati
et
a
eurs citoyens partout
au
Canada
puisqu une
telle t
porte atteinte
a
eurs droits autochtones et issus
de
trai
droits qui
sont
reconnus et confinnes
dans
la Constitution
est contraire
aux
principes
de
l autonomie administrative
Que
le Parti liberal
du Canada
fera
de
son
mieux
pour
enc
ragerune
plus
grande
participation des peuples autochton
son processus d elaboration
des
politiques,
a
a direction e
titre
de
candidats aux elections parlementaires.
Commission des
peuples
autochto
38.
JUSTICE (RECONNAISSANCE
DE
LOUIS RIEL)
ATTENDU
que
les chefs
du
peuple metis
de
l COlonie
d
riviere rouge
dans
les Territoires
du
Nord-Ouest (terre
Rupert) prirent
des
actions democratiques appropriees afin
proteger leurs biens
et
leurs droit s traditionnels,
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riority
esolutions esolutions
prioritaires
HEREAS in 1869
the
Provisional Government for the North
Territories under the leadership
of
Louis Riel, adopted a
rights to protect all peoples established and living in the
Territories; and
of
Louis Riel's list of rights
by the
nal Government, was the main condition for the ac
the
transfer
of
all the lands in the Northwest
es, to Canada; and
of
rights adopted by
the
Provisional Gov
was accepted and adopted by the Parliament
of
and
as a direct result
of
he adoption of the list of rights,
of
Canada passed the Manitoba Act in 1870; and
all the lands draining into HudsonBay were trans
red to Canada on
the
15th
day
of July 1870; and
EREAS all the lands contained in
the
Northwest Territories
the major part of Canada; and
and peoples joined the Canadian
REAS Manitoba was the first province created in Western
the
15th of July 1870; and
REAS Manitoba is the fifth province to join
the
Canadian
and
EREAS the transfer of the Northwest Territoriesto Canada,
the
creation
of the
province of Manitoba are a direct result
by the Parliament of Canada of the Riel Provi
List of Rights for the peoples of the North
and
name
Manitoba was submitted by Louis Riel,
by the Parliament of Canada for the name
of
our
and
the
name Manitoba isa native expression meaning
and
EREAS recognized authorities on the history of Western
as the founder
of
Manitoba;
and
S in 1871 during the American Fenian threat, Louis
organized the Metis people to protect
the
border of Canada
e changed the course
and
REAS Riel and his people were publicly commended for
by
Adams G. Archibald, Lieutenant Gov
of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories;
and
the
Metis people living in the Northwest
on Louis Riel to form a Provisional Govern
the
Government of Canada
and the very survival of
the
Metis people; and
ATTENDU que sous le leadership
de
Louis Riel, le
gouvernementprovisoiredes TerritoiresduNord-Ouestadopta
en 1869 une liste de droits protegeant tous les gens etablis et
vivant dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest,
ATTENDU
que
I
adoption
de
la liste des droits
de
Louis Riel
par
le gouvemement provisoire, etait la condition principale
pour
}'acceptation
du
transfert des terres
des
Territoires
du
Nord-Ouest
au
Canada,
ATTENDU que la listedes droits adoptee par legouvernement
provisoire fut acceptee et adoptee par le Parlement canadien,
ATTENDU
qu'en
1870, le Parlement canadien passa I' Acte du
Manitoba et ce,en consequence directe de I adoption de la liste
des droits,
ATTENDU que toutes les terres bordant la baie d'Hudson
furent cedees
au
Canada le 15 juillet 1870,
ATTENDU que toutes Jes terres comprises dans
Jes
Territoires
du
Nord-Ouest forment la majeure partie
du
Canada,
ATTENDU que toutes ces terres et ces peupJes joignirent la
Confederation canadienne
en
1870,
ATIENDU que le 15 juillet 1870; le Manitoba fut la premiere
province reee
dans
l'Ouest canadien,
ATTENDU
que
le Manitoba est la cinquieme province a se
joindre a Confederation canadienne,
ATTENDU que le transfert des Territoires du Nord-Ouest au
Canada et la creation de la province
du
Manitoba furent le
. resultat
direct
de }'adoption de la
liste
des droits du
gouvernement provisoire de Riel pour les peuples des
Territoires
du
Nord-Ouest
par
le Parlement canadien,
ATTENDU
que
le nom Manitoba fut soumis
par
Louis Riel et
fut choisi par le Parlement canadien pour etre le
nom de
notre
province,
ATTENDU que lenom Manitoba est uneexpression autochtone
qui signifie ESPRIT QUI PARLE ,
ATTENDUquedesautoritescompetentesenmatierehistorique
de l'Ouest canadien declarent Louis Riel comme fondateur
du
Manitoba,
ATTENDU
que durant
la menace des Fenians americains en
1871, Louis Rielorganisa la protection de la frontierecanadienne
parlepeuplemetiscontre I' intrusion des Fenians qui auraitpu
changer le cours de l'histoire
du
Canada,
ATTENDU que Adams G. Archibald, lieutenant-gouverneur
duManitobaetdesTerritoiresduNord-Ouestfitpubliquement
l'eloge de Riel et
des
siens pour leur action patriotique,
ATIENDU
qu'en 1884, le peuple metis vivant dans Jes
Territoires
du
Nord.Quest
demanda
Louis Riel de former
un
gouvernement provisoire afin de negocier
une
nouvelle fois
avec le
gouvemement
canadien
pour
la revendication
de
leurs
droits de proprietes et la survivance
du peuple
metis,
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riority esolutions
esolutions
prioritaires
WHEREAS fair
play and
promises
had
been assured to the
Metis people by due acceptation and by the adoption of
the
Riel list of
rights by
the Parliament of Canada
on
the 15th
day
of
July 1870;
and
WHEREAS
the
Government of Canada
saw
fit
to
ignore
the
plight of the Metis
and
the native peoples living
in
the North
west Territories, in
order
to accommodate political pressure
groups;
and
WHEREAS the Government
of
Canada sent roops to crush the
rebellion
and
arrest Riel for treason; and
WHEREAS the trial for treason of the accused Riel was con
ducted
by
a judiciary biased towards a political party;
and
WHEREAS a half
ury
was comprised of five persons
who
were
not Riel's peers and who were also known for their political
affiliations,
and
animosity towards the accused; and
WHEREAS Louis Riel
was
wrongfully accused, convicted of
high treason and executed by the Government of Canada on
November
16
1885;
and
· ·
WHEREAS in light of the foregoing, it is incumbent on the
Parliament of Canada to rehabilitate Louis Riel
and
to further
recognize Louis Riel as a father
of
the Canadian Confederation;
BE IT
RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada shall
introduce a bill in the House of Commons, to posthumously
rehabilitate
and
recognize Louis Riel as a father of
the
Cana
dian Confederation.
St Boniface
Federizl Riding Associiztion
A
TENDU
que les promesses
et
le rairplay furent assure
peuple
metis
par
l'acceptation
en
bonne
et due
forme
e
l'adoption
de
la liste
des
droits
de
Riel par le Parlem
canadien le 15 juillet 1870,
AlTENDUqu'afinderepondrealapressiondecertainsgro
politiques, le gouvernement
du Canada
prefera ignorer la
desmetisetdespeuplesautochtonesvivantdanslesTerrito
du Nord-Ouest,
ATTENDU
que
le
gouvemement
du
Canada
envoya
troupesafin d ecraser la rebellionet d arreter Riel pourtrahi
A
TENDU que
l'accusation
de
Riel fit I objet
d un r o ~ s p
trahison qui fut orchestre par un pouvoir judiciaire ayant p
pris
envers
un
parti politique,
A
TENDU que
la moitie d un jury fut forme de cinq jures
n'etaient pas les pairs
de
Riel et
dont
les affiliations politiq
et l'animosite envers
I
accuse etaient bien connues,
A
TENDU que
Louis Riel fut faussement accuse, condam
execute
pour
haute
trahison le 16
novembre
1885
pa
gouvernement canadien
et
A
TENDU qu a
la lumiere
de
ce
qui
a ete dit precedemm
i revient
au
Parlement canadien
de
rehabiliter Louis Ri
d ensuite
reconnaitre Louis
Riel comme
pere
de
Confederation canadienne;
IL ESTREsOLU que lePart i Liberaldu Canada presenter
projet
de
loi a la
Chambre
des communes afin
de
rehabili
titre posthume et de reconnaitre Louis Riel comme pere
d
Confederation canadienne.
Associlztion
t circonscription fldtrizle t St Bon
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boriginalPeoples
THE PLACE OF BORIGIN L PEOPLES IN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF
Canada is a litmus test of
our
beliefs in fairness justice and equality of
opportunity.
For generations Canadian society has failed this test. Many Aboriginal peo
ple f ce enormous problems both in their communities and in the cities across
Canada where they live: absence of meaningful employment and economic
opportunities unequal educational opportunity and results
poor
housing
unsafe drinking water and lack of health services. They suffer also from the
destruction and lack of respect for Aboriginal languages values and culture.
Past and current ways of dealing with these conditions are not working. It
is
time for a change. We must define and undertake together creative initiatives
designed to achieve fairness mutual respect and recognition of rights.
The role of a Liberal government will
be
to provide Aboriginal people with
the necessary tools to become self-sufficient and self-governing. Our priority
will be to assist Aboriginal communities in their efforts to address the obstacles
to their development and to help them marshal the
human
and physical
resources necessary to build and sustain vibrant communities.
The Aboriginal population is an overwhelmingly young population.
f
we
do not focus. on the potential of these young people we will face increasing
costs to our social security health and justice systems and we will have lost a
generation able and willing to make a contribution. Canada needs their talent
and energy.
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THE F BRIC OF C ANADIAN LIFE
Our goal for Canada must
be
a future where:
• Aboriginal people enjoy a standard
of
l i v i ~ and quality
of
life and
opportunity equal to those of other Canadians;
•First
Nations Inuit and Meris peoples
live
self-reliantly secure in the
knowledge of who they are as unique peoples;
• all Canadians are enriched by Aboriginal cultures and are committed to
the fair sharing of the potential of our nation;
• Aboriginal people have the positive option to live and work wherever they
choose;
and
•perhaps
most importantly Aboriginal children grow up in secure families
and healthy communities with the opportunity to take their full place
in Canada.
RENEWING
THE
P RTNERSHIP
A Liberal government will act on the premise that the inherent right of self·
Uberal government will be
government is an existing Aboriginal and treaty right.
committed
to building a
new A Liberal government will
be
committed to building a new partnership with
partnership
with Aboriginal Aboriginal peoples that is based on trust mutual respect and participation in
peoples that
is
based on trust
the decision-making process.
t
does not make sense for the federal government
mutual
respect and participa- to be unilaterally making policy or budgetary decisions that affect the lives of
tion in
the decision-making -Aboriginal people without their involvement. A Liberal government will dev
process.
elop a more comprehensive process for consultation between federal ministers
and Aboriginal representatives with respect to decision-making
that
directly
affects First Nations Inuit and Meris peoples.
A Liberal government will be committed to gradually winding down the
Department of Indian Affairs
at
a pace agreed upon by First Nations while
maintaining the federal fiduciary responsibility. We will work with Aboriginal
peoples to identify where existing federal expenditures for Aboriginal peoples
currently in excess of
5 billion a year can be redirected into more productive
uses. A Liberal government will also explore new fiscal arrangements with
Aboriginal peoples.
A Liberal government will seek the advice of treaty First Nations on how to
achieve a mutually acceptable process to interpret the treaties in contemporary
terms while giving full recognition to their original spirit and intent.
The Inuit are seeking a process for the negotiation of regional self-govern
ment agreements for Inuit living outside the future territory of Nunavut. A
Liberal government will support this objective.
A Liberal government will take the lead in trilateral negotiations involving
the provinces to define the nature and scope of federal and provincial responsi
bility for Metis and off-reserve Indians. A Liberal government will also provide
assistance to enumerate the Meris.
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POPULATION
Age
distributions
reveal
other
differences
between-the
total
Canadian population and the
.population who
identified
with
an
Aboriginal
group. The Aboriginal
Peoples Survey
reveals
that
the
population identifying
with
an
Aboriginal group
tended to be much younger
than
Canada's
total
population: 37
percent were
under
the age of
15, compared
with
21 percent
Canada's total
population. Seven percent of
the population identifying with an Aboriginal
group
were aged
55
and over, compared
with
20
percent
for
Canada's
total population. ·
Canadian Population by Age, 1991
Age
Total
Population
group
population
identifying as
years)
( )
Aboriginal(%)
{)-4
7.1
14.0
S-14
14.0
23.4
15 24
14.2
19.4
S·34
17.9
17.6
27.1
18.4
19.7
7.2
Source: Sutist ics
Canada,
1993
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
3S
30
l5
20
15
10
5
0
5,000
and
andcr
Income
of Aboriginal
People
Compared
with the National Awerage, 1985
• Aboriginal
• Canadian
•V<nF
l
5,000 IO 10,000 10 20,000 to 35,000
10,000 20,000 35,000 and abme
Soun:e:
Statistics
Canada, 1990
Education
of Aboriginal
People
Compared
with the National Average, 1986
• Aboriginal
• Canadian
• F
I d
J
'
t-.
i
j
. ~ ;
t
•
u
c
tS
'
'
E..
·e
.e·e
. :"f
tt
· ; : -
-
.;
:Ji
t-
I)
·s
j
c
.H
zi
·a
3
,jl
.
J
i ::
;J
Sour=
Statistics
Canada, March 1989
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TH E
FABRIC O F CANADIAN LIF E
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
The socio-economic conditions of Aboriginal peoples are the poorest in the
The
untapped potential of
country. A Liberal government, in partnership with Aboriginal peoples, will
Aboriginal
peoples is
untapped
work towards improving their economic and social conditions. The untapped
potential for Canada. potential of Aboriginal peoples
is
untapped potential for Canada. Government
studies show that a reduction of the Aboriginal unemployment rate to the
national average by the year
2000
would increase the gross national product
of Canada
by 2
3 percent.
Uberal government
will
work
with Aboriginal peoples to
develop an approach to housing
that emphasizes community
control local resources
and
flexibility
in
design
and
labour
requirements.
Aboriginal-controlled community enterprises
and
effective community
development institutions will
be
supported as the main engines of economic
growth for Aboriginal peoples. A Liberal government will also explore new
approaches to obtaining capital for Aboriginal development projects, such as
through a National Aboriginal Development Bank, whose initial capital will
come from banks, corporations, and prosperous Aboriginal communities. Its
mandate could include the issuance of Aboriginal Development Bonds, which
Canadians could purchase to finance Aboriginal community development.
A Liberal government will adopt federal procurement policies designed to
stimulate the growth of Aboriginal business and will set up an Aboriginal
Trade Commission to cultivate national
and
international
markets
for
Aboriginal goods and services, including tourism, arts, crafts, and the products
of traditional economies.
HOUSING
AND
INFR STRUCTURE
Adequate shelter is a fundamental need of any society and a basic prerequisite
for community prosperity. Properly designed projects for the construction of
housing and infrastructure should also create jobs and training for members
of that community.
Aboriginal peoples are suffering an extreme housing crisis, brought on in
part by the growth in the Aboriginal population, coupled with the Conser
vative regime s refusal, over nine years, to provide adequate resources to reme
dy the housing-need backlog. The
1992
report of the all-party Standing
Committee on Aboriginal Affairs recommends a number of ways that existing
resources could be reallocated to better address the housing crisis.
A Liberal government will work with Aboriginal peoples to develop
an
approach to housing that emphasizes community control, local resources, and
flexibility in design and labour requirements. A Liberal government will bring
together Aboriginal leaders, business and investment leaders, and other levels
of government to define the appropriate legal instruments that will provide the
security of repayment necessary to encourage private-sector financing
to
meet
the need for housing.
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B O R I G IN L P E O P L E S
EDUC TION
ND
TR INING
Too many Aboriginal children are dropping
out of
school. Less than half the
Indian
school-age
population
reaches
Grade
2.
and
in
the
Northwest
Territories the success rate for Aboriginal children is approximately 3 percent. The
education system is
not
Many causes for the dropout rate are poverty-related or reflect an educational preparing Aboriginal
young
system that is not relevant to the lives
of
Aboriginal young people. The educa- people to meet the minimum
tion
system is not preparing these
young people
to meet the minimum educational requirements
of
educational requirements
of
the Canadian labour force. the
Canadian
labour force
The needs of off-reserve urban Aboriginal people are not currently being
met. A Liberal government will initiate an Aboriginal Head Start program for
preschool children and their parents to be designed and run by Aboriginal
peoples see chapter ).
A Liberal government will establish with the participation of Aboriginal
peoples an Aboriginal Educational Institute that would specialize in curriculum
development for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal schools teacher orientation
distance education standards development Aboriginal languages literacy and
the development
of
cultural survival programs for youth.
Postsecondary education assistance for Aboriginal students was first intro
duced by a Liberal government in the late 1960s as a deliberate strategy
to
close the
gap
between Native and non-Native education in
Canada.
The
Postsecondary Education Program continued to meet the growing demand
from the Aboriginal community for higher education until 1987 when the
Conservative government restricted the criteria
and
capped the budget for
the program. Eligible Aboriginal students are
now
being turned away from
postsecondary institutions for lack of funding while
at
the same time the gov
ernment is more
than
willing
to
support many
of
these young people with
welfare payments.
A Liberal government will remove the cap
on
postsecondary education
specifically to
provide adequate funding for Aboriginal students accepted
at
colleges universities and vocational institutes and in adult education pro
grams and professional degree programs.
An
additional
ho
million per year
will be budgeted initially to address the backlog of eligible students who have
been deferred as a result
of
the cap on funding. A review of the Postsecondary
Education Program will also be undertaken with Aboriginal peoples to deter
mine fair criteria for eligibility and special needs including adequate child care
for students in need
of
such a service.
HE LTH ND
HE LING
The need for a new approach to health issues in Aboriginal communities is
starkly obvious. Aboriginal young people are committing suicide
at
a rate six
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A Uberal government will
initiate a
comprehensive
health
policy designed by and
for
Aboriginal peoples
which
sup
ports an integrated approach
to dealing with physical
and mental health issues and
incorporates traditional healing
methods.
ALiberal government will act
on Aboriginal justice issues as
a priority and will consider
alternative justice systems for
Aboriginal peoples.
THE F BRI C
O F
C N D I N LI FE
times the national average and many are falling into a life of hopelessness
characterized
by
a lack of education alcohol and drug abuse and for too
many incarceration in our prisons.
A Liberal government will work in partnership with Aboriginal peoples to
provide their communities with the tools and resources necessary to tackle
these problems. Some communities have identified an urgent need for crisis
intervention counsellors drop-in centres for youth cultural survival programs
healing centres or other resources. Successful models for these initiatives
already exist. A Liberal government will initiate a comprehensive health policy
designed
by
and for Aboriginal peoples which supports an integrated ap
proach
to
dealing with physical and mental health issues and incorporates
traditional healing methods.
Many Aboriginal communities particularly in remote areas and the North
. lack qualified mental health counsellors and facilities. A Liberal government
will
commit
the necessary resources to train professional counsellors in
traditional and contemporary methods and to assist communities
to
develop
traditional healing centres or other culturally appropriate initiatives. A Liberal
government will triple the current number of bursaries and scholarships
available through Health and Welfare Canada for training Aboriginal health
professionals and will make the bursaries and scholarships accessible to all
Aboriginal peoples.
ABORIGINAL JUSTICE
ISSUES
There
is
ample evidence to demonstrate that the conventional justice system
is
not working for Aboriginal peoples. They continue. to be imprisoned at a rate
greater than that of the overall population. Several years ago the Canadian
Human Rights Commission made the observation that Native youth today are
more likely to
go
to prison than to college or university.
Numerous studies and inquiries have examined the Canadian justice system
and Aboriginal peoples including the Marshall Inquiry and the Manitoba
Justice Inquiry. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples has held a
National Round Table on justice issues. There
is
clear agreement that change
is
needed and now
is
the time for action. Studies to date have been moving in the
direction of either a separate Aboriginal justice system or at the very least
major reforms
to
the present justice system
to
accommodate the unique cul
tures of Aboriginal peoples.
A Liberal government will act on Aboriginal justice issues
as
a priority and
will consider alternative justice systems for Aboriginal peoples. We will also
continue
to
support innovative alternative justice projects.
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B O R I G I N L P E O P L E S
SECURE L ND ND RESOURCE
B SE
The resolution of outstanding Aboriginal claims must be a priority for all
Canadians. Aboriginal peoples require cenainty with respect to land rights
i
their communities are to have a productive future. Until claims and grievances
are resolved uncenainty over land rights will limit the possibilities of economic
dev elopment in many parts of Canada.
The objective of a Liberal government will
be
to uphold the honour of the
Crown by settling claims through a fair and equitable process. The resolution
of land rights will allow the federal government to meet its obligations and
guarantee a secure land and resource base for self-government.
The current process of resolving comprehensive and specific claims
is
simply
not working. A Liberal government will implement major changes to the cur
rent approach. A Liberal government will be prepared to create in cooperation
with Aboriginal peoples an independent claims commission to speed up and
facilitate the resolution of all claims. This commission would not preclude
direct negotiations.
Most
Crown land in Canada south of the
oth
parallel is held by the
provinces. A Liberal government will engage the provinces in redressing the
grievances of the Aboriginal peoples over land and resource rights including
negotiating agreements for resource revenue-sharing. e will also promote co
management agreements between Aboriginal peoples and federal provincial
and territorial governments.
Uberal government will
be
prepared to create in
coop-
eration
with Aboriginal
peoples
an independent claims
commis-
sion to
speed up and facilitate
the resolution of all claims.
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.
i
Liberal
.News Release
For immediate release
October 8, 1993
CHRETIEN CALLS
FOR
NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH ABORIGINAL
PEOPLES AS HE UNVEILS ABORIGINAL PLATFORM
SASKATOON - Liberal Leader Jean Chretien declared today that a Liberal
government will bring a new approach to :-elations with Aboriginal peoples as he
unveile.d
a o m p r e ~ e n s i v e reform plan
on
aboriginal issues.
The socio-economic conditions of Aboriginal peoples are the poorest in the country.
Aboriginal communities are tired of government foot-dragging
on
these serious
problems, Chretien said.
The Liberal Leader said the cornerstone of our approach will be the recognition of the
inherent right to aboriginal self-government. He noted it is not necessary to re-open
the constitutional debate in order to move ahead on self-government.
A Liberal government is committed to building a new partnership with Aboriginal
peoples based on trust and mutual respect, Chretien said. We will provide
Aboriginal peoples with the tools to become self-sufficient and self-governing.
The aboriginal population is an overwhelmingly young population, and the Liberals
argue that if Canada does not focus on the potential of these young people, we face
increasing costs to our social security, health, and justice systems. Chretien noted that
a native youth today
is more likely to go to jail than to college or university.
The Liberal plan includes a proposal for an Aboriginal Head Start Program, a
preschool program for disadvantaged aboriginal children
in
urban centres and large
northern communities. The program will help children make the transition to school by
offering child care, nutritional counselling for parents, and programs with an aboriginal
cultural component.
I have a vision of Canada where
no
aboriginal child has to go hungry, where
Aboriginal peoples are given the opportunity to share fully
in
Canada's wealth and
resources, Chretien said.
..J2
l\ TION L
C MP IGN HE DQU RTERS
200 aurier . /venue West Suite 200, Ottarva Ontario KJP 611 8
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-2-
··
Other highlights of the package announced by Chretien today are plans to:
•
•
improve the well-being of aboriginal communities by using aboriginal controlled
community economic development institutions as the engine of economic
growth;
.
.
remove the Tory cap
on
funding for the Postsecondary Education Program, and
commit n additional $20 million a year initially to address the current backlog
of eligible native students;
gradually wind down the Department of Indian Affairs at a pace agreed upon by
Aboriginal peoples;
increase the number of skilled health counsellors working in remote and
northern communities;
· take the lead in negotiations with the Matis and the provinces to define the
scope of government responsibility for Matis people;
initiate a major overhaul of federal land claims policy, and establish an
independent Claims Commission
to
help expedite claims; and
return to the negotiating table immediately to settle the long outstanding land
claim with the Inuit of Labrador.
Chretien emphasized that the Liberal Party has consulted with Aboriginal peoples and
the party's Aboriginal Peoples Commission in developing its platform. We will work
hand in hand with Aboriginal peoples
on
initiatives to improve their well-being, said
Chretien, a former Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
The Liberals' aboriginal proposals, like ali programs in the Liberal Platform, will be
financed through the reallocation of existing federal budgets, and through cutbacks to
or cancellations of Conservative government programs. The complete, detailed list of
government cuts is included in the Liberal Platform unveiled
on September 15.
3
Press Office: (613) 783-8414
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•
•
•
•
Summary
THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLES OF CANADA
SUMMARY
· - September 1993
The Liberal Party
o
Canada has set out
in
its election platform document, Creating
Opportunity: The
liber l
lan
for Canada, a number of principles and programs that
a Liberal government would be prepared to act
on
in partnership with Aboriginal
peoples. The framework within which a Liberal government and Aboriginal peoples
will move ahead will be the recognition that Aboriginal peoples have the inherent
right
of
self-government within Canada. Within this context, a Liberal government will
assist Aboriginal peoples to become self-sufficient and self-governing through
initiatives that promote aboriginal community development and a sound economic
base for the future.
Canadians understand fully the economic and social advantages
of
effectively
addressing the needs of Aboriginal communities. All Canadians are struggling with
an unacceptably high unemployment rate; at the same time unemployment for
Aboriginal Canadians is
at
the appalling rate of 25 or two and one-half times the
national rate. The greatest causes of Aboriginal unemployment are the lack of
opportunities
in
Aboriginal communities and a lack of education or work experience
for those jobs that are available.
The federal government, through its constitutional mandate and its fiduciary
obligation to Aboriginal peoples, can and should play a key role in ensuring that
Aboriginal communities have the tools and resources necessary to resolve the
issues they have identified
as
critical to their well-being. Only in this way will the
fullest potential of Aboriginal peoples be tapped for the good of all Canadians.
Key initiatives
in
the Liberal platform
on
Aboriginal economic development include
measures which are consistent with the Liberal focus on small and medium-size
business, such as:
support for Aboriginal-controlled community development institutions, and better
access to community development resources for Metis and off-reserve Indian
institutions
in
urban areas;
procurement policies that stimulate the growth of Aboriginal business;
TION L C MP IGN HE DQU RTERS
Lauri erAvenueWat Suite 200, Ottawa Ontario
KJP
6M8
(6fJ)Z J7-0740
FO. :
(6JJ)ZJ.J-7Z08
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Aboriginal Pe
initiatives to obtain capital for Aboriginal development projects, such as thro
an Aboriginal Development Bank; and
establishment
of n
Aboriginal Trade Commission to promote Aboriginal go
and services at home
nd
abroad.
f
Aboriginal communities are to become self-sufficient, they must have
n
adeq
land and resource base upon which to grow. That is why a Liberal governme
committed to overhauling the land claims policy
n
ways that will make the proc
more fair, more efficient, and less costly.
Most
of
the Liberal commitments will not require new funding. They will, howe
necessitate a re-allocation of xisting resources. Too often past programs h
been dictated by government without sufficient Aboriginal participation, with
result that programs are doomed from the start. Community control over the des
and implementation of programs, adequate fiscal resources, and a sufficient l
and resource base, are key elements
in
the development
of
Aboriginal communi
Nevertheless, in keeping with the importance of education to Liberals, a Lib
government will devote new funding to address the backlog of Aboriginal p
secondary students deferred because of the cap on the post-secondary program
to establish a pilot Head Start program for Aboriginal pre-school children. Both
budget for Aboriginal Head Start, at 100 million over four years, and the budge
increase of 80 million over four years
to
address the backlog
of
eligible stude
will be paid out of the cuts to existing Conservative programs outlined in the Lib
platform document Creating Opportunities.
We believe that a focus
on
Aboriginal children and young people through
educational, training, and health initiatives which we propose in the
liberal
platf
will assist this predominantly young population of Indian, Inuit, and Metis people
realize their potential while preserving their identity and culture. Helping Aborig
communities to improve the circumstances which have resulted in a sense of des
for too many children
is
not only the just thing to do. The Liberal commitmen
investing in people includes enabling Aboriginal people to five healthy and produc
lives. Canada's social security, health, and justice systems will in turn benefit.
The development
o f
the 1993 Liberal platform on Aboriginal peoples is a continua
of the strong policy resolutions
on
Inherent Right of Self-Government, Treaties
Claims, and Aboriginal Affairs passed unanimously at the 1992 National Liberal P
Convention. Both the policy resolutions and the platform on Aboriginal peoples h
been guided by the strong hand of the Aboriginal Peoples' Commission of the Lib
Party
of
Canada, created by Jean Chretien
in
1990 and made up
of
Aborig
representatives from across Canada
.
Moreover, Liberal Aboriginal
nd
non-Aboriginal Parliamentarians have worked h
to ensure that the Liberal principles
of
justice, fairness, and respect for Aborig
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Aboriginal Peoples
peoples - principles that a Liberal government n 1982 entrenched in the Constitution
with the recognition
o
Aboriginal and treaty rights - would be developed into
concrete and realistic platform commitments
n
1993.
• At the 1990 Aboriginal Policy Forum of the Liberal Party, Mr. Chretien told Aboriginal
people that,
as Leader
o
the Liberal Party, I want not only to make our party the party
o the Aboriginal people, but I want Aboriginal issues to be front and centre
on the agenda of a Liberal government.
• Our commitment to Aboriginal peoples and to all Canadians on these issues is on
the record. With the cooperation of a Liberal government, the Aboriginal peoples
o
Canada can begin to find their own solutions and to take charge o their future.
3
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September 199
THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
O
CANADA
INTRODUCTION
The Liberal Party believes that rebuilding and strengthening relationship
with Aboriginal peoples and improving Aboriginal social and economic conditions are
issues which Canadians want addressed as a priority. The United Nations has also
designated this year 1993 as the International Year
of
Indigenous People.
We realize that the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples is currentl
studying these issues and is expected to release its report next year. The Liberal Part
does not want to pre-empt the findings and recommendations f the Royal Commission
However there are a number of issues that have clear solutions or require immediate
attention and in addition there are issues upon which the Royal Commission ha
already expressed its views. We are prepared to proceed in these areas now.
A new approach to relations between Aboriginal peoples and the federa
government is needed. Decision-making processes must change. Aboriginal peoples
must be full participants. We
want
to
develop in partnership with Aboriginal peoples
a new vision which is comprehensive and realistic. We want to work with Aborigina
peoples toward the creation of an Aboriginal program based upon the following
principles:
• Recognition of the inherent right of Aboriginal self-government as an existing right
• Provision
of
support and assistance to encourage the healing which is taking place
within Aboriginal communities.
• Promotion of education and training as a planning priority to develop the skills
necessary for self-government and economic improvement.
• Support for community development to stimulate economic development and job
creation amongst Aboriginal peoples.
• An economic foundation for Aboriginal self-government through restoration of lands
and resources by an equitable resolution of land claims.
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boriginal Peoples
The main elements of
an
Aboriginal program which a Liberal government
would be prepared to pursue with a view to implementing these p r i n c i p ~ s are set forth
in
this document.
RENEWING THE PARTNERSHIP: SELF GOVERNMENT
• A Liberal government will be committed to building a new relationship - based on
trust and mutual respect - between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government
through recognition of the origins
o
this historic partnership.
• The cornerstone of a new relationship with Aboriginal peoples will be the recognition
o the inherent right of Aboriginal self-government. A Liberal government will act
on the premise that the inherent right
o
self-government
is an
existing Aboriginal
and treaty right within the meaning of section
35 o
the
Constitution Act 1982.
Recognizing the inherent right
is
consistent with the historical fact that Aboriginal
peoples governed this land prior to the arrival of Europeans to the various regions
of.North America.
• It is time for the government of Canada to recognize the inherent right o Aboriginal
peoples to govern themselves. The Liberal Party
is
not suggesting reopening the
constitutional debate at this time, but it
is
necessary to move ahead on Aboriginal
self-government and we believe it
is
possible to do this within the existing
constitutional framework. The approach
is
consistent with the views
o
the Royal
Commission
on
Aboriginal Peoples as set out
in
its interim report on self
government.
• We do not expect self-government to solve all the concerns of Aboriginal. Canadians
overnight. But it is the key which will enable Aboriginal people themselves to begin
finding their own solutions
in
the long term. It
is
time for the federal government to
start trusting Aboriginal people to make their own decisions. Mistakes may be made,
but successive governments have demonstrated time and again that they are ill
equipped to deal with the concerns o Aboriginal people. The Liberal Party believes
it is time for Aboriginal people to be given a chance to take charge of their future.
•
In
negotiating self-government agreements, careful attention will need to be paid to
the ·issue
o
financial resources. We will work with Aboriginal peoples to identify
where existing federal expenditures for Aboriginal peoples, currently in excess
o
5
billion a year, can be redirected into more productive uses. A Liberal government will
also explore new fiscal arrangements with Aboriginal peoples.
• Implementing self-government will involve building a better framework for relations
between the federal government and Aboriginal peoples. A Liberal government will
develop a more comprehensive process for consultation between federal ministers
and Aboriginal representatives with respect to decision-making that directly affects
First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples. Moreover, a Liberal government will
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Aboriginal Peo
establish a process for engaging provinces to participate in consultations
appropriate.
• Implementing self-government will involve a variety
of
approaches depending up
the Aboriginal peoples and their particular circumstances.
1) Indian First Nations
•
•
There are approximately 540,000 Indian people
in
Canada, organized into 604 F
Nation communities, about 55 ofwhom reside on reserves. For the last 117 ye
or so, the federal government has administered their affairs under the Indian
through the Department of Indian Affairs.
Currently, control of Indian Affairs is centralized in the hands
of
the Minister a
senior management in the Department of Indian Affairs. Budgets, spending priorit
and cutbacks are decided upon
in
isolation from First Nations. Consultations a
undertaken with First Nations
on
an ad hoc and selective basis. A Libe
administration would change this approach by supporting a bilateral consultat
process developed in cooperation with First Nations.
•
A Liberal government will be committed to gradually winding down the Departme
of Indian Affairs at a pace which
is
agreed upon by First Nations, while maintaini
the federal fiduciary responsibility. n the meantime, the Department should contin
delivering services to those First Nations that require them.
•
•
A Liberal government will be prepared to undertake a program of reform orient
toward the implementation of the inherent right of self-government, throu
negotiated self-government agreements, while safeguarding treaties and respecti
the fiduciary duty of the federal Crown. This program
of
reform would differ from t
community based self-government program currently being implemented by t
Department
of
Indian Affairs.
t
the same time, a Liberal government would supp
the self-government arrangements now in place or in the process
of
bei
negotiated.
Indian Treaty Nations have unique interests and concerns. Their origin
relationships with the Crown are founded upon their historic treaties and any ne
relationship must be based upon respect for the treaties. A Liberal government w
seek the advice of Treaty First Nations
on
how to achieve a mutually acceptab
process to interpret the treaties in contemporary terms, while giving full recogniti
to
the original intent and spirit of the treaties. ·
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Aboriginal P e e : ~
2) nuit
• The federal government has a special trust relationship with the 35; Inuit
peo;::
e
of Canada.
• Land claims settlements have been signed with Inuit in the Arctic and
Northe-
Quebec. The claim of the lnuvialuit in the Western Arctic was settled in 1984. -
June, 1993, Parliament ratified the claim of the Inuit of Nunavut. Quebec -
settled their claim in 1975. However, the claim of the Labrador Inuit remairs
outstanding because of the federal refusal
to
return to the negotiating table.
• A liberal government will begin negotiations, without preconditions, with the Inuit
c
Labrador and the province of Newfoundland to settle this outstanding claim. ;
Liberal government would also be prepared to discuss with the Labrador lnur:
alternative funding arrangements to the current bilateral arrangement betweer
Canada and Newfoundland.
• The Inuit are also seeking a national process for the negotiation of regional self
government agreements within the existing constitutional framework. A Libera
government would support this objective.
• Legislation passed by Parliament in June will see the new territory
of Nunavut
established in the central and eastern Arctic by 1999. A Liberal government
wi :
work in cooperation with the people of the Eastern and Western Arctic to ensure a
smooth transition to Nunavut.
3) Metis
•
The
Metis people emerged as a distinct cultural and political entity
out
of the
convergence of cultures of Indian peoples
and
early settlers.· A large number of
Metis· are concentrated in western and northern Canada.
• The Metis are recognized
as an
Aboriginal people in the Constitution; the federal
government has not historically recognized legislative responsibility for Metis under
section 91 (24) of the Constitution Act 1867. A Liberal government will take the lead
in trilateral negotiations with the Metis and provincial governments to define the
nature and scope of federal and provincial responsibility for Metis people.
• A Liberal government will also provide assistance to enumerate the Metis.
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Aboriginal P
4 Urban
Aboriginal
people
• While the total number and distribution
of
urban-based s t a t u ~ - - and non-s
Indians, Inuit, and Metis are unclear, approximately 45 of status Indians are
living off reserve.
• The Liberal Party of Canada recognizes that the needs of the urban Abor
population are not currently being fully met. Aboriginal migration into urban ce
will continue. This coupled with the growing Aboriginal population will c
increased demand for culturally supportive social.and economic institutions in
centres. This demand will be particularly acute for western provinces with signi
numbers
of
Aboriginal people and which do not have sufficient resources to me
needs
of
thi s growing population.
• A Liberal government will
b uild
upon the network of urban Aboriginal institution
will support community controlled development l:istitutions. We. will also initi
head start program for pre-school Aboriginal
h l k ~ e n
and their parents living in u
centres and large northern communities.
ABORIGINAL
JUSTICE
• The agenda for self-government will be established in consultation and cooper
with Aboriginal peoples. However, an obvious priority will be the administrati
justice. There is ample evidence to indicate that the present system is not wo
for Aboriginal peoples. They continue t be over-represented in
our
pri
Several years ago, the Canadian Human Rights Commission made the observ
that a native youth in Canada today is more likely to
go
to prison than
to
colle
university.
• There have been numerous studies and inquiries into the subject of Abor
peoples and the justice system, including t h ~ Marshall Inquiry and the Man
Justice Inquiry, to name just two. In addition, the Royal Commission on Abor
Peoples recently held a National Round Table on justice issues.
• There is a clear consensus from all the studies to date that change is needed
now
is the time for action. There is an emerging consensus that what is req
· is a separate Aboriginal justice system or, at the very least, major reforms
to
present justice system to accommodate the unique cultures and interes
Aboriginal peoples.
• A Liberal government will urge the Royal Commission to issue
recommendations on Aboriginal justice issues. We are committed to actin
Aboriginal justice issues as a priority and will be prepared to consider altern
justice systems for Aboriginal peoples. We will also continue
to
support innov
alternative justice projects.
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Aboriginal Peoples
HE LTH ND HE LING
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A nation s greatest resource
is
its children. Yet many native communities are losing
their children at n alarming rate. Aboriginal young people are committing suicide at
a rate that
is
six times the national average and many are falling into a life
o
hopelessness characterized by a lack of education, alcohol and substance abuse,
and for too many, incarceration in our prisons.
While the causes of suicide
nd
substance abuse among young Aboriginal people
may differ, there are common threads which have surfaced in communities from East
to West to the Arctic - poverty, harsh living conditions, overcrowding, family violence,
lack of recreational facilities for youth, and a loss of identity and traditional values.
The daily dose
o n
alien T.V. culture only serves to remind these children that their
lives bear no resemblance to the rest of North American society.
The consequence
o
a failure to assist Aboriginal communities to deal with the roots
o
these problems will
be n
escalation
in
the climate of despair, which
in
turn
means a higher human and monetary cost. It must be recognized, for example, that
overcrowding
in northern communities and on reserves, which is sixteen times worse
than
in
other Canadian homes, is directly related to school drop-outs, family
violence, and suicide. A Liberal government must work in partnership with Aboriginal
peoples to ensure that their communities have the tools and resources necessary
to tackle these problems.
Some communities have identified
n
urgent need for crisis intervention counsellors,
drop-in centres for youth, cultural survival activity centres, healing centres or other
resources. Successful models for these initiatives already exist. A Liberal
government will take the advice
o
Aboriginal peoples in determining the priorities for
their communities in this regard.
As
n
immediate first step, a Liberal government will initiate a .comprehensive health
policy, designed by and for Aboriginal peoples, which supports
n
integrated
approach to physical and mental health issues and incorporates
t r ~ d i t i o n l
approaches to healing.
A Liberal government will also address the shortage of skilled health counsellors and
facilities, particularly in remote and northern communities, by committing the
necessary resources to train counsellors
in
traditional and contemporary methods
and by assisting communities wishing to develop traditional healing centres or other
culturally appropriate initiatives.
As a long-term investment in people, a Liberal government is committed to
increasing the number
o Aboriginal health professionals, with an emphasis
on
local
training
~ h r
possible. As a start, the current number of bursaries and scholarships
available through Health and Welfare for the training
o
Aboriginal health
professionals will be tripled and made accessible to all Aboriginal peoples.
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Aboriginal Peopl
• A Liberal government will also explore with other governments ways
of
increasin
the number of Aboriginal doctors, nurses, counsellors, and other health professional
and will encourage their employment in Aboriginal communities. A Libera
government will work with post-secondary institutions to build upon current initiatives
which help to prepare Aboriginal students for medical and related studies, and wil
promote the integration
of
traditional methods and medicin.es into mainstream
programs.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
• Improving the educational and training environment for Aboriginal. Canadians is one
of
the major objectives of the Liberal Party of Canada. All Canadians will benefi
from enhancing the educational system to meet the needs
of
Canada's youngest and
fastest growing population. Failure to act today will mean a major financial burden
.tomorrow.
• According to a 1993 study prepared for the Assembly of First Nations, federa
government spending on Aboriginal education over the last ten years has increased
by only 3 , when inflation and population growth are taken into account.
The
study
found that while spending
on
income maintenance has increased by 34 , spending
on economic development and housing capital, both related to education, jobs, and
training, has decreased by 66 . A reallocation of existing resources in the
Department of Indian Affairs alone would go a long way to putting limited resources
to
a more productive use - in education, training, and community capital projects.
•
Too
many Aboriginal children are dropping out before graduating from high school.
Only 41
of
Indian children n Canada finished grade 12, as at 1990. The success
rate in the N.W.T., according to testimony before the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal Peoples, is as low as 3 . Many causes for the drop-out rate are poverty
related, such as the cost
of
clothing, serious overcrowding
at
home,
or
poor health.
Moreover, many children from northern and rural Aboriginal communities must still
leave home to attend high school, where for the first time they become a minority
among non-native students. In most instances, the education
s
neither responsive
to
the needs nor relevant to the culture
of
Aboriginal peoples.
• Progress has been made
n
increasing First Nation administrative control over
education at the local level; however, due to fiscal constraints there is very little
capacity for Aboriginal peoples to develop their own curriculum. This, together with
the incapacity of existing non-native schools to provide culturally supportive and
relevant materials to deal with the large number
of
Aboriginal students, requires
action.
• There are existing schools and facilities working independently of each other across
the country in Aboriginal curriculum development. Their efforts need to be
coordinated and the product
of
their development shared amongst all Aboriginal
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Aboriginal Peoples
peoples. The federal government has a role
to
play in resourcing and facilitating this
coordination.
• A Liberal government, with the participation of Aboriginal peoples, will establish an
Abor'iginal educational institute and networking facility that will coordinate and build
upon
existing initiatives
in
Aboriginal curriculum development for Aboriginal and non
Aboriginal schools, standards development, distance education, Aboriginal
languages, teacher orientation, and the special needs of many communities such as
literacy, adult basic education, and special education. This facility will also work with
communities wishing to develop culturally appropriate programs which integrate
traditional knowledge and survival skills with academic and j o ~ r e l a t e d training.
• In addition, First Nations have expressed dissatisfaction with the existing system
of
Master Tuition Agreements with the provinces for the funding of Aboriginal children
in provincially-run schools. A Liberal government will review the Master Tuition
Agreements;· with a view to ensuring that Aboriginal peoples are involved fully in
decision-making and control of the process.
• Post-secondary education assistance was first introduced by a Liberal government
in the late 1960s
as
a deliberate strategy to close the gap between native and non
native education in Canada. The postsecondary program continued to meet the
growing demand for higher education until 1987, when the Conservative government
restricted the criteria and capped the program. Students who wish to undertake
postsecondary education are now being turned away. At the same time, the current
government is more than willing to support many of these young people with welfare
payments, which in some cases exceed the cost of sending them to school.
• The Liberal Party's commitment to assisting Aboriginal postsecondary students has
not faltered. Mr. Chretien stated recently that Liberals will lead a government that
does not put a cap on knowledge, but instead ensures that there will be greater
participation in our educational institutions.
• A Liberal government will, therefore, remove the cap on postsecondary education
specifically to provide adequate funding for Aboriginal students accepted at colleges,
universities, and vocational institutes, and in adult education programs and
professional degree programs. An additional $20 million per year will be budgeted
initially to address the backlog
of
eligible students who have been deferred as a
result of the cap
on
funding. A review of the Postsecondary Education Program will
also be undertaken with Aboriginal peoples to determine fair criteria for eligibility and
special needs, including adequate child care for students in need of such a service.
.
.
• liber l initiatives for a National Apprenticeship Program and National Youth Service
will accommodate the special circumstances of ·Aboriginal communities. For
example,. literacy is a major problem which hinders the successful completion of
training programs designed for Aboriginal peoples. A Liberal government will also
promote training programs which respond to the needs of Aboriginal communities.
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boriginal Peo
This will mean a greater focus on training in such areas as environment
technologies, resource management, community development, survival skills, an
computers in addition to the traditional trades and services.
ABORIGINAL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
•
•
•
The socio-economic conditions
of
Aboriginal people are embarrassingly poor. 199
census data confirms high unemployment, lower earned incomes and a hig
concentration
of
Aboriginal workers
n
lower end occupations. Figures show a larg
number of young Aboriginal people joining an already large pool ofAboriginal peop
in the labour market particularly in the North and in Western Canada. Ne
Aboriginal labour market entrants and those already in the labour force suffer fro
inadequate levels
of
education. The untapped potential
q
Aboriginal peoples
untapped potential for Canada.
The
Liberal Party recognizes that an investment in Aboriginal peoples is a
investment n Canada. Aboriginal community enterprises and communi
development institutions will be supported as the main engines of economic growt
within Aboriginal communities. Existing top-down bureaucratically controlle
developmental programs will be replaced with a new generation of community-base
developmental initiatives.
Community economic development is designed to facilitate a more holist
developmental approach and is a shift away from the failed selective econom
program interventions that characterized previous developmental programming. Th
Economic Council
of
Canada has endorsed community development as an importan
regional development tool. The following initiatives, which a Liberal governmen
would be prepared to implement, are designed to maximize the use of limite
resources and recognize that Aboriginal people themselves are the principal one
to achieve meaningful progress:
1. Strengthen and, where necessary, expand the network of existing Aborigina
controlled development institutions, through the transfer
of
control and deliver
of
federal development programs to community development institutions;
2. Consistent with Liberal community development strategies outlined in th
platform,
we
will ensure that community development resources are bette
extended to Metis and other off-reserve Indian institutions in urban areas wit
a particular focus on small businesses, economic planning, housing, huma
resource development (employment and training) and comprehensive communit
planning; ·
3. As the single largest purchaser
of
goods and services· in the country, a Libera
government
will
adopt procurement policies designed to stimulate the growth
Aboriginal business;
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Aboriginal. Peoples
4. Explore with Aboriginal peoples and other northern nations ways in which
Canada can promote the freer movement of persons goods and seryices in the
circumpolar region;
5
Explore new approaches to obtaining capital for Aboriginal development projects
such as a National Aboriginal Development Bank with initial capital coming from
banks corporations and prosperous Aboriginal communities;
6. Establish an Aboriginal Trade Commission to identify and protect Aboriginal
products and to
c u ~ t i v t e
national and international markets for both traditional
and contemporary Aboriginal goods and services including products with value
added Aboriginal input.
HOUSING
•
•
•
The deplorable housing conditions
of
Aboriginal peoples are described in the 1992
Report of the all-Party Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs entitled A
Time
for
Action: Aboriginal and Northern Housing. A Liberal government will work with
Aboriginal peoples toward the implementation
of
the recommendations in that
Report.
In light of the current fiscal environment the Liberal Party acknowledges the
economic importance of the construction industry and capital expenditures as tools
for stimulating economic growth and job creation. Better use of capital expenditures
will form part
of the Liberal strategy on Aboriginal community development.
A Liberal government will work with Aboriginal peoples to develop an approach
to
housing that emphasizes community control local resources and flexibility in design
and labour requirements. A Liberal government will bring together Aboriginal leaders
business and investment leaders and other levels
of
government to define the
appropriate legal instruments that will provide the security of repayment necessary
to encourage private-sector financing to meet the need for housing. ·
RESTORATION OF L NDS ND RESOURCES
• The restoration
of
a land and resource base sufficient to sustain Aboriginal societies
through the equitable resolution
of
land claims is the key to the future and long-term
cultural and· economic success
of
self-government. The dispossession
of
their
traditional territories is ·one of the root causes of the contemporary social and
economic ills and inequities that exist amongst Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
• The first
f e d e r ~
claims policy was introduced in 1973 by a Liberal government in
·response to intense political pressure from Indian leaders and the Calder decision
of
the Supreme Court
of
Canada. A major review
of
claims occurred in 1980 also
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Aboriginal
under a Liberal government. This led to the issuance
o
two separate
policies: the federal comprehensive claims policy entitled In All Fairn
December 1981, and the specific claims policy Outstanding Business in May
Both were issued under a Liberal government. The specific and compreh
claims policies have not been fundamentally changed since.
The comprehensive claims policy was reviewed in 1985 by the Coolican Task
Unfortunately, the Conservative govemmenfs response, the Comprehensive
Claims Policy announced in
1986
fell far short
o
the recommendations
Coolican Report.
Major reforms are now needed to these claims policies and processes. Firs
are out
o
step with the legal and political evolution o Aboriginal and treaty
There have been no fundamental changes to federal claims policy since th
major review by a Liberal government in 1980. Yet, there have been major
and political developments since then. In April 1982 existing Aboriginal and
rights wers recognized and affirmed
in
section
35
o
t 1e
Constitution
Act.
There have also been no less than five important decisions
o
the Supreme
o Canada including the Nowegiiick case 1983), the Guerin case 1984) the
case 1985), the Soarrow case 1990), and the Sioui case 1990). All o
decisions affect claims.
Second, current claims policies have not resulted in n expeditious resolution
o
claims. As
o
February, 1993 out
o
the 578 specific claims submitted since
no
more than 44 ctaims have been settled. Many more claims are in the res
and development stage and
a
considerable number are in litigation. With re
to comprehensive claims, in
20
years seven claims have been settled
or
are o
verge
o
final settlement, covering Northern and Northeastern Quebec, the Y
Eastern Arctic and part
o
the Western Arctic. Vast parts
o
the Maritimes, Qu
and
British Columbia remain subject to outstanding claims o Aboriginal title.
Claims negotiations have been difficult in part due to the strong objectio
.Aboriginal people to certain aspects o he current policy, in particular extinguish
and the reluctance·o the federal government to negotiate self-government a
o
claims. Negotiations have been unduly protracted, resulting in the accumu
o massive amounts
o
debt for claimants. Problems in the implementation o
land claims agreements also give cause to reconsider the merits
o
the ex
policy.
The Conservative government has made only minor changes to the claims pro
including the establishment o a Specific Claims Commission with a very li
mandate announced in 1991. A Treaty Commission .has also been establish
deal only with comprehensive claims in British· Columbia.
A Lib·eral government, in consultation with Aboriginal peoples, would undert
major overhaul
o
the federal claims policy on a national basis. The objective
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Aboriginal Peoples
Liberal government regarding land and resource rights would
be
to uphold the
honour of the Crown by settling these matters through a fair and equit3ble process.
• Many have criticized the artificial distinction between specific and comprehensive
claims in the current claims policies. Instead of separate specific and
comprehensive claims,
we
propose a general policy encompassing all
claims.
Under
a Liberal government, the negotiation
of
claims relating to Aboriginal and treaty
rights could Include the right of self-government. In order to be consistent wi th the
Canadian
o n s t i t l ~ t i o n
which now recognizes
and
affirms Aboriginal and treaty
rights, a Liberal government will not require blanket extinguishment for crafms based
on Aboriginal title.
• The existing land claims process has also created a conflict for the federal
government in deciding whether to accept or reject claims against itself. Under a
Liberal government a new process for resolving land claims will be established. A
Liberal government will create, in cooperation
wit
Aboriginal peoples, an
independent
Claims
Commission
for
both
specific
and
comprehensive
clairps. Its
mandate
will be
jointly developed
with
Aboriginal
peopies.
• The Commission,
composed
of members
jointly
selected by Aboriginal
peoples and
the federal government, could have the following features -
to
report regularly
to
Parllament; to facilitate claims negotiations;
to
establish time frames:
to
develop
criteria for validating claims; to inquire into the need to cfarffy or renovate treaties to
make
their express terms consistent with their spirit and intent,
and to
have an
ongoing role in the implementation of claims agreemen1s.
• One of the most costly aspects
of
the current claims process has been the length
of
time
to
settle claims and the litigation that results when negotiations are stalled.
t
is
expected
that
the independent Claims Coryimlsslon
will
lead
to
speedier
settlements and lower costs for both Aboriginal claimants and the federal
government
• This Commission will not replace direct negotiations between the Federal
government
and
claimants.
It will instead
facilitate and
bring fairness
to
the
negotiation
process.
• A Liberal government, in cooperation with Aboriginal peoples, would build upon the
positive aspects
of
the existing Indian Claims Commission
and
the British Columbia
Claims Commission In these proposed reforms.
• Most Crown land in Canada south of 60 degrees is held
by
the provinces. A Liberal
government would engage the provinces in redressing the grievances of Aboriginal
peoples
over
land and resource rights, including negotiating agreements for co
management
and resource
revenue sharing•
•
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· boriginal Peop
CONCLUSION
•
•
•
We believe that the changes we propose are overdue and that
the
program we ha
sketched out is realistic and achievable.
The
Liberal Party acknowledges the fiscal limitations Canada faces. But
we
belie
better use can
be made
of
existing funds. For example
it
is misguided thinking f
the Department
of
Indian Affairs to be increasing spending on social assistance wh
cutting resources
for
economic development and education.
The Aboriginal population is a young population.
If
we do not focus on the potent
of these young people we will face increasing costs to
our
social security hea
and
justice systems and we will have lost a generation able and willing to make
contribution. ·
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Aboriginal Head Start
ABORIGINAL HEAD START
A Liberal government will establish, in cooperation with boriginal peoples, an
boriginal Head Start program on a
pilot
project basis, initially for boriginal
families
living in
urban centres and large northern communities. A Liberal
government will begin this project with commitments of up to 10 million in the
first year of its
mandate, up
to
20 million in the
second
year,
up to
30
million in
the third year, and up to 40 million in the fourth year. The precise design and
delivery of the program will be determined and controlled by boriginal peoples.
BACKGROUND
•
Poverty
among
children
has
been associated with poorer health, lower ievels
of
educational attainment,
and
higher rates of incarceration. More than one million
Canadian children under the age of
16
live
in
poverty
.
Canadian and American
studies have
shown
that early
and
sustained interventions with children result in
social and economic benefits. The Canadian Council
on
Children and Youth cites
studies which have concluded that each dollar invested in high-quality preschool
programs
can
save
4.
75 through lower costs for special education, public
assistance,
and
the administration of justice.
•
•
•
•
In the 1991 census, over
one
million persons in Canada reported having Aboriginal
origins, either
as
their only ancestry or
in
combination with other origins. This
represents 3.7_percent of the Canadian population, although in Manitoba,
Saskatchewan,
and
Alberta the percentage is considerably higher, at
11
percent,
10 percent
and
6 percent respectively.
In
the Northwest Territories, Aboriginal
peoples make up 62 percent of the population,
and
23 percent in the Yukon.
Well over half of Canadian families of Aboriginal origin live off reserve, many of
those
in
urban communities. For example, Winnipeg (population 645,000)
is
home
to approximately 15,000 Matis and 20,000 Indian people. Edmonton (population
832,000) includes 13,500 Matis
and
16,000 Indian people. Regina (population
189,000)
has an
Aboriginal population of 3,700 Metis and 7,300 Indians.
The Aboriginal population is a much younger population than Canada's total
population -
38
percent are under the age
of
15, compared to 21 percent of the
Canadian population. Statistics Canada projects that Aboriginal peoples living on
and
off reserve will continue to tiave a higher population growth rate and a younger
demographic base
than·
the overall ~ n a d i a n population.
Aboriginal peoples generally are economically disadvantaged compared to all
Canadians. Among the off-reserve Aboriginal population, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
and the Territories have the highest proportion of Aboriginal peoples - 60 percent -
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· Aboriginal Head
earning less than 10,000 (1985 figures). The corresponding figure for the Cana
population
as
a whole was 39 percent
• The educational levels attained by Aboriginal peoples living off reseri/e are hi
than those
of
the on-reserve population but still significantly lower than the gen
. population.
In
1986,
21
percent of the off-reserve population over the age of 15
not have a grade 9 education, compared to 17 percent of the Canadian popula
as a whole.
THE HEAD START
MODEL
• The Head Start program
has
been in operation in the United States for
28
years
has served more than
13 million children. It is a federally funded, early interven
program to provide child care and social, educational, health, and nutritional serv
to disadvantaged children aged three, four, and five. The program places a str
emphasis
on
parental
and
community involvement.
• Eligibility is based on income but there is the flexibility to accept children wh
parents' income is over the poverty line, such as in smaller communities wh
preschool or child care programs are not readily available. Head Start programs
administered locally by community-based, non-profit organizations and sch
systems.
• In Canada, there are similar programs which are named Head Start or which fol
many of the principles of Head
tart
Examples
of
these include the Monc
Headstart Program and the Ottawa-Carleton Headstart Association for Pre-schoo
There are also urban, Aboriginal child care facilities, such as the Circle Projec
Regina, whose programs are compatible with many
of
the objectives of Head St
ABORIGINAL HEAD START
• The primary objective of an Aboriginal Head Start program would be to h
disadvantaged Aboriginal preschool children living in urban centres and lar
communities in the north to prepare for the transition to school. Studies have sho
that Head Start has immediate and long-term positive impacts on a child's s
esteem, social behaviour, and desire to achieve. Through parental involvement,
physical and emotional health of
participating children and their families h
improved.
• These same studies also show, however, that in some cases the Head St
experience cannot reverse the cumulative effects
of
poverty, neglect, abuse, o
health suffered by some children and that some of the gains made by children wh
enrolled in Head Start can be lost in later years.
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Aboriginal Head Start
• Aboriginal peoples have expressed the need for their educational system to reflect
the culture
nd
experience
o
Aboriginal communities. An Aborigjnal Head Start
program would be designed and controlled by Aboriginal peoples at the community
level. Aboriginal. Head Start must be flexible to take into consideration the different
needs and priorities
o
the communities where they would be situated.
• Central to the design
o
Aboriginal Head Start programs would be a strong cultural
component. Many Aboriginal children living in cities are cut off from relatives and the
elders
o
their traditional communities. Aboriginal children, no matter where they live,
should know their history, culture, and language. And above all, they need to know
that they are important.
• One
o
the · positive spin-offs
o
current Head Start programs has been the
opportunity for the parents involved to learn the skills required to work
in
the
program. A successful Head Start would ensure that there are support programs for
parents, including problem-solving and upgrading of skills. Some parents, many
o
them single mothers, have become gainfully employed with Head Start as teachers
or counsellors.
• A successful urban Aboriginal Head Start program could serve as a model for
n
expanded program for other Aboriginal communities, reserves, and high-risk, non
Aboriginal children.
• According to the Circle Project o Regina, the children
o
today are our leaders
o
tomorrow and with the teaching of our philosophy of wholeness, wellness,
acceptance, and independence, our leaders o tomorrow will stand a chance in life .
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ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
September 1
Q.: Do we need to change the Constitution in order to proceed with negoti tio
on self-government?
A.: No. The present Constitution
s.
35) now recognizes and affirms the exist
Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Indian, Inuit, and Metis Peoples
of
Canada. T
Charlottetown Accord proposed wording t h ~ s:mply would have affirmed that o
of these existing rights
is
the inherent right of Aboriginal peoples to gove
themselves within Canada. The provision dld r.vt claim
to
create a right
or
to gr
a right to Aboriginal peoples. It was intended merely to confirm the existence
of
right and give it constitutional status.
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples released a report on self-governm
in August, 1993 (Partners in Confederation) which supports the position
of
t
Liberal Party of Canada. The Report concludes that there are strong historical a
legal grounds for the inherent right of Aboriginal self-government within Cana
and that this right is likely one of the Aboriginal and treaty rights now guarante
in the Constitution.
Q.: What would Aboriginal self-government look like and how would a Libe
government and Aboriginal peoples implement self-government?
A.: The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples has given some guidance in
August 1993 report on self-government,
on
directions which the implementation
self-government might take. A Liberal government will study the commissio
report,
The inherent right
of
self-government, in the view of the Commission, is not
unlimited right. It would allow Aboriginal governments to operate within t
Constitution
in
the same way
.as
federal, provincial, and territorial governments d
Secondly, the Commission points out that Aboriginal governments would not
subordinate to other governments
in
certain core areas which impact mo
immediately on peoples lives, eg. education, social policy, or certain areas
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Aboriginal People
justice. In other areas they would share jurisdiction with
oth_er
governments and in
still other areas they would accept exclusive federal jurisdiction.
Thirdly, individual members
of
Aboriginal groups would enjoy the protection
of
the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
n
their dealings with Aboriginal governments,
in
the same way that the Charter is available to all Canadians to challenge federal
and provincial laws
and practices which may be discriminatory under the Charter.
The implementation of the inherent right
of
self-government,
n
the words
of
the
Royal Commission
on
Aboriginal Peoples, will mean different things to different
Aboriginal groups. For some it may mean reviving traditional governmental
structures or adapting them to modem purposes. For others, it may mean new
structures. Or for other groups the immediate objective may be simply greater
control over the provision of governmental services such as education and health
care.
Q.:
What does
removing the cap on postsecondary education
for boriginal
students
mean?
A.: The Conservative government began to narrow the terms of the postsecondary
program
in
1987 under Minister Bill McKnight, and again
in
1989 when Minister
Pierre Cadieux introduced the guidelines which are still
in
use. The policy change
which most seriously hampered the effectiveness of the program concerned the
program budget. Previously,
t
the Main Estimates underestimated the enrolment
of
Aboriginal students
in
a given year, Supplementary Estimates were aflowed to
cover the shortfall. As of 1987, the budget was capped and no supplementary
funds could be requested during the year.
The capping
of
the postsecondary program has led to a serious backlog of eligible
Aboriginal students. The 1987-88 Auditor General's Report pointed out that the
Department of Indian Affairs' history of not projecting accurately the demand for
postsecondary education has led to inadequate funding under the fixed budget
policy imposed in 1987.
The Department
of
Indian Affairs does not keep records
of
the number
of
students
who have been deferred because of the cap. Liberals ill allocate a further 20
million to the post-secondary budget initially to address the backlog
of
eligible
students; however, the removal
of
the cap means that there will also be the
flexibility to make up
a
shortfall during the fiscal year.
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Aboriginal Peopl
Q.: c·an you give examples
of
aboriginal-controlled community enterprises an
community
development
institutions which
a Liberal
government
will suppor
to
boost
community economic development?
A.: According to the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), there ar
currently approximately 15,000 businesses owned by Indian, Inuit, and Meti
people. This represents close to 2 percent of all .businesses in Canada. CCAB
studies have shown that Aboriginal businesses are highly motivated to create loca
employment. There is particular potential for Aboriginal businesses in tourism
service sectors, traditional foods, environmental management, housing, an
construction of capital projects.
There currently exist approximately twenty-four Aboriginal capital corporations tha
provide commercial loans to Indian, Metis, and .Inuit enterprises. These can be
effective mechanisms to provide capital to Aboriginal entrepreneurs; however, the
are limited by geographical and membership restrictions and are not seen as a
source
of
venture capital. A national Aboriginal Development Bank would
complement these capital corporations. The government s own 1992 repor
Inventing Our Future:
n
Action Plan for Canada s Prosperity recommends
investments in Aboriginal capital corporations.
A Liberal government is also committed to increasing capital availability to sma
and medium-size businesses in rural areas and the North through the vehicles o
cooperatives and credit unions.
There are a number
of
Aboriginal trust funds, development organizations, and
sectoral economic development institutions such as the Alberta Indian Agriculture
Development Corporation. The Economic Council
of
Canada, in its 1990 repor
From the Bottom up: The Communitv Economic-Development Approach cited
Saskatchewan s Kitsaki Development Corporation as a development organization
that acquired new technology and production ideas which led to a market in Japan
for
its beef jerky products. Kitsaki employs roughly 250 people. The lnuvialui
Development Corporation, Makavik Corporation, and the Matis Developmen
Corporation are all examples of success stories in the North.
he government s 1989 CAEDS program (Canadian Aboriginal Economic
Development Strategy) supports a number
of
Aboriginal entrepreneurs and
development projects. For example, the Pe-kun-nee Windfarm Project
of
the
Alberta Peigan Nation Utilities Corporation is supported in part by CAEDS. CAEDS
however, is not meeting the needs of many other communities nor of Aborigina
women entrepreneurs: A Liberal government will review CAEDS and ensure tha
economic development resources are reaching the community. enterprises and
development institutions that will drive community economic development.
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Aboriginal Peop
Q.:
The idea that a Liberal government
will
adopt procurement policies
t
stimulate the growth
of
aboriginal business - what kind of policies? Can yo
offer
an example?
· '
A.: The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business has recommended in its submissio
to the Royal Commission
on
Aboriginal Peoples that a fixed percentage
of
feder
contracts be allocated to competent Aboriginal governments and businesses, i
much the same way that provinces receive such contracts. (The America
government has such a policy in its Indian Preference Contracting Act .) This an
other possible options will be explored. They would not require an additional outla
of
government funds.
Q.:
Who
will
fund and manage the Aboriginal Trade Commission? Why
can't
special
support
program for aboriginal goods and services within the Expo
Development Corp. be developed rather that creating a new bureaucracy?
A.: The Aboriginal Trade Commission would be a body of predominantly Aborigina
people involved in Aboriginal economic development and trade. The Commissio
would work to identify existing products and services in Canada; develop
coherent business plan; survey and develop international markets for Aborigina
goods and services; and make links with existing trade-related initiatives such a
the Canadian Exporters Association, the Export Development Corporation, th
Forum for International Training, and other sectoral advisory groups. The Trad
Commission could also work with Aboriginal organizations involved in trade issues
such as the Inuit Circumpolar Conference.
Q.:
The Export Development Corporation is primarily a financial institution which
facilitates export trade and foreign investment by providing financing and relate
services to Canadian companies and their global partners. As such, its mandat
is sufficiently different from an Aboriginal Trade Commission·that the Commissio
should not be
n
adjunct of the Corporation. The cost of maintaining an Aborigina
Trade Commission would be relatively small.
The December 1992 housing report of the Standing Committee on Aborigina
Affairs,
A
Time for Action: Aboriginal and Northern
Housing
states
that
th
on-reserve
housing
and related infrastructure needs alone could cost ove
$500
million,
according
to
the Department
of
Indian Affairs,
or
as
much
a
$3.3 billion,
if
Assembly of First Nation numbers are accepted. Does
thi
mean that a Liberal government
will
spend this kind
of
money?
What
abou
off-reserve
housing
needs?
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Aboriginal People
A.: The housing crisis in Aboriginal and northern communities will be addressed at the
earliest opportunity by a Liberal government. Discussions will begin with Aboriginal
representatives and other governments
on
how, given the fiscal constraints faced
by all governments, to implement the recommendations of the Standing
Committee s Report on Aboriginal housing on-reserve and off-reserve and northern
housing.
The Report s key recommendations include:
streamlining housing delivery by delivering all government funding through one
agency;
utilizing local resources and labour instead of importing goods and services
that do not meet ·the needs of Aboriginal communities;
providing greater opportunities for home ownership; and
gradually transferring control over housing to Aboriginai peoples to ensure that
there
is
greater community control over the development and delivery of
housing programs; ·
Responding adequately to Aboriginal
and
northern housing needs will require not
only government resources but also private-sector investment, such as through
development bonds which Canadians could purchase to finance housing and
infrastructure
in
Aboriginal communities. At the same time, existing resources can
be utilized in more productive ways that will create more houses and employ more
Aboriginal people in their design and construction.
Q.: What will an Aboriginal Educational Institute and networking facility look like
Given that there are three distinct Aboriginal peoples
in
Canada, do you
envisage separate facilities for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis?
A.: There are already a number
of
aboriginal educational centres and programs across
Canada which conduct research and provide services
in
the areas
of
aboriginal
language training, curriculum development, traditional customs, literacy and other
aspects of education for the benefit of both aboriginal and non-aboriginal students.
The Woodland Cultural Institute, the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre, the
Montagnais Cultural and Educational Institute, and the Dene Cultural Institute are
a few examples. In addition, several universities and colleges and Aboriginal
organizations have established native studies programs, aboriginal languages
instruction, or research programs.
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Aboriginal Peoples
A recent initiative in the Arctic illustrates the progress that is being made in the field
of distance education. Students
in
7 Arctic communities spread across 3000
kilometres recently took part in
n
experimental management training course
developed by a non-profit Inuit agency
nd
transmitted by satellite from Iqaluit.
We believe that the federal government has a role in bringing together the
expertise which currently exists in facilities involved
in
Aboriginal education. The
Educational Institute
nd
networking facility would encourage the development and
dissemination of educational and cultural materials to schools and Aboriginal
communities. .
The Institute could have three parts
in
order to reflect the different cultures and
languages
of
the Indian First Nations, the Inuit,
nd
the Metis. They would likely
be
housed
in
existing educational centres to take advantage of on-site programs and
networking resources. The actual design
nd
mandate
of
the Institute will be
developed with Aboriginal peoples and will
be
supported through the existing
budget
of
Indian Affairs.
Q.:
A Liberal government would increase the number of health counsellors to
work in aboriginal communities and will triple the number of bursaries and
scholarships for
the training
of
aboriginal health professionals.
ow
much
wilJ this cost?
A.: Health Canada currently has a budget of 836 million for Indian and Northern
Health Services; however, the approach to dealing with issues such as suicide,
family violence, substance abuse, and past abuse in residential schools has not
worked well, particularly
in
remote communities,
in
part because
of
the absence
of
an overall mental health policy
nd
because traditionally a non-native approach has
been used to resolve these problems.
There is a serious shortage
of
skilled Aboriginal health counsellors. For example,
there are only nine mental health counsellors to cover twenty-three communities
in the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation territory
in
northwestern Ontario. All twenty-three
communities are remote and accessible by plane only. When a suicide occurs in
an Aboriginal community, it is not uncommon to see a chain reaction. An
investment in the training
of
more skilled mental health counsellors to practise in
these communities will mean quicker crisis intervention and a greater ability to take
preventive action.
We believe that current expenditures
in
Indian Affairs and Health and Welfare can
be redirected into areas which have been identified as priorities
by
Aboriginal
peoples. The training and employment of more health counsellors is one priority.
In addition, the cost
of
tripling the number
of
Health Canada bursaries and
scholarships for Aboriginal students
in
health careers studies will mean n increase
in the current budget from 100,000 to 300,000.
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ABORIGINAL HEAD START
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Aboriginal Head Star
Q.: Why will a Head Start program for Aboriginal children be implemented
in
urban
areas
only
A.: Aboriginal Head Start will be initiated as a pilot program. Initially the focus will be
on urban centres, primarily because of the migration
of
large numbers of
Aboriginal families from their reserve communities to the cities. Many of these
families are headed by single-parent women from small Aboriginal communities
trying to survive in a non-aboriginal, urban environment.
If the pilot program
is
successful, Aboriginal Head Start could be expanded to
reserves and other Aboriginal communities where there is an expressed interest.
The program should be flexible and transparent enough that it can be adapted to
serve disadvantaged non-Aboriginal children.
Q.: Are
there any existing Aborig inal Head Start programs
which could
serve as
a
model for
the
Liberal initiative?
A.: There is at least one excellent Aboriginal child care centre that we know of which
incorporates many of the objectives of Head Start. It
is
the Circle Project in
Regina, which offers as one of ts many programs a day care, a hot lunch
program for hungry children, and counselling and healing programs for parent and
child. It is obvious that Aboriginal Head Start programs will need to be tailored
to the individual community, whether it be a Prairie city
or
a large Inuit community.
Q.:
How do we know that the Aborig inal community wants. an Aboriginal Head
S ~ r t p r o g r a m ·
A.: We have done a preliminary consultation with Aboriginal people involved
in
urban
preschool education and child care. Obviously, much more needs to be done.
The premise of the program, however, is that it would be designed, controlled,
and run by Aboriginal peoples at the community level. A Liberal government,
together with Aboriginal representatives, will work out the details of the program
and identify the urban centres which could accommodate such a program. The
Aboriginal Peoples Commission of the Liberal Party of Canada has also
recommended the establishment
of an
Aboriginal Head Start program.
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Aboriginal Head Start
Q.: Why are you targetting Aboriginal children for Head Start and not all
disadvantaged children?
A.: In Canada the provinces have exclusive jurisdiction over education and have the
primary responsibility for delivering social services including child care. The
federal government however has a legal responsibility for Indian and Inuit
peoples. This means that the federal government can work directly with Aboriginal
peoples on initiatives to improve their well-being.
The Liberal Party is aware that a Head Start program for all disadvantaged
children would e a positive initiative. f ~ u pilot Head Start program for
Aboriginal children
in
urban centres and large northern communities is successful
we would consider cooperating with the provinces and territories to expand the
program to non-native.communities. Existing services such as the Moncton Head
Start Program are ample proof of the neeci to help young children everywhere
counter the effects of poverty and
in
some cases neglect and abuse before they
enter the school system.