Kitchi Meegwetch to National Caravan Supporters!!!

Led by Chief Stewart Phillip of Penticton First Nation (& President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs) and his wife Joan, the caravan traveled across the beautiful traditional territories of First Nations. About 90 vehicles from British Columbia, Southern Ontario and the Maritimes converged on Victoria Island in Ottawa on April 27, 2003. In Ontario, we thank and recognize the following for the welcome and support:

• Shoal Lake FN welcome group at the Manitoba boundaryØ Grand Council Treaty #3 hosted a Lunch & Press Conference
• Fort William FN offered the use of community hall for dinner & provided gas from local station
• The First Nation members & supporters in Thunder Bay who came out at midnight to greet and dine with the caravaners
• Nishnawbe Aski Nation provided local promotion & support of this event & provided breakfast
• Sand Point FN Chief who escorted & guided the caravan in Thunder Bay
• Pays Plat FN hosted a lunch with a drum group
• Batchewana FN provided dinner & breakfastØ M’Chikeeng FN Chief & members as welcome group
• Whitefish River FN Chief & members as welcome group
• Sucker Creek FN Chief & members as welcome group & provided refreshments
• Whitefish Lake FN as welcome group
• Tyendinaga FN provided lunch
• A BIG thanks to those who joined the caravan
• Finally, a BIG thanks to each of you who worked behind the scenes unseen by others to help make the caravan a success!

The leadership made a decisive decision followed by decisive action from the officials, grassroots people & volunteers.

STATUS OF BILL C-7/FNGA

1st Reading, FNGA first tabled as Bill C-61, June 14, 2002

Parliament Prorogued, September 2002 FNGA as Bill C-61 died on the Order Papers

1st Reading in new Parliament Session, October 9, 2002 FNGA re-tabled as Bill C-7

Committee Stage, Bill C-7 Cross-Country Hearings, Jan. – March, 2003
Clause by Clause Review currently underway

Within days of completing the hearings, the Standing Committee tried to wrap up the clause by clause review of the bill by limiting debate on changes to the bill and to table their committee report to the House of Commons for 2nd reading by Friday, April 11 before the two week Easter Break. Through the valiant efforts of Pat Martin, NDP MP and Yvan Loubier, BQ MP the plot by the Liberal majority on the Standing Committee to fast-rack the passage of the Bill C-7 has been successfully foiled so far. About 50 First Nations leaders and members observed an all night marathon committee meeting in the last week of April. Committee meetings continue to be monitored but in lesser numbers.

More people are required to monitor the SCAA meetings when they start again next week on: Monday, May 26, 2003 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, West Block, Room 371 3:15 pm, Centre Block, Room 237-C

So far, the SCAA has reviewed 36 of the 59 clauses. The Liberal members have rejected all the amendments proposed by Martin and Loubier based on the FN testimonies made to the Standing Committee. This again proves the consultation process is a sham; its does not meet the high consultation standard required by the constitution. The Committee’s goal is to finish the clause-by-clause review and submit their report to the House of Commons by the end of next week. If so, the bill can pass second reading very quickly. When this happens, First Nations are being asked to remain vigilant and monitor the parliamentary proceedings from the public galleries. On-going visible presence on the Hill is critical!

Analysis of 201 Bill C-7 Submissions Made to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs:

• 191 are opposed to the FNGA. They are composed of 147 group representatives & 44 individuals. They include First Nations, professional associations like the Canadian Bar Association and highly esteemed economists and academics like Dr. Fred Lazar from York University.
• 10 favored the Bill. They are composed of 7 group representatives including the Indian Affairs Minister and his officials and 3 individuals.

This analysis also shows that the FNGA is opposed throughout the country contrary to propaganda that the FNGA is opposed primarily by Ontario alone, a small group of Chiefs and technicians or corrupt Chiefs who want to retain sole power.

DRUMS OF NATIONS MARCH & RALLY
May 15, 2003

Grand Council Treaty #3 & Nishnawbe Aski Nation hosted this second huge Rally & March in Kenora to publicly refute Indian Affairs Minister Nault’s claims that the FNGA and the suite of legislation is supported by the 51 First Nations in his home riding. About 8,000 people of all ages, gender and races came from far and wide in cars, buses and planes to show solidarity. Rally speakers included:

• Grand Chief Leon Jourdain, Grand Council Treaty #3
• Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
• National Chief Coon Come, Assembly of First Nations
• Ontario Regional Chief & AFN Vice Chief Charles Fox
• Grand Chief Carole McBride, Algonquins of Barriere Lake, Que
• Chief Roberta Jamieson, Six Nations of the Grand River
• Grand Chief Dennis McBride, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
• Grand Chief Margaret Swan, Southern Chiefs Organization
• Chief Stewart Phillip, & President of Union of BC Indian Chiefs
• Terri Brown, President, Native Women’s Assoc. of Canada
• Jack Layton, NDP LeaderØ Pat Martin, NDP MP
• Yvan Loubier, BQ MP
• Chief Morris Shannacappo, Rolling River FN, Manitoba

Other leaders who came include:

• Que/AFN VChief Ghislain Picard
• Man/AFN VChief Ken Young

This is the second major rally in Kenora that Minister Nault refused to attend.

On behalf of GCT #3 and NAN, many thanks for the support and solidarity provided by all!

COINCIDENCES or FACTS?

BEFORE NAULT – Four (4) aboriginal national organizations received core funding:

• Assembly of First Nations
• Native Women’s Association of Canada
• Metis National Council
• Inuit Tapirisat of Canada

SINCE NAULT – Six (6) aboriginal national organizations now receive core funding. In addition to the above the other two organizations are:

• Congress of Aboriginal People
• National Aboriginal Women’s Association

BEFORE NAULT – There was one National Chief.

• Assembly of First Nations

SINCE NAULT – There are now two National Chiefs.

• Assembly of First Nations
• Congress of Aboriginal People

NOTE: The impetus for the recent review of the Federal funding policy for Provincial Territorial Organizations was to examine ways of creating efficiencies and effectiveness through eliminating duplication of services or programs. These same business arguments have been applied in funding cutbacks to First Nations organizations.

STATUS OF BILL C-6; Specific Claims Resolution Act

HOUSE OF COMMONS:

• 1st Reading, October 2002
• 2nd Reading, November 2002
• Committee Stage, November 2002
• Report Stage, January 2003
• Third Reading, March 18, 2003

SENATE:

• 1st Reading, March 19, 2003
• 2nd Reading, April 2, 2003
• Committee Stage, April 30, 2003 currently underway

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE BILL C-6 HEARINGS UNDERWAY

The Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal People commenced Bill C-6 Hearings on April 30 with AFN (Rolland Pangowash, Lands & Research, and Bryan Schwartz, lawyer) as the first witness. It heard from Minister Nault on May 6. Starting May 27 the following will appear before the Committee: Chief Morris Shannacappo, Chief Joe Hyslop (Manitoba), VC Greg Ahenakew (FSIN), GC Chris McCormick (AIAI), Chief Lawrence Paul (Atlantic), GC Carole McBride (Quebec) and Chief Roberta Jamieson (Six Nations).

We strongly encourage you to make your views known by making a presentation in person or through a written submission. Submit your requests by emails and letters to:

Adam Thompson
Senate Committee Clerk,
at: 613-990-6160 (phone)
Admin Assist Telephone: (613) 990-5011
General Inquiries Telephone: (613) 990-0088, Fax: (613) 947-2104
EMail: ABORIG-AUTOCH@sen.parl.gc.ca

Send Copy of Requests to: Assembly of First Nations (fax) 613-241-5808
Attention: Dan Gaspe & Rolland Pangowash and; Chiefs of Ontario Office
(fax) 807 626-9404

STATUS OF BILL C-19; First Nations Fiscal & Statistical Management Act

First Reading: December 2, 2002,
Second Reading: February 5, 2003

Committee StageTo date, the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs has not begun hearings on Bill C-19. The Committee has not advertised, promoted or invited any witnesses to these hearings. First Nations are encouraged to make a submission to the Committee, request extensive and thorough hearings for grassroots input and invite the Standing Committee to hold hearings in your community. We encourage leaders and members to make your views known through phone calls, written or taped submissions to the members of the Standing Committee and the Committee Clerk:

Elizabeth B. Kingston,
Clerk House of Commons
Room 632, 180 Wellington
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Please send copies of your letters and submissions to the Chiefs of Ontario at
807-626-9404 (fax)