| "This land is our land. Why aren't we
at the table?" was a repeated refrain from the peaceful but
unruly crowd.
They kept the late-night vigil, including a drumming circle on the
steps of Parliament, to protest the proposed First Nations Governance
Act.
The bill would force about 600 native communities to draft election
and hiring codes, conform with the Canada Human Rights Code, and
file more detailed accounts of how they spend federal funds.
Native leaders, the Canadian Bar Association, a former Liberal Indian
Affairs minister and several academics have said the bill was imposed
without proper consultation. They say it would also infringe constitutional
native rights to self-government.
Proponents counter that it would make native leaders more accountable
and offer independent recourse for complaints. Improved governance
would also attract more investment and jobs to impoverished reserves,
they argue.
The grandparents, teens and other reserve residents who kept watch
with several chiefs early Wednesday weren't buying it.
NDP MP Pat Martin and Bloc MP Yvan Loubier were given eagle feathers
as a show of gratitude for their stand against the bill.
Federal Liberals are anxious to usher the much-maligned legislation
through the House of Commons before Parliament breaks for summer
in June. It must then clear the Senate to become law.
The Liberal-dominated committee hoped to report back to the House
on proposed changes to the bill by week's end. That will likely
require all-night sessions Wednesday and Thursday, since the panel
is less than half-way through debate on about 200 amendments.
What's the rush, asked Roberta Jamieson, chief of the Six Nations
of the Grand River Territory near Brantford, Ont.
"Our people sitting in the observers' seats were so outraged
to see (MPs) doing their income tax returns while issues of our
inherent rights, our constitutional rights, are being discussed.
They were reading or doing correspondence ... just sitting there
robotically holding up their hand to ram this bill through.
"It's an incredibly shameful exercise."
Jamieson said lively protests in the committee's public gallery
will continue.
"We were so energized and outraged when we left the Hill, so
proud of our people who stood there, clapped and prayed and had
whatever voice we could have."
Auditor General Sheila Fraser recently criticized the federal government
for demanding a "crazy quilt" of native audits -- many
of which are never read.
"We do our audit every year, we publish it, our members can
question our auditors," Jamieson said.
She blames under-funding for the fact that about one-quarter of
native bands are under remedial management because of deficits.
Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault said he'd listen to native
people, Jamieson said. But he's ignoring the fact that an overwhelming
number of witnesses at the committee opposed the legislation, she
charged.
"Did they listen to that and go back and re-examine this bill?
No, they're pressing ahead."
|
