Greetings readers.
On March 17 I attended the annual Desmond Pacey Lecture at UNB. This year’s lecture was titled “The Future of First Nations in Atlantic Canada” and it was given by Chief Noah Augustine of the Metepenagiag (Mi’kmaq) First Nation. The attendance of the lecture was impressive, and in a small yet interesting bit of information, something like 3 out of 7 questions were asked by people from Listuguj.
Chief Augustine was a good speaker. He talked a lot about self sufficiency, and I’ve spent a good amount of time this week thinking about self sufficiency because of this lecture. When the floor opened for questions, I asked Chief Augustine if he saw self sufficiency for First Nations in the near future.
His response was positive.
I believe him… at least I want to believe it will actually happen in the (near, hopefully) future. I’m not saying that I don’t believe him, but I do think that there is a possibility it won’t, confusing right?
Chief Augustine said that government and corporate structure is needed for self-sufficiency. Corporate structure? That raises questions based on Indian Act band council and traditional council. The first being, which is the more likely form of government to help us as First Nations people actually attain self sufficiency? Which of the two has a better chance of inciting a big enough movement for us to reach out and grab our self sufficiency?
What do I think? My answer to that was influenced (heavily) by the next lecture I attended.
On Monday the 22nd, the Aboriginal Law Society organized a special workshop with Justice Harry LaForme. He gave two roundtable lectures, “Strengthening Relations between Aboriginals and the Crown” and “The Future of Aboriginal Title.” Both discussions went in so many directions thanks to the active questions, it was a special gathering; it felt very welcoming and I’m glad to have been there.
But getting back to my first set of questions – after the roundtable with Justice LaForme (who is the first Indian to be appointed to sit on an appellate court in Canada) I had a chance to ask him the same question I asked Chief Augustine the week before. His response was the opposite of Chief Augustine’s, and I found it refreshingly honest.
He said he did not see self sufficiency in the near future. Self sufficiency is closely tied in with Indian Act versus Traditional Council debate.
According to Chief Augustine, a reserve needs corporate influence to help it achieve self sufficiency. I don’t deny this, but what happens when we introduce corporate structures onto our reservations? Will it be like having Indian Agents again? Will we still be able to maintain a traditional system of council, because if we get our self sufficiency from Indian Act bands, then how can a traditional council hold its ground in our communities? It was concluded by Justice LaForme and a few other attendees that if the Indian Act band councils were removed, we would either sink or swim. What do you think? Is it a possibility that we can work towards? Or will we fight change?
Any thoughts? I am always up for discussion. My email is [email protected], so feel free to email me your thoughts, questions, comments or complaints (put Native Issues in subject box) and I will get back to you as fast as I can.
