OPINION: Minority government best result for First Nations that reject Liberal’s rights framework

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019 12:43pm

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Grand Chief Joel Abram

Summary

“We call upon the Liberal government to redouble their efforts to address our issues of housing, water, child welfare, environmental protection, and a true nation to nation relationship.” —Grand Chief Joel Abram

The Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians congratulates Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberal Party on their victory. 

While a minority government may not have been the most ideal result for the Liberals, the question is how long will this government last and what can be accomplished.

It is however the best practical outcome for First Nations peoples who have rejected the Liberal party’s Indigenous policies and legislation related to their rights recognition framework.

“We call upon the Liberal government to redouble their efforts to address our issues of housing, water, child welfare, environmental protection, and a true nation to nation relationship,” said Grand Chief Joel Abram.

“We are willing to explore alternative paths for moving forward, but it is up to the government to live up to their promises to address First Nations issues.  We shouldn’t have to be forced to launch Human Rights complaints in every single area to obtain substantive equality.”

“There are opportunities to work with a coalition government” said Deputy Grand Chief Gord Peters “Compromise is in the air and we must use all means to move our agenda including treaties and inherent rights.  It’s time for the government to be accountable for taking our children to court again.”

AIAI is willing to sit down and meet with all parties within this minority government to generate some momentum and begin to do the work necessary to ensure First Nations success and the continued viability of our mother earth for future generations.

AIAI is mandated as a Political Territorial Organizations (PTO) to defend and enhance the Indigenous and Treaty rights of our seven member First Nations. Member nations include: Batchewana First Nation, Caldwell First Nation, Delaware Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the Wahta Mohawks.