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By Andrea Smith
Windspeaker.com Contributor
WILLIAMS Lake, B.C.
Members of the Tsilhq’otin Nation are feeling satisfied after a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday in Williams Lake.
Trudeau had been invited by the chiefs and Tsilhqot’in members, to discuss some of the issues that have been affecting them recently—particularly wildfires in the area which have resulted in evacuations.
Chief of the Tl’etinquox First Nation and tribal chairman of the Tsilhqot’in National Government, Joe Alphonse, was present yesterday at the meeting and said the end result is the meeting went surprisingly well.
“We had plenty of correspondence with him since him getting elected as Prime Minister, in regards to him coming out and paying a visit to us on Title Land. We are the only Indigenous group to win Title anywhere in the world,” said Alphonse.
“We just informed him that in being the only Prime Minister, or head of a country anywhere that has Title Land… this is a chance for him to be a role model to all countries and redefine that relationship countries have with their Indigenous people,” he said.
Chief Alphonse was accompanied by Chief Francis Laceese of the Tl’esquox First Nation, Chief Erwin Charleyboy of the Tsideldel First Nation, and Chief Roy Stump of the ?Esdilagh First Nation.
Chief Roger William of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation and Chief Russell Myers Ross of the Yunesit’in First Nation were not present, due to being in court regarding another matter affecting the Tsilhqot’in people.
Also present with Trudeau, was Minister of National Defence, Harjit Sajjan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Jody Wilson-Raybould, and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Carla Qualtrough.
The meeting was short—about 45-minutes or so, according to Alphonse, however Alphonse said he has never felt so respected by a Prime Minister.
“He was very sincere in his approach and dealings with us. And he definitely expressed that his government is fully aware of all the trauma we have been through, and the journey and the leadership that the Tsilhqot’in people have showed throughout. So it was a good meeting,” said Alphonse.
The wildfires Alphonse is referring to are the wildfires that are affecting his community right now, but he also makes note of previous ones. At the time he spoke with Windspeaker.com, he was staying in an evacuation center in Abbotsford with many Elders from his Nation, because of provincially-designated evacuation orders.
One issue Alphonse said was brought to light during the recent wildfires and the ensuing evacuations was the fact that First Nations are not given autonomy over what happens in their home communities. They are told to evacuate by provincial authorities, for example, then expected to follow suit.
“In relation to the wildfire, I feel First Nations need to take a lead on this issue. INAC (Indigenous Affairs) and the Canadian government have agreements with provincial agencies to take the lead when it comes to fire on First Nations land. In our case, we feel we have some of the most trained, skilled individuals, and there has to be agreements put into place to allow First Nations control over their lands,” said Alphonse.
“He (Trudeau) did acknowledge all that we have gone through, and acknowledged the leadership of the Tsilhqot’in communities in dealing with these issues. And he acknowledged that there’s a need to look at that issue and grow from the situation. So he made a commitment in terms of looking at that and developing a system for our specific area and communities,” Alphonse added.
Other matters brought up with Trudeau, included issues of protecting Tsilhqot’in rights, and protecting the land they have Title to. Alphonse says the meeting went so well with Trudeau, the Tsilhqot’in people are looking forward to continuing talks with him in the future.