Canadian Natives Get U.S. Support
Alexandra Paul, Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian First Nations chiefs say aboriginal affairs advisers to U.S.
president-elect Barack Obama told them Thursday the new administration
will be in their corner in their push for aboriginal rights.
In a 20-minute meeting in Washington, the advisers suggested to the
assembly of chiefs from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the United
States that the new administration could support their push for more
control over oil and mineral resources.
More importantly, they said Obama may also reverse current U.S.
President George Bush's decision to refuse to sign onto the United
Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights, which supports the right of
First Nations to live free from discrimination, protect their cultures
and "maintain and strengthen their own institutions."
Canada, along with Australia and New Zealand, also refused to sign
the declaration.
One of the chiefs, Manitoba Treaty One Chief Glenn Hudson from Peguis
First Nation, said the meeting capped a trip to Washington to raise
support for aboriginal rights.
The group included 20 aboriginal chiefs, including four Treaty One
chiefs from Manitoba and several American chiefs, Hudson said by phone
after the meeting with Obama's advisers.
Hudson hopes a sympathetic administration under Obama will put
political pressure on Ottawa to reconsider its refusal to share oil and
gas revenue with aboriginal groups that claim territory along two
pipeline routes.
The chiefs flew to Washington seeking support from the Obama
administration for aboriginal and treaty rights -- specifically, a
multimillion-dollar share of revenues from two new oil and gas pipelines
that will carry 1.9 million barrels of oil a day from Alberta across the
Prairies to the American Midwest when they open in 2012.
The United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights is a non-binding
resolution which, among other things, asserts the right of "indigenous
peoples" to "maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures
and traditions" and to "to pursue their own visions of economic and
social development."
The U.S. rejected the declaration for being "unclear" in its
definition of what constituted indigenous people. In Canada, the Harper
government held back from signing the declaration in 2007, claiming that
some sections in it might force governments to get the consent of First
Nations before passing new laws, or quash existing land claim
settlements.
"It's not balanced, in our view, and inconsistent with the Charter,"
said Chuck Strahl, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
Dozens of groups, including Native Americans, see in Obama a symbol
of hope -- an attitude shared by aboriginal leaders in Canada. Obama
campaigned actively on Indian reservations, which narrowed the race in
traditionally Republican states such as Montana. He was the first
presidential candidate to be adopted as a member of the Crow Nation,
under the name Barack Black Eagle.
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November 2008 Aboriginal activist conference in Winnipeg leads to
"action plan (including) an economic strategy, direct action planning, a
communications strategy, identifying barriers, strengthening national
networks, spiritual foundations and addressing local community needs"
(Rabble.ca alternative news page, 08Jan09)
http://rabble.ca/news/defenders-land-take-action-across-country
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Winter roads: NAN Grand Chief "urging the Ministry of Transportation to
rethink its planned closure of three bridges (over the Badesdowa River
(Mud River), Otoskwin River and Pipestone River) connecting 16 remote
communities within the NAN territory to the south through the winter
road network" (Nishnawbe Aski Nation statement; K-Net News, 08Jan09)
http://media.knet.ca/node/6138
______________________________________________
"Native land talks back on track" (Brantford Expositor, 09Jan09)
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1379647
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"A new classroom guide to the clans of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) is
being welcomed by educators as an initiative that will help address a
gap in the school curriculum." (Indian Country Today, 08Jan09)
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/living/education/37223614.html
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Seine River, Rainy River: Ontario to conduct "airborne geophysical
survey as part of an enhanced geoscience program" in area near FNs
(Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) news release,
08Jan09)
http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/news/NRView.asp?NRNUM=6&NRYear=2009&NRLAN=EN&N
RID=5286
MNDM map of area
http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/news/docs/Mine-Centre-Survey-location-map_e.jp
g
Map showing nearby FNs
http://www.quikmaps.com/show/89847
