Still waiting on Trudeau

An Indigenous community leader in Montreal on the heartfelt appeal that Justin Trudeau has never answered

I remember watching the news early one morning as I was preparing to head to work. It was September 2017, and Justin Trudeau was at the United Nations. He was speaking at length about his government’s relationship with Indigenous people.

He talked about the mistakes of the past, about “the legacy of colonialism” and “the paternalistic Indian Act.” He made some strong statements, such as “No relationship is more important to this government than that with Indigenous people.” These were not mere words, he said, actions would follow. “We are ready to invest in [Indigenous communities], you just need to tell us how you need it, where you are going to spend it and how we can best help.” He suggested that change was well underway, and that Indigenous people could expect a “true future in partnership.”

His presentation left me feeling used and nauseated. My people’s struggles had become a platform for his cause at the UN.

I feel honoured to have worked for the Indigenous population for over 20 years, creating programs aimed at strengthening and empowering people. I had struggled in my youth, but found a way to navigate the system. Now I try to clear a path for those who are also struggling. So where do Justin’s declarations fit in?

My family, and many others, have suffered generations of colonialism. But in April 2018, I finally decided to write to Trudeau.

A (non-Indigenous) friend of mine approached me after seeing the prime minister’s speech at the UN. She believed if I wrote him, requesting support for a transitional housing project, run through the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal where I am the director, that would help urban Indigenous people get off the street, that he would help. I had little confidence. But my friend was adamant and spent considerable time trying to convince me.

It took many months for me to consider reaching out to the prime minister. My birth mother was forced to attend a Residential School and, consequently, I was part of the Sixties Scoop. My family, and many others, have suffered generations of colonialism. But in April 2018, I finally decided to write to Trudeau. I recruited a friend of mine, a professional writer, to help. I needed the letter of request to be strong, engaging and powerful. The final version was a thing of beauty. (Editors’ note: We have included, below, the full 2018 letter to Justin Trudeau.)

The next step was to hold a press conference, on the day the letter was delivered. I was lucky to have many media outlets arrive and cover the story. For good measure, I also sent it to Carolyn Bennett, the Indigenous Affairs minister, and Jody Wilson-Raybould, the former justice minister. I thought I had all angles covered.

There was much excitement from others, who truly believed that the letter would be answered positively.

And so I waited for a response. Any response. I still haven’t received any kind of reply. Not even a smoke signal. Silence times three….

It has been said that Justin Trudeau has the “Indigenous vote.” Prior to his election, he promised an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women. I believe many Indigenous people voted for him because of it. The request for an inquiry has been ongoing since the Native Women’s Association of Canada began in 2010 to publish research showing the alarming statistics of MMIW with the Sisters in Spirit awareness campaign. Amnesty International followed suit with a report in 2013. The inquiry had been a long time coming. We waited to see if and when Trudeau would apply the 231 Calls to Justice, as outlined in the MMIW final report. Still waiting. MORE

Talking about the “Indigenous vote” won’t end Canada’s fraught relationship with First Nations.

Emily Riddle: Here we are in 2019 and the discourse in this election around the ‘nation-to-nation’ relationship has been very different. Photo by Conor McNally.

Tan’isi. My name is Emily Riddle. I’m nehiyaw from Treaty 6 with a few things to say about the federal election. Welcome to The Run.

There are opportunities when settlers elect a government that chooses to provide funding for services, such as health and education, negotiated in treaties.

But don’t assume the outcome of federal elections will provide major gains for Indigenous peoples.

Settler law made in the House of Commons affects our lives, and the actions taken (or not taken) by the next federal government will have serious implications for our inherent and treaty rights.

I’ve worked in First Nations policy and studied Indigenous governance for the past 10 years. I’ve seen the shift from aggressive anti-Indigenous legislation and policy under the Harper government, which gave rise to resistance through groups like Idle No More, to perhaps a more gentle erosion of inherent and treaty rights under the Trudeau government, along with some meagre increased funding for education, health and infrastructure.

I recently moved from Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territories back to my home territories in Treaty 6. The conversations around the election in Alberta are very different than those in British Columbia.

Many suspect that Alberta will go entirely Conservative. In some ridings, including Sturgeon County-Parkland, where my First Nation finds itself, the riding has historically been solidly Conservative. With the provincial United Conservative Party budget coming on Oct. 24, many First Nations people in Alberta are bracing themselves for possible cuts to Indigenous services and programs at both the provincial and federal levels (should Conservative leader Andrew Scheer form a government).

I pay close attention to federal elections, party platforms and bills tabled in the House of Commons. But I don’t vote in federal elections. I view not voting as a small political dignity I’m able to maintain as a Treaty 6 person whose people have never given up the right to govern ourselves and our territories.

Voting has historically been connected to the “enfranchisement” of First Nations people. When a First Nations person was enfranchised, they ceased being able to access any inherent and treaty rights and were “welcomed” to Canada as a full citizen.

But if our first experience with Trudeau taught us anything, it’s that First Nations people are at least “Citizens Plus” — we have additional rights as Indigenous people that go beyond our rights as Canadian citizens.

Many Indigenous people see voting differently, with some thinking of it as a harm-reduction technique. Others choose to vote as proud Canadians or dual-citizens of their Indigenous nation and Canada.

However, there are only 12 ridings in Canada where Indigenous people make up 20 to 50 per cent of the population and have a significant impact on who will be elected. Considering we used to be 100 per cent of the population and govern ourselves, showing up to the polls seems like a very small political act.

We can’t ignore the fact that a Conservative federal government likely means increased Indigenous death. Cutting essential services, which conservative governments often do, is a form of state violence, and we know that Indigenous peoples often lack access to basic needs such as clean drinking water and health care.

Unsurprisingly to any First Nations person from Alberta, Justin Trudeau inherited a few things from his father, including some of the logic of the proposed Indigenous Rights, Recognition and Implementation Framework from the 1969 Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy. Groups such as Idle No More, Defenders of the Land and Truth Campaign Networks asserted that the framework sought to convert Indigenous nations into an ethnic minority within Canada, devoid of rights as nations.

So here we are in 2019, and the discourse in this election around the “nation-to-nation” relationship has been very different. Trudeau is certainly not talking about “Canada’s most important relationship” like he did in 2015 or at the beginning of his term as prime minister.

In fact, the New Democratic Party and the Green Party of Canada are the only ones who have revealed their platform positions on Indigenous issues. Both contain significant promises to work towards mending the relationship with Indigenous peoples, including increased spending on health and wellness, child welfare and education. It’s important to remember that we only make up a significant population in 12 federal ridings, so these promises are still directed at settler voters.

To the settlers who show up to vote with their relationship with Indigenous peoples and our territories in mind, please know that your responsibilities extend beyond that small act. If you live in an area with a treaty, learn your rights and responsibilities under that agreement. If you live in an unceded area, learn about and support the nations whose territory you occupy.

Rather than voting, my responsibility is to continue to advocate for the return of our territories from Canada and the renewal of our own governance systems, as I have argued elsewhere.

No matter what prime minister Canadians elect on Oct. 21, the relationship with Indigenous peoples will be fraught as long as Canada continues to claim sole sovereignty over our territories. SOURCE