Time to reflect on treaties

Letter to the Editor

I agree native spending must be transparent, but the Government of Canada has never increased the salary of our chiefs and headmen. On treaty day each year the chief receives $25 and the headmen receive $15.

The federal government has never recognized the equal powers that the chief and headmen have on all Canadian issues. The federal government uses section 91 (24) powers to legislate their laws to apply exclusively, to undermine, diminish and alter the spirit and intent of Canadian and Red men treaties.

The federal government has inherited the protection of treaty under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution.

One of the promises is to make available an Indian agent to provide sound financial management for both levels of government, to provide transparency on all matters of treaty applied transactions, so that nothing is hidden from the beneficiaries, which include all Canadians.

These Indian agents paid from the resource revenue sharing within Canada, not from what is owed to the First Nations nor from what is generated revenue from within First Nation reserve boundaries.

Under the present Indian Act system, the chiefs and headmen are recognized to be administrators for Canadian treaty program obligations. Chief and headmen administer education, medical, social and other programs on behalf of Canada to First Nations citizens.

Canada is responsible to make sure that these programs have sufficient resources and are administered to be beneficial. Canada must be responsible for its part of the treaty applications.

The chiefs and headmen cannot be the sole blame regarding financial transparency. Canada must not continue to confuse Canadians with a purposely released smoke bomb on treaty trust relations.

One example is what is occurring in Hobbema on law breakers. Why must Hobbema hold a referendum to exile members of its tribe? It was concluded at the time of treaty as to how peace, order and good government was to be achieved. Now Hobbema has undermined its nationhood by accepting to pass a bylaw that undermines its status, to become a municipal order. The municipal order is to reject the sacred bounds of treaty.

Turmoil and confusion occurs when Canada’s agenda is to put out the bait, set the trap and whack the Redman on the head when caught.

Canadians must understand that the money given to First Nations is not a grant. It is payment for the right of way to access Canadian soil and resources, to share and co-exist with First Nation citizens for as long as the sun shines, their rivers flow and grass grows.

It is time that Canada reflects the spirit and intent of treaty, the treaty being the agreement as to how we live together and share within Canadian soil and waters.

Larry Quinney

Onipawhew/Paskiyake Cree Tribe

Frog Lake