(Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation Territory/Ottawa, O.N.) Today marks the first time in over two decades that a First Nations-First Ministers Meeting (FNFMM) has been held with Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments and a limited number of First Nations Chiefs and leadership.
The meeting failed to live up to its historic potential. The Prime Minister and Premiers did not present or agree to any substantial commitments or substantively engage with First Nations and our priorities. The failure of this meeting is reflective of Canada’s willful disregard for engaging earnestly and effectively with First Nations’ Title and Rights. In blatant disregard of the importance of a strong First Nations-Crown relationship, four of the thirteen Premiers didn’t attend, further reflecting a failure of the Prime Minister to communicate the importance of this meeting. Prime Minister Carney needs to do better.
“The structure, format and agenda of this meeting were solely reflective of federal and provincial interest”, stated Regional Chief Terry Teegee. “The limits placed upon First Nations to participate in this meeting are unacceptable. The Prime Minister and the Premiers have an obligation to meet directly with First Nations to engage in reciprocal dialogue on issues of shared importance, not simply those items which align with this government's priorities.”
Canada has taken a considerable step backwards, forcing First Nations to bear the brunt of its fast-tracking agenda while failing to make any substantive progress on implementing Canada’s own United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Over the last five years of the Act’s existence, Canada has failed to align a single bill or law with the minimum standards and principles of the UN Declaration as the Act requires. Yet Canada failed to present a plan forward on the UNDA.
The federal government has failed to follow First Nations leadership in amending Bill S-2, addressing anti-Indigenous hate and residential school denialism, addressing the drinking water crisis, and reforming Canada’s justice system. The FMM meeting presented an opportunity to find pathways to address these longstanding issues, but instead, it was used to promote Canada’s fast-tracking initiative.
First Nations in BC stand united in protecting our inherent title, rights, Treaty rights and other constructive arrangements, which is of significant concern given the provincial and federal government’s history of fast-tracking legislation that is meant to undermine Crown consultation obligations and First Nations’ free, prior and informed consent. By not engaging in deep and meaningful consultation and obtaining free, prior and informed consent, First Nations will hold the government accountable in court.
First Nations in BC stand firmly united, seeking concrete commitments to advance First Nations-Crown relations with Prime Minister Carney and Premier-Elect Doerkson. We reiterate our continued calls to the Prime Minister and Premier-Elect Doerkson to meet with First Nations leadership in BC.
Read Regional Chief Terry Teegee’s Statement to Prime Minister Carney at the First Nations-First Minister’s Meeting.