Harper Agrees to Meeting with Chiefs – Careful What You Wish For

According to the APTN article:  "Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he is interested in a formal meeting with First Nations leaders and has asked his office to engage in discussions with the country’s main First Nations organization on a wide-ranging reform package to overhaul governance and economic development."  Careful what you wish for.

We do not need Harper to rebuild our nations and we do not need another Act to replace the Indian Act.  Any Act that regulates an “Indian” is an Indian Act regardless of the title.  We did not live under an Indian Act prior to contact with Europeans and we can do so again. 

Everyone has to play a role in the rebuilding of our nations.  According to the Harvard Project on Indian Economic Development, what we need are accountable and transparent governance processes and structures in place with effective dispute resolution mechanisms. We do not need an Act to accomplish this goal. Plan these structures and processes yourself and do not rely on anyone else to do it for you.

There are plenty of educated First Nations people at the grassroots level who can rebuild our nations and who want to advocate for our interests at the national level. Involve them and like the Harvard Project on Indian Economic Development concluded:  Just do it! 

We, including the Chiefs, do not have a voice at the national level and we are being denied the right to speak and make decisions on issues that affect all of us.  The oppressed have become the oppressors.  In order for change to occur, the oppressors have to acknowledge that they have become the oppressors.

The Prime Minister never does anything without a hidden agenda.  Be careful for what you ask for at this meeting if it takes place.  You just might find a new “First Nations Governance Act” dropped onto your lap without consultation.  History is repeating itself.  A variety of bills are going through the House of Commons and Senate right now.  Who is watching out for you?

Oh, and do not follow the U.S either. They already tried it and it does not work either.  We want real self-government and nothing less!

Here is the link to the APTN article discussing the proposed meeting:

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2010/12/16/harper-agrees-to-meeting-with-first-nations-leaders/