Hot Diggity Damn, the Chiefs of Ontario Have Spoken & McGuinty Better Listen!

FINALLY!!!! The Chiefs of Ontario are putting the Government of Ontario on notice that they better smarten up and engage in REAL bilateral discussions on resource revenue sharing; otherwise some direct action will be taken.  The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) is the coordinating body for the 133 First Nations located within the boundaries of the Province of Ontario. Hear that McGuinty???  You have been forewarned!

Highlights of the COO Press Release:

[National Chief Atleo & Phil Fontaine: this is what you call a real press release.]:

STATEMENT: FIRST NATION LEADERS PUT GOVERNMENT ON NOTICE

First Nations governments are putting the Ontario and Canadian Governments on notice that they will be exercising their jurisdiction over the resources on their lands and vigorously defending this jurisdiction by direct action if required.

Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse stated “We are notifying the province of Ontario that we are not walking away from resource benefit sharing discussions. The Chiefs are not prepared to engage in discussions based on a unilaterally and arbitrarily developed framework by Ontario that doesn’t accommodate the principles of partnership and negotiation. The Chiefs in Assembly fully expect to hold Premier McGuinty to his commitment to create a new system of resource benefits sharing”.

The provincial and federal governments collect significant revenues from First Nations lands and resources. “Resource benefit sharing is an issue that the general public must be engaged in. They need to fully understand the reasonable, economically sensible and justified stance that First Nations are putting forward only to be presented with ultimatums and politically motivated deadlines” says Six Nations of the Grand River Chief Bill Montour.

“Our generosity and willingness to share our resources has made Canada one of the richest countries in the world. It’s time for us to implement our Treaty rights and assert our jurisdiction over our lands and resources. The hope and future of our younger generation is relying on us, we must take government and industry to task in order to protect what is rightfully ours” stated Union of Ontario Indians Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee.

Here’s the link to view COO's press release: http://chiefs-of-ontario.org/News/Default.aspx?NewsID=208

Kudos to all the Chiefs in Ontario!  Poundmaker, Crazyhorse, and Louis Riel would be very proud!

I’ll be standing right behind you, unless, of course, I have something to say. Then I’ll stand in front of you! LOL

McGuinty, you better listen to the Chiefs!