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| Ad Courtesy of the Aboriginal Peoples' Commission |
Last week, as many of you know, the
Canadian government, headed by the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC),
continued its colonial expansion and onslaught on many Indigenous nations. The continued
colonial expansion and onslaught is through the FNFTA: The First Nations Financial
Transparency Act. A symbol of the Feds Not Fulfilling Treaty Agreements. Now, many of you will look at this title and the
preamble to this legislative act that became law this month as a step forward – a step towards transparency. However, this is not
the case and continues to sow the tide of ignorance, division, and hatred
between Canadians and Indigenous peoples.
The FNFTA sought to bring transparency and
openness to Indian Act communities because it assumed that none, or at least most of them, do not show transparency to those ‘who
elect them.’ In fact, Canada’s Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Bernard Valcourt
claims “this is in an effort to provide First Nations people with transparency
and allow them to hold their elected leaders accountable.” I have many problems
with this as well as how the media and general Canadians of all/non-political
stripes have been viewing this.
What
Are Some of the Problems?
Let us first focus on the biggest ‘hole’ in
the CPC logic of accountability and transparency. First, the CPC has tried to
argue this is to benefit the people whom elect them. Yet, the Indian Act Chiefs
and Councils are a unilateral imposition by Canada that has been in practice
for over a century per se. In order to destroy Indigenous governance structures
and forms of representation, Canada outlawed the traditional forms of
governments, clan systems, as well as Indigenous judicial processes. In doing
so they imposed a system that further divided Indigenous nations and
confederacies into communities with systems of governments that require them to
be accountable to Indian Affairs and Canada. Therefore, one must ask how a
unilateral imposition of a foreign governance structure with no adequate
consultation for a change in governance can be held accountable or transparent?
The system is already on eggshells and is only there to hold up the concept of
the Canadian state.
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| Ad courtesy of the Aboriginal Peoples' Commission |
Now, many communities and Indian Act Chiefs
and Councils have learned to utilize the ‘masters tools’ to try and bring
change, but when they do Canada threatens to withhold funding. If this does not
work, they formulate some form of legislation to get what they want. For
instance, many do not know that most Indian Act communities are already heavily
monitored and thus a question that basic media tends to forget to ask to
Canadians is, why the problems of accountability and transparency exists if it all
is already monitored and reviewed by Aboriginal Affairs? Why is it that
corruption in a select few cases of 630+ communities gets greenlit through
Aboriginal Affairs but it is not highlighted when media breaks the story?
Lastly, why is it never highlighted that over 50% of treaty monies (funding as
Canada calls it) go into the financing of Aboriginal Affairs? These are
questions I still am looking for an answer to.
On the topic of Media, it has been
mind-boggling that focus has been specific to one chief who made almost One
million during the 2013 fiscal year. Why have they not reported on much of what
Hayden King, an Anishinaabeg from Beausoleil and Director for the Centre of
Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University, has highlighted in his article on August
2nd, 2014. For instance, Dr. King points out that
“of course, this
information is important to know. But we can
also expect the media to do
little else. Few will cover the
hundreds of
chiefs and/or councils that make $10,000 a year.
Few will examine
the extreme AANDC underfunding this new
data reveals…
Few will ask critical questions about the
consequences of
First Nations (which are often both governments
and
corporations) disclosing the details of business dealings with
current and/or
future negotiating partners.”
Dr. King’s poignant assessment is ringing
true a week later as focus continues to relate to one Chief and the fact that
one Canadian Federal Politician has stated he wants to see an overhaul of the
bill – with true respect and nation to nation dialogue as its underpinning.
In fact I was impressed that Justin Trudeau
stated it needed to be dismantled and redone – I think it highlights a massive
change in Liberal ideology on Indigenous peoples since the Chretien Era. Much
has changed since 2003 – with the Liberals opening their minds to Indigenous
understanding; the Conservatives taking the Liberal’s 1969 (White Paper) and
2002 (First Nations Governance Act) extremely outdates views on how best to
deal with Indigenous Nations, and the NDP falling short on action - especially with their leader, Thomas Muclair, still not apologizing for endorsing the CPC relationship with Indigenous nations in January of 2013.
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| Minister Bernard Valcourt's Email to CPC Supporters (August 13, 2014) |
Yet, the attacks continue and the well
preserved ignorance of the masses dominates discussion. This allows the Conservatives to make cheap shots at other political
parties while Indigenous peoples continue to fight for treaty
recognition; rights to their government structures; Nation-to-nation dialogue; the protection of their children and of women; to adequate water, housing, infrastructure, health and education; and the promises made through the
Canadian government on behalf of the Crown. Instead, the Conservatives
are using it as a fundraising technique (see email sent out via Bernard Valcourt on August 13, 2014) while many in Indigenous communities
continue to fight for survival.
Unfortunately most general Canadians
continue the belief that these issues are long ago, that Indigenous peoples are
nothing more then Canadian citizens, we must integrate, and get rid of our
‘special rights.’ In other words, we are stalled at the starting line of
the race towards decolonization.
Conclusion:
I constantly hear people say they are open
to learning, open to listening to the Indigenous side but I am becoming
increasingly aware that actions speak louder then words…. That sometimes words
are just a placation of seeming intolerant. Unfortunately, the discussions I
have had with people on the FNTPA continues to rear the ugly heads of ignorance
and colonial continuation in Turtle Island – and all through the fuel of the
CPC spin doctoring machine. However, I do know one thing – decolonization and
both sides travelling down the river together, side by side in their boats is a
long ways away. The First Nations Financial Transparency Act highlights that.
How can accountability and transparency even exist through unilateral
imposition, falsification, the untold truth of Canada’s historical founding, and the
Feds Not Fulfilling Treaty Agreements.
Transparency and accountability are nothing but empty and soulless words when espoused from the Conservative Government of
Canada.
Suggested Sources and Readings:
