First Nations will balk at Harper's private property plans, Atleo warns
Category: NEWS
Created on Monday, 02 April 2012 12:16
Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
Published Date
Heather Scoffield,
TTAWA - Ottawa should expect stiff resistance to its plan to allow private property ownership on First Nations reserves, says National Chief Shawn Atleo.
"First Nations, by and large, do not support private property," the leader of the Assembly of First Nations said in an interview Friday.
This week's budget included a formal announcement that Ottawa will explore legislation to introduce private-property provisions for First Nations who are open to the idea.
Many Conservatives feel private property rights would give impoverished reserves a better chance at developing prosperous businesses.
They've been encouraged by Manny Jules, who heads the federal First Nations Commission, and a small group of about 10 First Nations which support him. The idea was also promoted in a recent Commons finance committee report.
With federal legislation, "First Nations will assume responsibility and authority over their lands just as any other government," Jules said at a recent committee hearing. "The end result will be the lower cost of doing business, improved reporting requirements and less bureaucracy."
But Atleo said that before the government moves to legislation, it should let an ongoing economic development task force examine all possibilities.
While most First Nations adamantly oppose private ownership, they have other creative solutions for land use and development that would respect and preserve treaty rights, but are not based on "externally imposed notions," he added.
First Nations chiefs have passed several resolutions against private property ownership, arguing that such legislation would threaten First Nations control of the land. They say privatization could lead to the sale of land out of First Nations hands, violating a sacred responsibility to future generations.
Still, Atleo offered a cautious endorsement of the budget's measures for First Nations overall.
The document contained $275 million in funding for education, as well as renewal of a $331-million two-year fund for clean water.
"It isn't all that was hoped for, but I feel it provides room for hope," he said.
The AFN and the federal government created a national panel on education, which recently recommended an urgent overhaul of the way First Nations schooling is funded and organized.
The budget committed the government to passing legislation and setting up a new education system by September 2014. The funding is meant to help some of the most troubled reserves prepare to join that system.
Atleo said the budget money is only a first step, and he is anxious to clarify what the next steps are.
"There's a sense here that we have momentum to build on."
But many regional organizations and First Nations leaders are pushing for far more. They point to a recent unanimous resolution in the House of Commons which supported the idea of bringing First Nations schools up to par with their provincial counterparts.
"It's only good news for anyone who believes children should be getting less because of their race," said First Nations child advocate Cindy Blackstock.
Her research shows First Nations students each receive between $2,000 and $3,000 less than other children in education funding every year and the budget's $275 million — to be spent on building, renovating, early literacy and other supports — barely makes a dent.
"When does it end? I think that's the question we all need to ask the prime minister. When is it over?"
Category: NEWS
Created on Monday, 02 April 2012 12:16
Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
Published Date
Heather Scoffield,
TTAWA - Ottawa should expect stiff resistance to its plan to allow private property ownership on First Nations reserves, says National Chief Shawn Atleo.
"First Nations, by and large, do not support private property," the leader of the Assembly of First Nations said in an interview Friday.
This week's budget included a formal announcement that Ottawa will explore legislation to introduce private-property provisions for First Nations who are open to the idea.
Many Conservatives feel private property rights would give impoverished reserves a better chance at developing prosperous businesses.
They've been encouraged by Manny Jules, who heads the federal First Nations Commission, and a small group of about 10 First Nations which support him. The idea was also promoted in a recent Commons finance committee report.
With federal legislation, "First Nations will assume responsibility and authority over their lands just as any other government," Jules said at a recent committee hearing. "The end result will be the lower cost of doing business, improved reporting requirements and less bureaucracy."
But Atleo said that before the government moves to legislation, it should let an ongoing economic development task force examine all possibilities.
While most First Nations adamantly oppose private ownership, they have other creative solutions for land use and development that would respect and preserve treaty rights, but are not based on "externally imposed notions," he added.
First Nations chiefs have passed several resolutions against private property ownership, arguing that such legislation would threaten First Nations control of the land. They say privatization could lead to the sale of land out of First Nations hands, violating a sacred responsibility to future generations.
Still, Atleo offered a cautious endorsement of the budget's measures for First Nations overall.
The document contained $275 million in funding for education, as well as renewal of a $331-million two-year fund for clean water.
"It isn't all that was hoped for, but I feel it provides room for hope," he said.
The AFN and the federal government created a national panel on education, which recently recommended an urgent overhaul of the way First Nations schooling is funded and organized.
The budget committed the government to passing legislation and setting up a new education system by September 2014. The funding is meant to help some of the most troubled reserves prepare to join that system.
Atleo said the budget money is only a first step, and he is anxious to clarify what the next steps are.
"There's a sense here that we have momentum to build on."
But many regional organizations and First Nations leaders are pushing for far more. They point to a recent unanimous resolution in the House of Commons which supported the idea of bringing First Nations schools up to par with their provincial counterparts.
"It's only good news for anyone who believes children should be getting less because of their race," said First Nations child advocate Cindy Blackstock.
Her research shows First Nations students each receive between $2,000 and $3,000 less than other children in education funding every year and the budget's $275 million — to be spent on building, renovating, early literacy and other supports — barely makes a dent.
"When does it end? I think that's the question we all need to ask the prime minister. When is it over?"
