Deeds, not words, was the message on Thanksgiving as dozens of Indigenous community groups gathered across the country to call out the Trudeau government for what they say are broken promises.
In May 2016, the federal Liberals announced their commitment and obligation to work with Indigenous communities on a range of issues, including natural resource development, land claim disputes and First Nations’ right to self-determination.
But many of those gathered in Toronto Monday told Global News the government is not committed to those promises.
“We wanted the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into law and they have made it quite clear it’s unworkable,” Tori Cress with Idle No More Ontario said.
Others like Becky BigCanoe, who is with the Water is Life Coalition, said if the government does not protect the land and water, many communities with suffer in the name of profit.
“We can’t trust industry to take care of it if they make a mess or a spill. They seem to walk away from it scot-free and it leaves communities devastated … We need some more from this government in terms of protection for the environment because our health is tied directly to the environment,” BigCanoe said.
Global News reached out to Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development Carolyn Bennett to respond to the groups’ concerns. Her office sent a lengthy statement saying the Canadian government is “deeply committed to renewing the relationship with Indigenous Peoples.”
“Since elected we have launched the much anticipated Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Women and Girls, have become a full supporters, without qualification of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and committed to implement,” the statement read in part.
“We have also made a historic investment of $8.4 billion in Budget 2016 to begin to close gap in outcomes experienced by too many Indigenous Peoples in Canada.”
According to those at the Toronto gathering, they said they will continue to demonstrate and take action with future rallies across the country until the government acts on its words.