WINNIPEG — Less than a week away from celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday, a group of Manitoba First Nation Chiefs are considering options to protest, in order to voice concerns over Treaty Land Entitlement.
Chiefs from across Manitoba came together for a Treaty Land Entitlement Committee meeting Monday, voicing their concerns over what they call the government’s broken promise to hand over more than a million acres of land to First Nations.
“We’re not benefiting, so what’s the use of celebrating?” Chief of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, Nelson Genaille said.
In 1997, a Treaty Land Entitlement was signed to hand 1.1 million acres of land to First Nations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
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Since then, Genaille said only half of that land has been addressed. He said until the government starts moving on the remaining 500,000 acres, he and other chiefs will refuse to celebrate Canada 150.
“If we were given the opportunity for economic development we could celebrate, we want to celebrate,” he said.
Monday was part of the committee’s annual meeting to address treaty land concerns. Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Carolyn Bennett was invited to the meetings, but didn’t show up during her visit to the province.
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“She’s a no show. If she’s not able to get the job done, remove yourself. That’s what I’m asking her,” Genaille said.
Bennett was in Winnipeg Monday, and said she isn’t in the province long enough to visit the committee. She said she understands why First Nations would not celebrate on Canada Day. She said the Trudeau government is taking the Treaty Land Entitlement seriously, and working to fulfill its promise as quickly as possible.
“We too think it’s been way too slow, and we’re working very hard with those groups to get on and honour the agreement that was made,” Bennett said.
In the next five days, some Manitoba Chiefs are considering protests in their communities.
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Chief Genaille said his committee is asking him to protest on Highway 10 near Sapotaweyak First Nation, to stop traffic, and draw attention to concerns.
“It seems like this is the only way Canada is going to listen, the only way Manitoba’s going to listen.”
Other Fist Nations, like Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Pukatawagan are also considering protesting.
“We’re merely survivors of 150 years of onslaught. That needs to be addressed,” Chief of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, Arlen Dumas said.
There are no concrete plans for protests in Winnipeg, but the committee said it is something they will be considering this week.