Bill C-92 An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families has been heralded as a “historic turning point”, an “important first step”, a “major milestone” and other similarly over-used and under-impressive political phrases to describe yet another top-down initiative from the federal government. While the Assembly of First Nations National Chief…
(Originally published in Lawyer’s Daily on April 17, 2017) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau swept the Liberals into power on Oct.19, 2015, with the support of Indigenous peoples who voted in record numbers. Trudeau’s election platform consisted of core promises made to the Chiefs in Assembly on July 7, 2015, which would include the review and…
Continue reading…about Nation to Nation Relations Need Repeal of Paternalistic Laws
*(My apologies for the length of this blog – it’s too critical of an issue to cover lightly) Since the federal government first assumed control over First Nation education, First Nations have suffered poor educational outcomes. During the residential school era, federal control over First Nation education meant a very real chance of starvation, torture,…
Continue reading…about Defer, Deflect, Deny, Destroy: Harper’s First Nation Education Act
Ok, so it’s been four months since the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) election for National Chief and the honeymoon period is officially over. I simply can’t stay silent any longer about where we are and where we are headed as First Nations. If we don’t take action now, even if that means speaking out and risking…
Continue reading…about Eyes Wide Shut: Chasing Section 35 and Ignoring the War