Event: Assembly of First Nations, Special Chiefs Assembly
Date: December 3-5, 2019
Prepared by: Michelle Bomberry
Delegation: Chief Mark Hill, Councillor Helen Miller & Councillor M. Bomberry
Summary of Assembly
Attended Iroquois Caucus to hear updates. Chief Archibald shared the work she was undertaking in northern Ontario, spoke about honouring promises and our people need to make decisions on our resources for positive change. She attended an event with Doug Ford and provincial MP’s, her message was we must work together, all First Nations must be communicated with and be at the table when it effects any First Nation.
Batchewana Chief Dean Sayers discuss the restructure of the AFN charter. There were minor revisions brought forward to the caucus such as the Oath, Policy and Procedures and Charter renewal, however more discussions were warranted.
Nipissing Chief McLeod spoke to the National Fisheries Committee and the work being done on a nation to nation relationship and the federal government needs to stop dictating what can happen.
This being the first time I have been to the SCA, it was good to network and hear from a few Chiefs regarding their community and development or issues they are experiencing.
SCA
Honorable John Horgan, the province of British Columbia indicated BC is the only province to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which the Truth and Reconciliation Commission confirms as the framework for reconciliation. The provincial government is committed to ensuring the wellbeing of indigenous peoples are priority and invested 500 million into on-reserve Indigenous housing over the next ten year, and the province has committed 50 million to indigenous languages.
Minister Miller opened in Kanien’ keha (Mohawk). Very compelling speech on acknowledging the wrongdoings to indigenous peoples and his investment to supporting indigenous communities across the country. Discussed child welfare and discussed how compensation must be fair, just and equitable. Miller spoke and suggested his department will work with First Nations communities on solutions they propose to right the decades of wrongs.
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Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs’ Assembly, Ottawa, Ontario December 3, 4, 5 2019
Prepared by: Councillor Helen Miller
In Attendance: Elected Chief Mark Hill, Councillors Helen Miller and Michelle Bomberry
Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Service Canada, told the assembly his ministry will work with FN leadership on a national suicide prevention strategy. Although short on details he said the government would work with FN on solutions. Minister Miller also said the strategy would take into account that different communities need different measures. Minister Miller also spoke about the federal government’s appeal of the FN child welfare ruling where the Human Rights Tribunal has ordered government to compensate $40,000 to each child who was inappropriately taken from his or her parents after 2006 as well as parents and grandparents. Miller claims the government argument is that the ruling erred in law and that the government wants to negotiate a better more comprehensive settlement for the victims.
Other ministers who spoke: Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the NDP, Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, David Lametti, Department of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Numerous issues were raised with each minister ranging from water, flooding, housing, infrastructure needs, homelessness,
Councillor Report - Michelle Bomberry continued from page 2
Jameet Singh spoke to the fact we are all connected, and our visions are shared. He asserted the injustices indigenous peoples have experienced and that the minority government must make it right. Singh spoke about his campaign and how to often government gives power to the elite and everyone else suffers. As part of his campaign he attended Grassy Narrows and illustrated the neglect and poison this First Nation experienced. He wants to be champion and ally with First Nations. Touched on the Human Rights Tribunal which described the neglects and the fact the government is still taking indigenous children to court. They continue to fight for a just and fair decision in the new legislature, fighting for basic human rights likewise the fight for water and suicide crisis.
Wednesday evening showcased Audrey’s Story. Audrey Anderson was killed in Sioux Lookout in 1971 and they family continues to wonder the circumstances of her death. The family accessed services of the Ontario Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU), and the death has been reclassified to “undetermined” by the Chief Coroner. Supporters of the film were: Ontario Native Women’s Association, Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres and Kim Murray, Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Aboriginal Justice attended the event.
Family Information Liaison Units are a new service for families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The Units help families access available information about their missing and murdered loved ones from multiple government sources. The Units are available in every province and territory and build on the existing victim services frameworks in each region.
Resolutions impacting Six Nations of the Grand River are covered by Councillor Miller.
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Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs’ Assembly, Ottawa, Ontario December 3, 4, 5 2019
Prepared by Councillor Helen Miller
Continued from page 3
pay equity, language funding, water treatment plants, suicides, opioids, overrepresentation in jails, overrepresentation of children in care, crossing border with cultural equipment, fishing rights, Jordon’s principle, the feds co-development process and so on. One chief said …it’s hard to accept the mode of reconciliation the government of Canada promotes.” He said “reconciliation is not reaching our communities.”
AFN Women’s’ Council, AFN Youth Council, AFN Elders’ Council, FN Veterans Association, all presented reports on their activities. The AFN Youth Council held a small reception at the end of day to honor and celebrate their 20 year anniversary.
Geoff Green did a presentation on a program called “Students of Ice.” I think this would be an excellent program for our youth and will ask Mr. Green to present this program to Six Nations.
Some of the Resolutions Passed (that could or may impact Six Nations):
#3 First Nations Healing Approaches to the Opioid Crisis: Request Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada to provide funds to address the opioid crisis.
#6 Funding for FNs-Specific Programs, Services and Supports for Adults with Disabilities: Recognize and affirm the rights of FN adults with disabilities to access programs, services and supports, with equitable funding, and that all relevant government ministries and departments work with FNs to develop a FN specific policy and funding framework that guarantees the right of all FNs to access programs, services and funding regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation socio economic status and/or residency.
#8 Support for FN Tax Immunity: Rejects any tax that breaches FN tax immunity, support the negotiations between the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and the federal government to secure exemptions for FN individuals and bands in all forms of carbon tax charge on reserve and for the AFN to provide a venue for COO to report on the outcomes and recommendations at the COO assembly in February 2020.
#7 Treaty Based Funding Agreement- A FNs Sovereign Approach to Family Law and Child Welfare: The chiefs in assembly never agreed to a Pan-Indigenous approach to child welfare legislation but supported a process based on inherent rights, treaties, self-determination and international human rights standards. Instead the federal government has imposed a process of “co-developing,” Pan-Indigenous policy and legislation that will negatively impact the treaty and inherent rights of FNs. There was no standards or set of principles for co-developing legislation and policy with Canada; the department of Justice has been solely responsible for drafting the legislation, the Senate and House committee process has proven to be a failed mechanism for ensuring FNs treaty and inherent rights are respected, FNs priorities are consistently left out of the final versions of legislation and policy and Canada is not required to consult with FNs before any bill receives royal assent.
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Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs’ Assembly, Ottawa, Ontario December 3, 4, 5 2019
Prepared by Councillor Helen Miller
Continued from page 4
#9 That Chief Paul-Emile Ottawa is Respectfully Requested to Withdraw His Le-gal Challenge to the McLean Federal Indian Day Schools Settlement: (This is the class action settlement that will provide compensation to over 120,000 former stu-dents of federal day schools as well as much needed funding for healing, wellness, and language and culture programs. The settlement was approved by the federal court in August 2019. The compensation process was scheduled to open on Decem-ber 19, 2019. The federal government has said the settlement will be hold until Chief Ottawa’s appeal is dealt with. Garry McLean’s sister gave a very impassioned speech to the assembly. McLean has since passed away.
Happy Retirement! Clynt, Gary & Dayle
Retirement presentations were held recognizing the contributions of Clynt King (Left) - Environmental Technician, Gary Phillips (Right) - Chief Financial Officer. Chief Mark Hill (Centre) presented the plaques. Also recognized Dayle Bomberry - Senior Administrative Officer unfortunately was unable to attend. Nia:weh & Best wishes to each gentlemen in their respective Retirements!!!
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January 2020 Public Works Update:
Winter is here, give snow plows space and do not plow snow across the road. Do your best to stay off the roads in icy or snowy conditions.
If you are on a shared driveway or if you need a blue flag number or if your blue flag number has been damaged, lost or stolen please contact Laura Beaver at the Technical Services Office at (519) 445-4242 extension 5624.
The Six Nations Landfill Site is now on winter hours which means that it will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the gates closing at 4:15
p.m. Please help protect mother earth and remember the 6 R’s – Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Repair and Recycle. Large blue bins are available, 2 per household free of charge at the Six Nations Public Works Office. Our next Household Hazardous Waste event is scheduled for June 6th at the Six Nations Landfill Site. Please plan to bring any stored household hazardous waste to this event for safe removal from the Territory for environmentally responsible disposal. For more information on how to safely store household hazardous waste in the meantime and other household hazardous waste disposal options please visit www.sixnations.ca.
Construction has started for the Credit Watermain Expansion Project. If you live on the boundary road with Credit your home can now connect to the watermain, please contact the Six Nations Public Works Department at (519) 445-4242 for more details.
The Landfill Site Closure and Transfer Station Project has experienced delays and we will notify the community well in advance of switching from using the Landfill to the Transfer Station. There will be a new scale installed soon which will result in vehicle queuing to access the Landfill Site. Our waste will be transferred to the Walker Industries Landfill Site in Thorold once the Transfer Station is operational. We still need to bring more clay in from Brooks Landfill in Cayuga so that we can properly cap and close the Landfill Site. All clay brought in as part of this project will be sampled and analyzed every 5,000 cubic meters or 10 truckloads. The results of these samples is available to the community to view through a web link which is available on www.sixnations.ca.
The Phase 1 Watermain Extensions are nearly complete. The section of new watermain on 4th Line between Cayuga Road and Hwy 6 will be commissioned within the next few weeks.
