Natives reaching the breaking point: Fontaine

Assembly of First Nations national chief says decades of talks have not ended with any achievements

BILL CURRY
Globe and Mail Update
May 15, 2007 at 2:35 PM EDT

OTTAWA — Aboriginals in Canada have reached the breaking point after decades of peaceful talks that have not achieved any improvements to the devastating poverty on native reserves, Assembly of First Nations national chief Phil Fontaine warned a blue chip audience today in Ottawa.

While not explicitly condoning calls for rail blockades and civil disobedience advocated by others, the national chief urged a Canadian Club to understand the anger and frustration among aboriginals who have not seen results from years of federal talks and Royal Commissions.

"Living without hope is perhaps the worst aspect of life for so many of Canada's First Nations," Mr. Fontaine told a luncheon gathering at Ottawa's Chateau Laurier hotel. "That lack of hope plays out in many ways. Desperation breeds abuse, suicide, crime and civil disobedience."

The speech comes as another native leader, Chief Terrence Nelson of Roseau River First Nation south of Winnipeg, is threatening a lengthy rail blockade on CN lines unless Ottawa launches a serious effort to resolve land claims by June 29.

Mr. Fontaine said he does not believe in ultimatums, but suggested he is in a difficult position to tell other natives not take such actions when his preferred route of peaceful negotiation has not produced results.

"As you can see, we are starting to question the so-called rational process because it does not work," Mr. Fontaine stated

Chief Terry Nelson of Roseau River First Nation said Monday his blockade plans are inspired by the argument that the rail company's access to traditional native land is based on a treaty that has not been honoured by Canada.

"If [the rail companies] take a confrontational attitude and start throwing lawsuits around, clearly this could escalate and it will very likely end up in a month-long blockade," said Mr. Nelson, whose community is about 15 minutes from the U.S. border and 90 kilometres south of Winnipeg.

"If the chiefs cannot deliver any hope for the first nation people, the people themselves will take action," Mr. Nelson said. "It is going to get out of control, very clearly."

Last month, the key CN line between Montreal and Toronto was shut down for about 30 hours by native protesters near Deseronto, Ont.

That blockade ultimately triggered a lawsuit from CN and the arrest of one of the leaders.

BREAKING NEWS ALERT

Play Video

WHEN JUSTICE FAILS......

While some will insist this video encourages violence, the only thing it does encourage is the stopping of the trains which amounts to the same economic sanctions and actions against many countries, something both the US and Canada have done time and again.

While many of the usual racist comments are made; both the Canadian and US Government have to come to terms with the truth and the truth is native nations have waited far too long for them to honor treaties they have signed, are tired of having their lands stolen from them and it's time both countries realize that the native nations and people who have been here long before the first immigrant crossed the big pond - are and will continue to unite to right the terrible wrongs that have existed for hundreds of years.

While I do not advocate violence and do not want to see it happen, all it will take to balance the scales of justice is to honor the Treaties made with the First Nations, leave Mohawk land alone and respect their right to live on that land in peace.

MORE INFORMATION

Prepare for summer of protests, chief warns

Manitoba band threatens rail blockade as Fontaine urges Ottawa to spend more

BILL CURRY
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
May 15, 2007 at 1:00 AM EDT

OTTAWA - A renegade native leader in Manitoba is threatening widespread economic disruption, with a warning to CN Rail that he will attempt to blockade the rail line connecting Eastern and Western Canada next month.

The warning, from Chief Terry Nelson of Roseau River First Nation, comes amid increasing tension over delays in settling land claims and what to do about them.

Phil Fontaine, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who does not support the call for the rail line to be shut down, will use a speech to the Canadian Club in Toronto Tuesday to urge non-aboriginals to join natives in a peaceful day of marching and speeches on June 29 to highlight the unresolved issue of land claims.

The speech, entitled Canada and First Nations at a Crossroads: Confrontation or Negotiation?, borrows the wording from a recent Senate committee report that predicts major trouble unless the federal government significantly increases its budgets.

OPP officers keep an eye on native protesters using an old school bus to block train tracks near Deseronto, Ont., in April. Jonathan Hayward/CP OPP officers keep an eye on native protesters using an old school bus to block train tracks near Deseronto, Ont., in April. (Jonathan Hayward/CP)

Recent * Globe Editorial: Suing over the Blockades

From the archives

Caledonia organizers should be sued PC Leader says

Fed UP Caledonia residents march on Queen's Park

Caledonia residents sasy they are being ignored

The Globe and Mail

Mr. Fontaine also intends to draw attention to recently released Indian Affairs documents which he will argue provide proof from federal public servants that more money is needed to address poverty on reserves.

Mr. Nelson said his blockade plans are inspired by the argument that the rail company's access to traditional native land is based on a treaty that has not been honoured by Canada.

"If the chiefs cannot deliver any hope for the first nation people, the people themselves will take action," Mr. Nelson said. "It is going to get out of control, very clearly."

Last month, the key CN line between Montreal and Toronto was shut down for about 30 hours by native protesters near Deseronto, Ont. That blockade ultimately triggered a lawsuit from CN and the arrest of one of the leaders.

Monday, a spokesperson for CN declined comment on Mr. Nelson's comments, but said CN urges all sides to resolve any outstanding issues.

Mr. Nelson is the only native leader to publicly call for a rail blockade as part of a "national day of action" on June 29, but until now, his comments suggested the blockade would not stretch beyond that one day.

Mr. Nelson predicts corporate pressure on Ottawa to avoid a potentially devastating blockade will ultimately produce more gains than years of "passing out pamphlets" by previous native leaders. He argues that Ottawa has not fulfilled its obligations to aboriginals under Treaty 1, which covers a large area in southern Manitoba.

Natives unhappy with the outcome of the treaty signing argue that Ottawa was not honouring the promises made by officials during the signing. In the treaty, natives allowed non-aboriginals to use the traditional territories outlined by the treaty in exchange for help with education and items such as agricultural tools.

Although it was never specifically stated in the texts, treaty natives argue that they should also benefit from any commercial uses that take place on those lands. That is the main obstacle in ongoing claims that treaties have not been respected.

Ovid Mercredi, a former AFN leader who is now Chief of Misipawistik Cree Nation in Grand Rapids, has warned more militant chiefs in Manitoba that rail blockades this summer could turn the public against aboriginals. "We have to give our people opportunity to discuss their displeasure but it need not be blockades," Mr. Mercredi wrote last month in an open letter to Manitoba chiefs. "It's good to have passion, but it's also good to have a strategy that's based on reason."

Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice has warned native leaders of financial penalties should he learn of federal money being used to plan blockades.

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May 2007 Reports

Last updated on May 15, 2007