“First Nations community members want assurance that public funds are being used to improve their communities and to create the economic opportunities that will lead to a better quality of life,” Duncan wrote. “We believe they have a right to access this information and while there are examples of band leadership voluntarily disclosing it, they are under no legal obligation to do so.”
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief wrote a response to Duncan’s letter in the National Post.
“I strongly disagree with Mr. Duncan’s assertion that the First Nations Financial Transparency Act is being formulated to be ‘an empowering tool not just for First Nations, but for business looking to partner with them,’” Delisle wrote. “In fact, this is not the intent of the legislation at all. I would tend to believe most Native people are insulted by this smokescreen and would rather have Mr. Duncan be more straightforward and forthcoming. It is clear to me that his message is meant to appease his more familiar right-wing constituents rather than the Canadian population in general and/or Native people.”
Duncan said Canadians demand enforceable disclosure from their Members of Parliament.
“First Nation communities expect their leadership to be held to a similar standard,” Duncan said.
Last week, Duncan was joined by some First Nations representatives along with members of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in Ottawa to discuss Bill C-27.
“They are joining me because they recognize that this legislation is an important, empowering tool not just for First Nations, but also for businesses looking to partner with them,” Duncan wrote. “This legislation will help pave the way to greater private sector investment and economic prosperity for First Nations. Ultimately, this will contribute to reach an objective we all share with First Nations; healthier, more self-sufficient and prosperous First Nation communities.”
Delisle doesn’t agree with Duncan.
“First, it is easy to blame Native people for mismanagement when, in reality, there are issues of consistency in assuring Native communities are acting responsibly,” Delisle wrote. “Our community, Kahnawake, is held to a high standard and is accountable for every penny – and we will continue to act in the transparent manner that is rightly demanded. Chiefs’ salaries and annual budgets are always available to community members who wish to see them. In fact, any Canadian can visit our web site (www.kahnawake.com) and see this transparency for themselves.
“It seems to me that it is Canada itself that has been negligent in its due diligence with those communities where abuses have taken place,” Delisle continued. “My guess is that, in many cases, AANDC officials have been shocked – shocked! – to discover improprieties going on, despite the obvious fact that a culture of turning a blind eye has, in many cases, been cultivated over a substantial period of time. Where is the call to demand answers from those officials who allowed this gross inconsistency to fester?”
Duncan said that Bill C-27 will complement the steps the Conservative government has taken to “further empower First Nations communities by giving them the tools that they need to foster more democratic and transparent government.”
“Today, the NDP and the Liberals have an opportunity to unanimously support this bill,” Duncan said. “Regrettably they have, to this point, opposed our efforts to support economic growth, investment in job creation through more accountable government,” Duncan continued. “We call on them to do the right thing and help ensure its swift passage, so that all First Nations can enjoy the same level of accountability that Canadians have come to expect of their government.”
Delisle says that transparency isn’t the reason for the lack of opportunity in First Nations communities.
“While I applaud the efforts to improve transparency and will continue to advocate in that regard, I think Mr. Duncan is using ‘smoke and mirrors’ to delude Canadians into thinking that this legislation will create business partnership opportunities,” Delisle said. “The real culprit for lack of opportunity is and always has been the Indian Act itself, which make it almost impossible to do so. That is why the vast majority of partnerships over the past 135 years have been on the ‘We’ll pay you a few dollars to use some of your resources’ variety.
“Until the Indian Act issue is properly addressed, with face-to-face dialogue by a government that is wise enough to realize that there can never be blanket legislation that addresses the needs of dozens of unique Native nations, these band-aid solutions will continue to hide far more serious infections that threaten to burst through at any time,” Delisle said. “It’s time for Canada to take responsibility for it’s policies and stop blaming First Nations people for a predicament that was thrust upon them by the Indian Act. Yes, abuses need to be addressed and corrected as soon as possible. But the culture of stigmatizing First Nations must stop. Every culture and society has those who will take advantage of loopholes and abuse their positions.”
The Indian Act was created as a way to assimilate Native people.
“Canadians themselves must continue to be reminded that the Indian Act was clearly and overtly designed to assimilate the Indigenous population,” Delisle said. “The ‘founding fathers’ must be disappointed that, in 2012, their goal has yet to be realized. I don’t even believe this legislation needs to exist. The means is already there to demand accountability. Instead, this government chooses to use excessive means as a way of exerting its power to quash the ‘troublesome Indian.’”
Original Article
Source: kahnawakenews.com
Author: Greg Horn
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