Canada's Indian Affairs Minister declared yesterday that fatal native standoffs like those at Oka and Ipperwash will be a thing of the past if the government successfully implements its newly independent claims commission.
"I think if we get this right, the kind of instability that we've seen at places like Oka and Caledonia will be something that are a thing of the past," Jim Prentice told CTV's Question Period. "We have an independent body, adequate resources that Canadians can [use to] bring these issues to a close."
Mr. Prentice made the comments just days before this Friday's national day of action, when native bands plan protests across the country.
The minister recently unveiled a plan to establish a tribunal with binding authority to adjudicate specific land claims and to issue compensation. If passed, the proposal would provide $150-million annually for 10 years to investigate claims and compensate bands with legitimate claims.
The minister has been criticized by opponents who say he has been buying peace with the new agency and through agreements with militant bands.
Recently, Mr. Prentice added 30 hectares of new reserve land to a Manitoba band that had been threatening rail blockades on Friday. The Roseau River First Nation, led by Chief Terry Nelson, decided last week to call off the blockade.
The minister said yesterday that the band was entitled to the grant and that he began negotiations with the band 15 months ago.
"Let's be clear, the Roseau River First Nation, for 135 years, has been trying to get this thing resolved and they are legally entitled to have this land converted to reserve status," he said. "How long do people think these folks should have to wait?"
This month, the government offered $125-million to end the volatile standoff in Caledonia. A specific claim issue was also behind the dispute at Ipperwash Provincial Park, where Dudley George was killed by Ontario Provincial Police.