By ROSALYN SOLOMON
Toronto Sun
July 27, 2007
It doesn't involve gun crime in downtown
Although a recent survey by Angus Reid shows 71% of Canadians want the government to speed up the native land claims process, Brian Wright-McLeod, cultural liaison officer for the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, said there doesn't seem to be any political will to get it done.
"It's all through legislation. Rather than the gun, it's a quiet issue and people don't recognize it," Wright-McLeod said.
POVERTY
The survey, which polled 1,040 people online, also found that 64% think the government should do more to deal with poverty in aboriginal communities.
Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said he feels "encouraged" to see high numbers in support for First Nations rights. He added the recent National Day of Action was about educating and reaching out to Canadians, and he wants to see more of their message spread.
"We've known that Canadians were more aware of First Nations poverty and the reasons behind the conditions, and they won't accept it," Fontaine said. "Canadians in effect are saying this is a problem, let's fix it and the country has the ability to do something about this."
The poll also showed Canadians are split on
REJECTED
The survey found 29% were in favour, 29% opposed and 42% were unsure how to answer. Officials rejected the declaration, finding it conflicts with the Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"What the 42% means to me is the lack of association through the government and education system," Wright-McLeod said. "Native issues, culture, history is not taught in school. The less information people have on a subject, the less they have to say about it."
Amnesty International also polled people on this topic last year, but asked the question differently. Their survey found 72% of Canadians agreed