By JOSEPH QUESNEL
Winnipeg Sun
October 20 2007
In the past, First Nations were frequently an afterthought in these documents, with readjustments of money here and there in different programs.
This throne speech was different. It includes measures that First Nations actually value and will make a difference in real lives. It does not seem to be about political grandstanding.
One very important aspect is the promise to issue an apology to survivors of the residential schools experience.
"The Prime Minister, on behalf of our government, will use this occasion to make a statement of apology to close this sad chapter in our history," it reads.
Now that the Indian Residential Schools Settlement has been finalized, this is what aboriginal people have been seeking.
They simply want assurances their cultures, languages and traditions will never again be attacked in this manner.
If there is any room for improvement in this area, it would be that more needs to be done to deal with the inter-generational effects of the experience.
The other major advance is the promise to reintroduce legislation reforming the specific land claims policy through an independent tribunal. By far, this is one of the most significant irritants to First Nations seeking to secure their land base.
On the economic front, the speech included a pledge to build increased partnerships with aboriginals on large natural resource projects. The government announced it is creating a single window for major project approvals and it pledged to work with First Nations on getting the skills and training they need to meet these opportunities.
Ottawa has already been promoting job training for urban aboriginal youth and this will allow indigenous youth to tap into the burgeoning resource boom.
These jobs are much more valuable than any Kelowna Accord, with its absence of accountability measures.
By far, the most significant advancement the throne speech brings is the intention to bring back legislation ending the exemption of on-reserve aboriginals from human rights legislation. Currently, indigenous people under the Indian Act are not covered by the Canadian Human Rights Act.
During last session, the opposition parties, with the blessing of some aboriginal organizations, allowed this bill to die when Parliament prorogued.
To show he's serious about rights for aboriginals, Prime Minister Stephen Harper should make this specific initiative a matter of confidence in the House, just like his crime bill. This legislation is important enough to defeat the government if the opposition parties dither again.
So much remains to be done on the aboriginal file. Harper, if he wins a majority, has the potential to become a transformational leader for First Nations as Pierre Trudeau was with the Charter.
Aboriginal disgust with the Indian Act is at an all-time high and a majority government could finally do away with it. Then the government can work with First Nations to build their own communities based on accountability and transparency.
One only wishes.