Agreement called ‘historic’ By Jim Knisley, The Sachem
News Dec 18, 2009

Six Nations elected council and the province of Ontario signed what Chief Bill Montour and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid called "an historic agreement" Monday. The agreement calls on the province and Six Nations elected council to meet on a regular basis and identify and deal with areas of mutual concern. The agreement, which was signed at the Six Nations Administration Building in Oshweken, says that the meetings will not be negotiating sessions, "but are intended to identify and address matters of mutual concern."

The matters may include: children and youth, education, social services, lands, resources and the environment, health, communications, economic development, community safety and government to government relations.

Chief Montour said the number of issues the elected council has to deal with where Ontario has an integral role requires regular meetings. In addition to the political meetings there need to be meetings of officials. Government and Six Nations officials will form a working group within 30 days to determine a range of priorities to be discussed at the first meeting of political leaders.

The Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs commits to involve other provincial ministries, agencies or municipalities as appropriate. Montour and Duguid said they have a friendly relationship. Montour said this means they start as friends, can then disagree, but after the disagreement go back to being friends. "The chief has my cellphone number, he can call me and does," Duguid said. "Today what we're saying is that even though we have a good close personal bond it is important that our governments are officially bound together as well."

"What we are doing today will ensure that the Government of Ontario and the Six Nations Council is in a relationship that we will get together at least four times a year and more if required and we will talk about issues that are important to your community and your residents," Duguid said.

The minister said the agreement "is not just symbolic, though the symbolism is important and shouldn't be missed by anybody." It is a very practical way to move forward and gives a direction. Meanwhile, no one is pleased with the progress being made at the federal bargaining table over land claim issues. Duguid said he hopes progress will be made because the talks are vitally important. But just because the talks aren't progressing doesn't mean other avenues can't be followed.

"We want to ensure the next generation has access to hope and the economic opportunities they desire," the minister said.

Six years ago it didn't look like anything like the agreement could happen. It was a "low point," he said. "Now we're at a high point." The relationship is strong and the province and the Six Nations can move forward working together.

Duguid said Ontario used to be one of the weakest provinces when it came to aboriginal issues at the national level, but now it is seen as a leader and it intends to act like a leader.

However federal responsibilities remain and are vital, he said. To emphasize that point he said Ontario is pushing for a meeting of first ministers that would focus on aboriginal issues. "We think that is critical."

Working together the Six Nations and Ontario can demonstrate how progress can be made and "hold federal feet to the fire."

Chief Montour said he and other First Nation leaders were told in a meeting with the federal deputy minister of Indian Affairs last week that for the next five years budgets will be tight and it will be hard to hold onto the money that is now there.

Last year, the Six Nations council had a $70 million budget. Forty four per cent of that was raised within Six Nations, the province contributed 36 per cent and the federal government 20 per cent.

"Isn't this the tale wagging the dog?" he asked.

Meanwhile, it was very disconcerting to hear that First Nations can't depend on Indian Affairs anymore, Montour said. He added that of the $10.3 billion allocated by the federal government for the benefit of Indians there has been no accounting presented to First Nations leaders and "I've yet to see how that money has been spent."

"We've got to get more to the bottom of Canada's relationship with First Nations."

Faced with a growing population the Six Nations faces a number of challenges and must find new ways of resourcing this community. "We have to look at a new economic future," said Montour.