CHIEFS’ FORUM ON TREATY IMPLEMENTATION Treaty and Inherent Rights
Jul 14, 2015
We are gathered here to start a process on
directing our energies as First Nation
leaders, Elders, women, youth to understanding and implementing the
Treaty to secure a good future for our children
and our children’s children as it was
intended.
A.J. Felix
OBJECTIVES Review history of Treaty and Treaty
relationship Clarify roles and responsibilities in
Treaty implementation FSIN, Tribal Councils, Commissions,
First Nations, Treaty Areas, AFN, Treaties 1-11, Office of the Treaty Commissioner
Review relationship with the Crown – in right of Canada and Saskatchewan
Discuss how the inherent right to self-determination impacts Treaty implementation
Begin a strategic plan for Treaty implementation
Dan Bellegarde
TREATY TRUMPS POLICY
It is up to First Nations to assess the obstacles to effective, prosperous governance
First Nations must believe that Treaty trumps policy
Political existence
Indian ActOrganize
Vision
Nations
Crown
Destiny
Economy
Free Vice Chief Morley Watson
THE SPIRIT & INTENT
Our teacher, our Elder that led the pipe ceremony
His father spoke to me
Many of our young people don’t know that history
Spiritual part
Oral part
Inheritance
From the land
Okemow Wallace Fox
THE SPIRIT & INTENT
In talking about the spirit of the Treaty, mosom Jim Canepotato saidAs Chiefs you’re only fighting half the battle. When you start talking Treaty, you are going to be surrounded by people that will have the education and the cunning of the white man who have the knowledge on paper. Be mindful to learn the spirit of Treaty and hang on to it.
These are the teachings of that inherent right of the people. The inheritance of this land. I’ve had to go back to learn the creation story of what happened and why we are keepers of the land
SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION
Grandfather sun
The spirit in the water
The spirit in the grass
First Nations must understand, respect and uphold the spiritual underpinnings of Treaty
The Spirit of the Treaty is Alive
SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION
• I was raised by my grandmother –nōhkom and educated the nēhiyaw way.
The government did not give those to us.They were given from the Creator.
Senator Matilda Lewis
• We talked about the Creator, the sun, the moon, the pipe, the pipe stem, the sweetgrass.
SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION
• When we talk about our Treaty rights, we talk about the way we are going to live to respect life, our way of life on the land, and how we treat our fellow man.
Nobody can take your Treaty away from you
SOVEREIGNTY & SELF-DETERMINATION
The Creator gave us this land
Treaty respects our sovereignty
Self-determination means the right to determine political status
We are sovereign under the Creator
Jim Sinclair
Sharon Venne
The Numbered Treaties between First Nations and the British Crown were recognized by the United Nations in 1989
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
The United Nations does not study domestic issues under international law
The United Nations does not study domestic issues under international law
Our treaties are international agreements
The Numbered Treaties between First Nations and the British Crown were recognized by the United Nations in 1989
Our treaties are international agreements
Inherent rights include:
• lands and resources
• self-determination, which includes governance
• education, social development, health
• water and air
TREATY & INHERENT RIGHTS
We are born with them & inherit from generation to generation:
Inherent rights granted by the Creator
∆traditions
∆culture∆practices
∆spiritual beliefs∆customs ∆language
Senator Sol Sanderson
TREATY & INHERENT RIGHTS Some inherent rights are reserved by Treaty-making;
some are recognized by Treaty-making
We can identify which ones were confirmed by Treaty-making in the form of Treaty rights and benefits
LANDS & RESOURCES
The core principle of Treaty implementation is lands and resources
These are collective rights
The NRTA is a Treaty violation
Land and minerals were not given up
Sharing land
Reclaim lands and resources and underlying title
SELF-GOVERNANCE
Govern ourselves according to our traditions and laws
Assert Treaty and inherent rights and powers
Establish legal and political institutions of government; include international relations
Create, plan, and implement our laws
SELF-GOVERNANCE
First Nations governments, as the Treaty parties, delegate responsibility – not power – to regional and national organizations
First Nations organizations should always grow more powerful and stronger from experience and knowledge
TREATY IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
You have to know your enemy
Chief Darrel McCallum
Chief Delbert Wapass
Understand federal initiatives, strategies, actions
Know your opportunities
We have to know our culture, beliefs, and identity
Support our Elders
TREATY IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
Know Elders’ teachings of the spirit & intent
We have been told that treaty implementation is an illusion
Treaty territory is Traditional territory
We need to have our laws in place & occupy the field
Chief Ian McKay Chief Perry Bellegarde
We want this generation to tell different stories than the ones we have been telling
for the past seven generations.
THE PEOPLE
Stories of pride and resilience, stories in our languages about our cultures and ways of life, stories of self-government
and prosperity.