The recent installation of a new parliament has created newfound hope among Indigenous leaders. They are particularly optimistic due to the fact that there are 12 Indigenous Members of Parliament (MPs) from across all four major political parties. This representation is vital to ensuring that the government’s decisions are in the interests of Indigenous communities all across Canada. It doesn’t just react to the voices and needs of these communities.
Woodhouse Nepinak, a key Indigenous environmental and civil rights leader, underscored the importance of Indigenous MPs in Canada’s parliament. Their presence, he made clear, is essential. Thirdly, it improves the chances that government will actually respond to the needs and aspirations of Indigenous populations. Nepinak noted, “And it shows that First Nations do care, and that they’re engaging (with government) more than ever before.”
Indigenous organizations have released a distinct set of priorities that they expect the incoming government to prioritize. These include improving infrastructure, reforming child welfare systems, providing access to clean drinking water, and investing in natural resource projects. Additionally, there is a strong call for enhanced mental health care services and skills training programs to empower Indigenous communities.
Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, is keenly awaiting legislative options to complete the proposed Inuit Nunangat University, which has a target opening date set for 2030. He went on to stress how crucial initiatives like these educational programs are to advancing language retention and revitalization for Inuit communities.
No wonder Carney’s party platform has created quite a buzz. It commits to tripling the amount of land added to reserves in four years. This commitment has the potential to make real progress on long-standing issues of land tenure insecurity. It uplifts the traditional territories of First Nations peoples. Nepinak, meanwhile, stressed the persistent issues connected to “council territory.” He argued that deep, meaningful dialogue between the federal government and First Nations is an absolute must before proceeding with any self-government agreements.
The Métis Seed Fund projects aim to boost the Métis economy, improve education opportunities and make sure Métis people are front and center in climate leadership conversations. Victoria Pruden, a representative from the council, stated, “Our priorities are focused on building a future where no Métis citizen is left behind.” Her sentiments echoed the precipitous call to action by Rep. “Too many Métis families are still grappling with the economic fallout from COVID-19, climate emergencies and the increasing cost of living,” she said. “What we don’t need is false progress — we need courageous, justice-oriented action that acknowledges our truths, our rights and our possibility.”
Carney’s platform demonstrates a clear seriousness to redouble efforts towards strengthening reconciliation processes and outcomes. It highlights the important contribution that Indigenous Peoples make to the Canadian economy. The leaders of national Indigenous organizations believe that Carney will prioritize Indigenous issues with an increasing focus on economic development. Obed reflected on the progress made over the last decade, but warned against rolling back those gains. “We’ve come a long way, but we can’t afford to have an interruption or a complete departure from some of the incremental gains that we’ve made over the last 10 years when we’re still so far away from equity, from outcomes, from other Canadian populations,” he stated.
Even with that very promising outlook with Carney at the helm, there are still hurdles. Challenges that the Trudeau-led government encountered in its past self-government agreement efforts. Court orders and disputes between First Nations communities and Métis groups stalled movement. This impersonal context further highlights the importance of partnership between all sectors going forward.
Obed’s advocacy for transforming the subsidy for Nutrition North into a more transparent and accountable program highlights another area requiring urgent attention from policymakers. Transparency and accountability is an important first step to guarantee that these programs truly serve the end-users’ needs, especially in the case of Indigenous communities.
