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Canadian election: opposition parties urge new ties with aboriginal people Canadian election: opposition parties urge new ties with aboriginal people
(about 17 hours later)
Canada’s opposition parties have called for a new kind of relationship between the country’s aboriginal people and the federal government as First Nations leaders launched a fresh effort to mobilize the indigenous vote in the upcoming federal election.Canada’s opposition parties have called for a new kind of relationship between the country’s aboriginal people and the federal government as First Nations leaders launched a fresh effort to mobilize the indigenous vote in the upcoming federal election.
Related: Unsolved murders of indigenous women reflect Canada's history of silenceRelated: Unsolved murders of indigenous women reflect Canada's history of silence
Speaking at the annual meeting of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) on Tuesday, the leaders of the New Democrat and Liberal parties also promised to call a nationwide inquiry into the high rates of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls if they won the 19 October federal election.Speaking at the annual meeting of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) on Tuesday, the leaders of the New Democrat and Liberal parties also promised to call a nationwide inquiry into the high rates of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls if they won the 19 October federal election.
“I believe it is time for a new era, one that embraces a true nation-to-nation relationship, built on respect, and above all, makes meaningful progress when it comes to bringing about change,” said the New Democrats’ Thomas Mulcair.“I believe it is time for a new era, one that embraces a true nation-to-nation relationship, built on respect, and above all, makes meaningful progress when it comes to bringing about change,” said the New Democrats’ Thomas Mulcair.
Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau spent the day meeting with regional chiefs and First Nations leaders at the annual conference of the AFN – a largely federally funded national advocacy group.Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau spent the day meeting with regional chiefs and First Nations leaders at the annual conference of the AFN – a largely federally funded national advocacy group.
Mulcair and Trudeau also pledged to fund education reforms, ensure that government decisions respect treaty rights, and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, a 2007 document to protect indigenous people from discrimination.Mulcair and Trudeau also pledged to fund education reforms, ensure that government decisions respect treaty rights, and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, a 2007 document to protect indigenous people from discrimination.
Many AFN delegates openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the ruling Conservative party of Stephen Harper.Many AFN delegates openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the ruling Conservative party of Stephen Harper.
“I have no qualms in standing here and saying I have lost all faith in this federal government,” said Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, before urging the crowd to vote strategically against Conservative candidates in their ridings.“I have no qualms in standing here and saying I have lost all faith in this federal government,” said Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, before urging the crowd to vote strategically against Conservative candidates in their ridings.
The Conservatives, who have been in power since 2006, did not send a representative to the meeting, but a spokeswoman for the federal aboriginal affairs minister Bernard Valcourt said he remained “committed to working with all willing First Nation partners on shared priorities”. The Conservatives, who have been in power since 2006, did not send a representative to the meeting, but a spokeswoman for the federal aboriginal affairs minister, Bernard Valcourt, said he remained “committed to working with all willing First Nation partners on shared priorities”.
Last month, the AFN announced it had pinpointed 51 ridings out of 338 across Canada where the Aboriginal vote could have an impact – a number National Chief Perry Bellegarde noted could mean the difference between a majority and a minority government after the election. Last month, the AFN announced it had pinpointed 51 ridings out of 338 across Canada where the aboriginal vote could have an impact – a number National Chief Perry Bellegarde noted could mean the difference between a majority and a minority government after the election.
In an interview, Bellegarde was careful to underscore his non-partisanship, arguing the point of highlighting those ridings was to show that aboriginals could have a strong political voice if they chose to.In an interview, Bellegarde was careful to underscore his non-partisanship, arguing the point of highlighting those ridings was to show that aboriginals could have a strong political voice if they chose to.
“As national chief I have to work with whoever gets elected,” he told the Guardian, though he called the relationship between the AFN and the Conservatives “unnecessarily adversarial”.“As national chief I have to work with whoever gets elected,” he told the Guardian, though he called the relationship between the AFN and the Conservatives “unnecessarily adversarial”.
That relationship wasn’t always so frosty.That relationship wasn’t always so frosty.
In 2008, prime minister Stephen Harper offered an historic full apology in the House of Commons on behalf of Canadians for the residential school system which saw 150,000 children forcibly removed from their families. But the Conservative government has since found itself repeatedly at odds with First Nations. In 2008, the prime minister, Stephen Harper, offered an historic full apology in the House of Commons on behalf of Canadians for the residential school system which saw 150,000 children forcibly removed from their families. But the Conservative government has since found itself repeatedly at odds with First Nations.
The recent Truth and Reconciliation summary report into Canada’s residential school system noted the relationship between the federal government and aboriginal peoples was “deteriorating” over “divisive conflicts over Aboriginal education, child welfare, and justice”.The recent Truth and Reconciliation summary report into Canada’s residential school system noted the relationship between the federal government and aboriginal peoples was “deteriorating” over “divisive conflicts over Aboriginal education, child welfare, and justice”.
Related: Canada's indigenous schools policy was 'cultural genocide', says reportRelated: Canada's indigenous schools policy was 'cultural genocide', says report
During that report’s release last month, the aboriginal affairs minister remained seated as the audience stood to applaud during for a call for an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.During that report’s release last month, the aboriginal affairs minister remained seated as the audience stood to applaud during for a call for an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
Prime minister Stephen Harper has repeatedly rejected calls for an inquiry. Harper has repeatedly rejected calls for an inquiry.
It remains to be seen whether aboriginal Canadians will be able to make political waves this election.It remains to be seen whether aboriginal Canadians will be able to make political waves this election.
A 2013 analysis by Eric Grenier, who runs a popular poll tracking website, indicated that when aboriginal people did vote, they tended to lean towards the New Democrats. He also found that, had they turned out in force in the last general election in 2011, Conservatives may never have won a majority government. A 2013 analysis by Eric Grenier, who runs a popular poll tracking website, indicated that when aboriginal people did vote, they tended to lean towards the New Democrats. He also found that, had they turned out in force in the last general election in 2011, Conservatives might never have won a majority government.
But turnout among aboriginal voters in Canada has always been low – in the past four federal elections, on-reserve voting hovered around 45%,about 17.4% below the average nationwide voter turnout.But turnout among aboriginal voters in Canada has always been low – in the past four federal elections, on-reserve voting hovered around 45%,about 17.4% below the average nationwide voter turnout.
Canada’s aboriginal population also trends younger and poorer than the national average, factors which tend to lower voter participation.Canada’s aboriginal population also trends younger and poorer than the national average, factors which tend to lower voter participation.
Bellegarde acknowledged the challenges but said that nonetheless, First Nations issues are now “front and center” in Canada’s political conversation.Bellegarde acknowledged the challenges but said that nonetheless, First Nations issues are now “front and center” in Canada’s political conversation.
“We’re already a strong factor in this next federal election,” he said.“We’re already a strong factor in this next federal election,” he said.