http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2014/11/30/peters-playing-key-role-in-reshaping-relationship-with-province

FIRST NATIONS

Peters playing key role in reshaping relationship with province

By Ellwood Shreve, Chatham Daily News

Sunday, November 30, 2014 5:28:05 EST PM

Gord Peters, Grand Chief of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians. ELLWOOD SHREVE/ THE CHATHAM DAILY NEWS/ QMI AGENCY

First Nations across Ontario are determined to develop a new relationship with the provincial government, and a resident of Moraviantown is playing a key role in the process.

Gord Peters, Grand Chief of the Association Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI), was among the chiefs from across Ontario who spent three days meeting with Premier Kathleen Wynne and cabinet ministers to discuss how to strengthen their relationship.

Peters told The Chatham Daily News meetings have taken place with the provincial government for decades, but “most of it was show and tell.

“Over the years, it's changed to how can I help you?” he added.

Peters said the format was changed this year with the Ontario Chief and Grand Chiefs telling the government: “We don't want to talk about how we can be helped, we're partners.

“We want to talk about how you're going to fulfil your treaty obligations that you have,” he added.

When asked how optimistic he is about real change occurring, Peters said: “We had a really frank dialogue at the table,” adding this is necessary to affirm real change.

The last time this kind of discussion occurred was probably when former Ontario NDP leader Bob Rae was premier, he said.

Peters said both sides have lists to go from to generate some priorities to work on.

“I am absolutely confident that we'll move some issues,” he said.

First Nations leaders presented a proposal to the premier titled 'Polishing the Chain' to outline a commitment to renew their relationship. The term polishing the chain references the Covenant of Chain of Friendship which was extended to all parties at the Treaty of Niagara, 1764.

The provincial government has committed to developing a Treaty Awareness Day.

Peters said work still needs to be done together to design what that will be.

“For me, the treaty day is about education and it's about correcting the historical information that has been provided for so long,” he said.

“The treaties were about co-existence,” he added. “They were about us living side-by-side and not interfering with each other.”

The premier's 2014 mandate letter outlining priorities for Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer calls for sharing resource benefits with First Nations.

Resource benefits and revenue sharing was also one of the topics discussed with the premier and cabinet ministers, because First Nations do not currently receive benefits or revenues from resources that are developed by companies on traditional lands.

Peters said the government wants to make a major investment in resource development across Ontario.

“In order for that to happen, they have to work with us,” he said.

Some First Nations leaders have taken a stand to stall the Ring of Fire, a massive chromite mining and smelting development project in the James Bay lowlands, over sharing the benefits that would impact nine First Nations communities.

Moving forward, Peters said no matter where natural resource projects are developed “the duty to consult is one of the biggest issues that we have out there.”

He said the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled both federal and provincial governments have an obligation to consult where there is a land right or treaty right or perceived right that exists, before any development can take place.

Peters believes Wynne has decided it is time to work with First Nations.

“There ain't no point in trying to force something down, that's not going to work anymore,” he said. “Let's see if we can work something out to make it happen.”

AIAI is mandated as Provincial Territorial Organization to defend and enhance the Aboriginal and Treaty rights of seven member First Nations, including Batchewana, Caldwell, Delaware, Hiawatha, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Oneida Nation of the Thames and the Wahta Mohawks.

ellwood.shreve@sunmedia.ca

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Other issues discussed between Ontario Chiefs and the provincial government, included:

• Mental health and youth life promotion;
• Palliative and long-term care;
• Clean drinking water;
• Education;
• Poverty alleviation through business development
• Missing and murdered Indigenous women