FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2019
Grand Chief on the upcoming Federal Election 2019.
ANISHINAABE/DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB –SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels initiates discussion on the upcoming federal election 2019. This is a critical time to begin discussing what the federal election would mean for the southern First Nations in Manitoba. This is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaties 1-5, and the Dakota Nation. We have had 150 years of federal legislation upon our people which has resulted in the most deleterious effects, common to the colonial practices of genocide and resource extraction.
What we as Indigenous Nations sought from the Crown through the Treaty making process was mutual respect, mutual benefits and a guarantee that our systems would remain intact. From time immemorial Indigenous Nations have implemented treaties with neighbours and allies. It is with this principle that SCO will collaborate and advocate with the 34 southern First Nations as it continues to rebuild the nation to nation relationship with the Crown.
Over the past 3.5 years the Trudeau Liberal government has made significant investments in the relationship with First Nations peoples. These investments include allocations for clean drinking water in community, increased nation to nation negotiations, funding to implement Jordan’s Principle, First Nations health transformation and reducing access barriers to education. SCO is focused on continuing a direct relationship with Ottawa that is driven by local priorities and strategies.
“It is not the time to interrupt this opportunity for First Nations as we have much to accomplish with this federal government to effect permanent positive changes for First Nations,” states Grand Chief Daniels, “We must continue to put pressure on the federal government but the current work should not be interrupted. Trudeau is the only Prime Minister in the history of Canada to make Indigenous Nations a priority.
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For further information: Kate Kent at 204-797-3035 kate.kent@scoinc.mb.ca