First Nations Speak to MPs. Object to Bill C-53. Battle Over Land Rights
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
116.885475
Summary
Learn English with Grand Chief Alvin Fidler, Grand Chief of the Anishinaabeska Nation, speaks at the Unsuited and Surrendered Lands of the Algonquin Nation in response to Bill C-53.
Transcript
00:00:12.640
It's great to be back here in the unseated and surrendered lands of the Algonquin Nation.
00:00:22.560
My name is Alvin Fidler, I'm the Grand Chief for Anishinaabeska Nation.
00:00:34.860
It's one of the largest PTOs in the country, it covers almost two thirds of the province
00:00:43.200
of Ontario and there's three distinct languages.
00:00:48.060
I stand before you today to reiterate our position that we set out to the letter that
00:01:06.820
we sent to Minister Ananda Sandri, the new CERNAC Minister.
00:01:13.480
That letter was sent out to him on October the 10th.
00:01:21.820
It was to ask Canada to withdraw Bill C-53 and that it is reckless for Canada to rush through
00:01:31.980
this legislation without meaningfully engaging with First Nations and ensuring that there
00:01:39.340
is a proper basis for what Canada is doing and a thorough understanding of the consequences.
00:01:45.820
Canada's current attempt to force through Bill C-53 will do nothing but damage First Nations'
00:01:53.980
rights for generations to come and I am here to tell you that it is likely to cause damage
00:02:04.140
The Métis Nation of Ontario has repeatedly made public statements and demands to our communities
00:02:10.940
that it intends to impose itself on First Nations' lands and displace our rights.
00:02:17.880
Given that reality, which Canada is choosing to currently ignore, what choice will we have?
00:02:25.920
Giving Aboriginal treaty rights to groups on our territories that do not have a legitimate entitlement
00:02:36.220
What we are asking for is transparency and meaningful consultation.
00:02:42.780
We are also asking that you do proper due diligence on MNO's claims.
00:02:48.380
I just want to be very clear that we do not, we are not here to oppose the legitimate rights
00:02:54.580
of the Métis people as set out by rigorous legal tests, for example, in the Pauly case.
00:03:03.100
We support their aspirations in seeking to correct the historical injustices that they faced and
00:03:16.840
What we are opposed to, however, are the six new illegitimate Métis communities in Ontario
00:03:25.680
The recognition of these communities is baseless, non-factual, and not supported by genealogical evidence.
00:03:35.380
Of the six, the Abitibi Inland Métis community, which is deemed to be situated in the Treaty
00:03:43.080
United Territory, this community does not exist.
00:03:48.540
The neighbouring communities and elders have never seen such a community.
00:03:54.840
And I would invite you as members of this committee and ministers to visit this community.
00:04:04.540
It's a fictional community simply designed to assert rights that are non-existent.
00:04:09.980
And I want to bring an elder here with me today to testify to this, but because of the short notice,
00:04:20.740
And there are a number of things that we have issues with this bill.
00:04:25.160
Number one, the territorial rights assertion of Métis rates.
00:04:29.340
Future treaties with the Métis has been discussed by ministers of this government.
00:04:38.640
And defined references to concepts such as mobility rights, and activities incidental to harvesting.
00:04:47.880
And just the last 15 minutes, or the 15 seconds that I have, I just want to say that I hope you read all this material that we've given to you.
00:05:02.100
That you're sitting up there contemplating giving recognition to another group.
00:05:07.240
That is not legitimate, in our view, at least the settlements that they're claiming in our territory.
00:05:17.080
That were signed by my ancestors and your ancestors.
00:05:21.300
And that's the relationship that we want to maintain.
00:05:26.680
So Miigwetch, thank you for inviting me to be a part of this.