Anti-Native animosity rampant as Quebec chiefs meet

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First Nations should have no special recognition in the law and no more rights than municipalities in an independent Quebec.

So said a Quebec businessman at one of 18 "people's commission" hearings into sovereignty organized by the Quebec government and held across the province in February.

"If we give $400 million to one Native group, the next one will ask for $600 million," said the businessman, whose presentation, greeted with applause from the audience, was broadcast on cable TV across the province.

"It's like giving money to dictators in Haiti. I don't know where the money goes. Only the chief knows."

While the hearings were taking place, Native chiefs gatherd in Montreal for a three-day meeting of the 43-member Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador. Reaction there to the government-sponsored hearings was that they were biased and confrontational.

"There is so much animosity - even from the commissioners themselves," said Ghislain Picard, the AFN"s regional chief. "Whenever someone of a federalist mind speaks, they are booed by the public or even contradicted by the commissioners themselves. In my opinion, it really goes too far."

That there will be more confrontation became apparent during the first day of the Native assembly. Chiefs learned that, without consultation with Aboriginal groups, a bill was put before the province's National Assembly to amend sections of the Quebec Police Act dealing with Native policing.

Quebec officials neglected to consult or even inform First Nations about the proposed changes, which place Native policing squarely under Quebec's jurisdiction

and leave little authority with First Nations. As a result of the changes, several existing policing agreements have been thrown into doubt and negotiations on others stalled.

"Does that mean Native police would be under the jurisdiction of the SQ (Provincial police), or does it mean the SQ would have free access to reserves?" asked Picard.

Chiefs unanimously passed a resolution saying the bill would have no effect on First Nations lands if passed. Days later, the bill was adopted into law despite the complaints.

In an interview with Canadian Press, Chief Jerry Peltier of Kanesatake called the bill a "pre-emptive strike" for Quebec independence - a tool the PQ government would use to show the international community it has control over Native territory.

Chiefs also reiterated the stand they took on Quebec independence in October at an earlier assembly in Lac Delage. First Nations have a right to determine their own future, the chiefs said at that meeting. They dismissed the PQ government's claim that Native territories would automatically become part of an independent Quebec.

"Almost every chief spoke on the issue and they said they would not participate (in the process of the sovereignty commissions)," said Picard, from the Montreal assembly.

"The minute we show interest in that, we'd be indirectly supporting sovereignty," said James Bay Cree Chief Matthew Mukash in a phone interview from Whapmagoostui, explaining why virtually every First Nation is boycotting the commission hearings.

On February 20, Crees announced their own referendum and a process of public hearings into the future, status and rights of the Cree Nation in the event of Quebec separation. The Grand Council of the Crees announced that a commission will canvass public opinion in all nine James Bay communities in March and April.

As for the 7,200 Inuit of Nunavik, they've said they will hold a referendum on the future of the Inuit Nation in conjunction with other Inuit across Canada.

Another issue discussed at the chief's assembly was family violence. Jackie Kistabish, president of the Quebec Native Women's Association, asked chiefs for their support, resources and participation in a conference on violence planned for next fall. Chiefs voted to support the conference.