Bruyere 'smoking' over FMC disappointment

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"A lot of premiers in their opening addresses and closing statements stated how willing they were to help the Aboriginal people in their own provinces. I say if your will to do that for the Aboriginal people of your provinces then why don't you make it uniform across the country and do it for all Aboriginal people," said Louis Bruyere in his closing statement at the collapse of the First Ministers Conference in Ottawa.

Bruyere said that he is extremely disappointed that an agreement for Aboriginal self-government, land claims, and equality between the First Ministers of Canada and the four groups representing Canada's Aboriginal people.

Native Council of Canada came to the First Ministers Conference with an extension to the present process in mind, should the conference fail or if time did not allow the opportunity to address all the issues that are important to the NCC.

Bruyere extended that sentiment in his closing address saying "the NCC is willing to meet again to find an equitable solution to these conferences. I believe some progress has been made and if the prime minister is willing to adjourn this meeting to another the NCC will be there."

One of the highlights for Bruyere was seeing the Aboriginal groups come together during the conference, particularly after so many people had expressed that the Aboriginal groups could not get together amongst themselves and, if they can't do that, how could they expect to get what they wanted."

In his opening address, Bruyere set out the basic elements which had to be presented in any constitutional amendment on Aboriginal self-government for an amendment to be acceptable to the NCC, they are:

There must be an explicit and non-contingent statement of recognition of the right to self-government for the Aboriginal people of Canada.

There must be an entrenched commitment on the part of the provincial and federal governments to negotiate agreements to implement that right.

Once they are reached there must be an entrenched mechanism to apply constitutional protection to those agreements.

There must be a non-derogation clause to protect current Aboriginal and Treaty rights.

There must be a financing clause which assigns primary responsibility to the federal government for guaranteeing that Aboriginal governments will have sufficient financial resources to serve their constituents at a level reasonably comparable to other Canadians.

There must be an equity of access clause which guarantees that all Aboriginal people in Canada will have the opportunity and resources to negotiate self-government in the protection on equitable terms.

The equity of access which will recognize that Metis and Non-status Indians have unique problems in the protection of their rights.

Bruyere stated that he was at the constitutional table, "adamantly determined to entrench a guarantee that our people will be treated fairly, justly and equitably in any agreement reached."