Chiefs willing to give new minister a chance

Regional Chiefs for the Assembly of First Nations have expressed optimism with the appointment of the new federal minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

“Anytime there’s an experienced veteran Member of Parliament to be working on the national issues relative to Aboriginal issues I think it’s good,” said Alberta Regional Chief Cameron Alexis.

A week after John Duncan’s resignation, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Bernard Valcourt to fill the position of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development minister.

Saskatchewan Regional Chief Perry Bellegarde and head of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says he looks forward to working with Valcourt.

“He is very experienced and has held numerous Cabinet postings in the past,” said Bellegarde in a news release.

Valcourt held the position of Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) as one of six portfolios from 1984-1993. He was first elected in 1984. He was re-elected in 2011 as the MP for Madawaska-Restigouche. He was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in February, moving from his position as associate minister of National Defence.

AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo said Valcourt’s appointment comes at a “unique time for First Nations and Canada, a true moment of reckoning where we have a commitment from the highest levels of the Government of Canada to achieve real progress and transformative change for First Nations citizens.”

David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, is confident Valcourt can rise to the challenge.

“I think he can step up to it… I think it fell right in his plate and the right person has been given the task,” he said.

Chartrand says that in a recent meeting with Valcourt, he pointed out to the new minister how investments in capital corporations, such as the Louis Riel Capital Corp. owned by the Manitoba Metis, was the way to proceed. Similar corporations exist in other provinces. Chartrand says Valcourt pointed out to him that Valcourt was the minister, under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who made that happen.

“It shows that he had vision then; it shows that he has vision now,” said Chartrand.

Alexis said this is a “heightened” time and how Valcourt proceeds will be telling with a number of bills that pertain to First Nations business in various stages of passage. As of now, he said, Valcourt hasn’t stopped any of those bills, brought about under Duncan, from proceeding. In fact, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs boycotted the latest consultations held in Winnipeg for the First Nations Education Act. The AFN and other First Nations organizations are not in support of a national approach to First Nations education.

“It was very clear by the grassroots movement that enough’s enough and that’s one of the reasons … why we’re here to try and work for all the people for the common good of the country,” said Alexis.

“I think that it’s an opportunity for Mr. Valcourt to do the right thing and I certainly hope that the government looks at it from that perspective and let’s move on a process to deal and implement treaties,” said Alexis.

In accepting his appointment, Valcourt said in a statement, “I am firmly of the view that working together is the best way to achieve our shared objective of healthier, more prosperous and self-sufficient Aboriginal communities…. Our government remains committed to working with those Aboriginal leaders who want to work with the Government of Canada to create jobs and growth in their communities.”

Jan O’Driscoll, press secretary for Valcourt, cited a “completely booked” schedule for Valcourt’s inability to grant Windspeaker an interview.