Leaders working towards MOU

A new level of mutual benefit will be achieved in Ontario between the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Brad Duguid and Treaty 3 leader Diane M. Kelly. A letter of intent was signed in early October with goals to increase capacity building and resolve land disputes.
"I think it's a start, a good start. I really enjoyed my discussion with Minister Duguid. I appreciate the access that we have to his office and his advisors. We are now working with a minister who has a close relationship to the premier, we are working towards more discussions with the government leaders as well," said Kelly.
"I have reviewed the letter, its basically an agreement to agree and we are hopeful that it will lead to a strong commitment and a process that is government to government and geared towards treaty implementation, substantive treaty benefits for our community to alleviate poverty and rebuild the economic engine of our community."
The minister tells Birchbark that the letter will help the two parties develop a closer bond to build bridges into the future and tackle serious issues together.
"Serious issues exist in our First Nations communities and in particular (for us) in Treaty 3 territory. Things like issues around education, health care, social services, First Nations treaty disputes and land claims disputes. And a lot of it has to do with the federal government which we are aware of, but we feel if we are working together we can accomplish great things and that is really what we are setting out to do," said Duguid.
While the leaders share a common goal, the finer points are different in each point of view. While the minister mentioned only a few of the many issues needed to be addressed, the grand chief seemed a lot more focused on capacity building and helping her communities as much as possible from all view points.
"We're working with them in all of our relationships with the Province, to help us as an ally when we negotiate or have issues with the various Ministries including our child care jurisdiction and the law we have created to protect our children and families. Also, to support the capacity needs that we have in attempting to be proactive, rather than reactionary. In my view, this is fundamental for a good partnership, to have equity at the various provincial and federal tables," explained Kelly.
"The recent economic downturn has really hurt any substantial discussions we have had around capacity building. We want to give our communities the tools and resources to engage in community development and protection of our rights and interests throughout the 55,000 square miles of our treaty territory," stated Kelly.

"As many of our Chiefs mentioned to Minister Duguid, our interests are not simply stakeholder interests, we never gave up or ceded our ownership of the territory of the Treaty 3 Anishinaabeg. Reconciliation needs to begin at the gap between our understanding of who has the right to regulate throughout the treaty territory."
The minister tells Birchbark that he has hopes for a memorandum of understanding to be brought into play as a result, feeling strongly about some of the issues affecting First Nations.
"The letter of intent really involves our intent to enter into a future memorandum of understanding that will really define our relationship and our consultation relationship so its really about forming that relationship based on trust and respect that will lead us to issues such as tackling the education issue," said Duguid.
"We have young people on First Nations reserves that are getting a level of education that is not up to the standards of non-Aboriginals across Ontario and that is unacceptable to me, as a minister for Aboriginal affairs. It is unacceptable to me as Grand Council Chief Diane Kelly and I think it is unacceptable to all First Nations and we have to do something about that," said Duguid.
The letter of intent has been in the works for some time and Kelly said that they have been discussing capacity building since the beginning of her term, which began in early May of this year.
There is a tremendous cost to organizing meetings and coming to a common understanding with all of the communities to ensure that all of them are represented to protect their interests and rights in the processes being established.
Kelly had help not only from her own end but from some of the minister's assistants as well.
"The Minister's Assistant Deputy for relationships and Ministry partnerships, Deborah Richardson was instrumental in coordinating this development along with my political staff.
Of course, we have a good relationship with the Minister's senior political advisor, Jeff Copenace, who like myself, is a member of the Ojibway's of Onigaming First Nation in Treaty 3 territory. It was wonderful to bring him home for the Assembly in Onigaming and let his home community see this important role model. He was instrumental in getting the new Minister to make his very first visit to a community in our territory."