MNC leaders disappointed

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"Today we have made a lot of jail guards, social workers, and foster homes happy," said Jim Sinclair, Metis National Council (MNC) executive member and president of the Association of Metis and Non-status Indians of Saskatchewan.

Sinclair was speaking about the breakdown in talks at the First Ministers' Conference on Aboriginal constitutional issues, held in Ottawa on March 26 and 27.

In his closing statement to the First Ministers' Sinclair refused to acknowledge that any progress had been made in over five years of negotiations with the federal and provincial governments, on the amendments to the Canadian Constitution, to include Aboriginal self-government and an Aboriginal land base.

All three MNC negotiators, Yvon Dumont, president of the Metis Federation of Manitoba; Sam Sinclair, president of the Metis Association of Alberta, and Jim Sinclair stated that they were extremely disappointed in varying degrees on the outcome of the 1987 FMC.

"I am disappointed that no progress was made, but I'm not disappointed on the position that we took," Yvon Dumont said. He went on to say that he was happy that the Aborignal groups "banded together when we had to."

Sam Sinclair said, "I am not happy with the end result and I think that we have to continue to work," Sinclair continued, saying that he was encouraged by some of Alberta Premier Don Getty's closing remarks and a commitment made by Getty to fund the MAA's Regional Council offices.

The conference broke down when no proposal which was acceptable to the Aboriginal groups was brought forward. The only proposal reaching the table was one drawn up by the government of Canada which failed to meet a number of the MCN concerns, particularly the need for a landbase for the Metis people.

In a pre-conference "briefing book" the MNC set out their expectations of the First Ministers' Conference:

The commitment to negotiate in good faith on such maters as self-government, lands, resources, economic and fiscal arrangements, education, preservation and enhancement of language and culture and equity of access, as may be requested by the Aboriginal peoples concerned.

Negotiations on all the above issues will not prejudice other programs, services, financial arrangements, claims or other process available to the Aboriginal peoples of Canada.

And finally, the rights set forth in agreements shall be considered Treaty rights within the meaning of Sucsection (1) and (3).

At a later press conference Sinclair stated that he fight to obtain Aboriginal self-government and a Metis land base will continue. Dumont said that the Aboriginal groups will be meeting very soon to plan a strategy for the future.