Native affairs' committee is long overdue, says IAA's Louis

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A Native affairs' caucus committee set up by the province to address political concerns on a provincial level is being viewed with a critical eye by Alberta's top Indian leader.

But Roy Louis, president of the Indian Association of Alberta (IAA), is frustrated the City of Edmonton hasn't go a similar plan going on the local front.

The six-member provincial committee was announced April 25 by Ken Rostad, minister responsible for Native affairs.

It will be chaired by Ponoka-Rimbey MLA Halvar Jonson.

Louis questioned the credibility of the newest government initiative. And he is still waiting for a commitment from Edmonton Mayor Jan Reimer who is looking at establishing a Native affairs committee in the capital city.

Louis, who's been on the back of city council since September to help organize a Native liaison group, said the decaying social and health status of Natives living in the inner city are indications something needs to be done.

Calgary has an aboriginal urban affairs' committee to deal with the city's Native population, he said, and he's angry there isn't one in Edmonton.

It's something we've been working on for a while. We're still waiting for her to give us an official indication she's ready," he said.

"(The Calgary committee) was established quite a few years ago. Treaty 7 chiefs and their people really get involved in it."

Louis said the provincial committee is a positive step by the Alberta government in making Native concerns a priority, but he's skeptical about its power.

"I'd like to give it some time to see if they'll have any significant input into government legislation and policy before I would say it's useless. But right now I'm saying it's something that should have been done a long time age," he said.

Native politicians Pearl Calahasen (Lesser Slave Lake MLA) and Mike Cardinal (Athabasca-Lac la Biche MLA) will sit on the panel which will determine how provincial legislation will affect Alberta's Native communities.

Metis Association of Alberta president Larry Desmeules, who was instrumental in establishing the provincial committee, said he's confident it will do what it's supposed to.

He hopes it will be a valuable supplement to the framework agreement signed by Metis representatives and Alberta Premier Don Getty last year.

"This puts us back on the political side of government. The framework agreement was more on the administrative side, " he said.

"This gives us a political vent to keep MLAs informed of what's happening."

Desdeules, who negotiated with Getty about the committee, said he's working on MAA guidelines to present to Reimer to help set up the city's Native affairs' committee.

John Lackey, general manager of Edmonton community and social services, said the city is eager to come up with a political coalition to deal with the city's Native communities, but is having a difficult time determining federal and provincial jurisdictions.

"It's difficult for the city because we're never quite sure who's responsible for whom," he said.