Dismantling stops colonialism for Manitoba bands

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Manitoba's First Nations took a giant step towards autonomy on Dec. 7, when Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Phil Fontaine and Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin signed the framework agreement that begins dismantling the Department of Indian Affairs in the province.

"Since first contact with the European societies in what they claimed to be called British North America and was later called Canada, the First Nations have witnessed little by little the assumption of our powers of self-determining nations, said Fontaine.

"With the signing of this accord, colonialism is about to end and the inherent right of First Nations to exercise the powers of self-government and self-determining nations is about to come into fruition."

Irwin told the crowd of more than 500 people that while the complex task of dismantling will involve numerous federal government departments and 60 individual First Nations, they are looking to accomplish early tangiblle and substantial progress.

"To illustrate our commitment to action, the transfer of three important areas of jurisdiction, namely education, fire protection and capital programs, will be our first task."

The framework agreement recognizes that the people of the First Nations of Manitoba must give informed consent at every stage of the process. This means each

First Nation makes the decision to ratify the agreement at the community level before it

is integrated. Fontaine said he hopes all First Nations in Manitoba will buy into the arrangement, but that the decision is up to them.

"We will be establishing a distinct order of government in Manitoba, one that will operate as an equal to the provincial and federal levels of government," said Fontaine. Irwin said he hoped the First Nations would work together to achieve self-government.

"There are First Nations that are still uncomfortable taking over administration is the elementary schools...We're hoping that the ones with experience move ahead, then help those with less experience so that we can move forward collectively."

Incremental resources of $4.3 million have been earmarked to cover the initial two-year phase of the project, most of which will allow Manitoba First nations to conduct research, development government structure proposals, develop program management options and implement a communications strategy. To varying degrees, First Nations already control more than 80 per cent of the Indian and Inuit Affairs program's $3.5 billion budget.

Meanwhile, Indigenous and Aboriginal groups from across Canada and around the world are watching Manitoba to see how the self-government process will work, a process that may take more than 10 years. After 10 years, a meeting is planned to review the progress of the agreement.

Fontaine's own predictions for the future include First Nations court systems; exclusive jurisdiction over child welfare, education, health and other areas; and shared jurisdiction in highway and defense matters, for example.

"I can see communities operating totally different from the way they operate today."

The agreement is a result of an understanding that started in September 1993 when The Liberal Plan for Canada", known as the Red Book, promised "The Liberal government will be committed to gradually winding down the Department of Indian Affairs at a pace agreed upon by First Nations, while maintaining the federal fiduciary responsibility."