Harper teaching Ottawa a lesson

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Manitoba Native leaders who've slapped down their approval of the Meech Lake constitutional accord, are teaching the federal government a history lesson it can't afford to ignore, says Bob Hawkesworth, Native affairs' critical for Alberta New Democrats.

If the accord fails, he said, it's because Native concerns weren't addressed.

"Because of what's happening in Manitoba it's no longer (about) Quebec's place in Canada," he said, "it's a question, instead, of what is the place in Canada for Native people. "They've (federal government) dumped on Native people for so long, it doesn't surprise me they're getting some of their own medicine back."

Hawkesworth was referring to the strategy of the lone aboriginal Manitoba MLA Elijah Harper who turned down Meech Lake during four consecutive in-house votes in hopes of forcing Canada to deal with Native concerns.

Hawkesworth told Windspeaker the federal government made a mistake three years ago when it refused to recognize Natives as a distinct community in the Constitution during the last first ministers' conference.

He said it was only a matter of time before Native leaders gained enough political clout to stop Canada in its tracks in order to negotiate the future of the country from the Native perspective.

"Canada had a chance to sort this out three years ago, but they chose to slam the door instead." Hawkesworth said it was a bad decision by the first ministers that has now come back to haunt them.

Members of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs have also come out in opposition to the Meech Lake accord which would recognize Quebec as a distinct society within Canada and would give it power to make constitutional changes.

Percy Potts, Indian Association of Alberta Treaty 8 vice-president, said the Manitoba deadlock could set a new course for Canada's aboriginal people.

"The way the government deals with Indian people has been flawed right from the start. What Elijiah Harper is doing just highlights that fact," he said.

"They have to be made to understand that sooner or later and that this is the way to do it."

Harper, a 41-year-old Cree from Red Sucker Lake, Manitoba, has garnered support from Native groups across Canada by holding up ratification of the accord.