Liberal victory seen as a boon

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The Liberal party's victory in last month's federal election could be a political and economic boon for the First Nations, Native leaders from across Canada said.

The Liberals were the only party that laid out a comprehensive Aboriginal policy paper during the election, said Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs head Saul Terry.

"So now it is up to us to respond and put some action to those platforms."

While the Liberals may have put forward unpopular policies like the 1969 White Paper, the union is prepared to be patient and listen to possible changes, he said.

Natives will likely have a better working relationship with Ottawa if Chretien is "a man of his word," said Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations third vice-chief Lindsay Cyr.

"Chretien had is book and there's a number of statements he's made in the book that we're going to hold him to, especially in the area of housing and social development."

Metis National Council president Gerald Morin met with Chretien in Saskatoon during the election campaign three weeks ago when the policy paper was first unveiled.

"We're very happy with his policy platform, that commitment and promises were made and now it's just a matter of following through and following through as quickly as he can, working with Metis leaders," said Morin.

"I'm pleased that the Liberal party got a majority government. One of the worst things that we could have had was a minority government with a Bloc or Reform holding the balance of power."

The Liberal Party could be a positive force in Ottawa for Natives, said Morin. Neither the Bloc Quebecois nor the Reform party support Native issues and the Liberals had the best platform.

"Some of the things they addressed was, for example, the recognition of the inherent right of self-government, moving with Aboriginal and Metis leaders to implement that right in our communities as soon as possible."

The Metis have always said they have the right to self-government regardless of any need to constitutionally recognize it, he said. All that was need was the political will to implement it.

The Liberal package also addressed the jurisdictional problems faced by Metis political organizations. Chretien has promised to enter into trilateral negotiations with Metis and provincial officials to "define the nature and scope of federal and provincial responsibilities for Metis people."

And some MPs in the Liberal party are "appreciative" of Metis issues, so "that should help as well," Morin said.

"This time it has to be different. There has been a trail of broken promises. All of our people will be watching very closely the actions of this next government. And they will want immediate action, not to wait three or four years.

As the official opposition, the Bloc Quebecois may pose a threat to the recognition of Native issues in Ottawa, said Terry.

"I know with the Mohawk experience and the people in the north, (the Bloc Quebecois) really have not been forthcoming in recognizing those people.

It's ironic that the BQ can talk about Quebec's sovereignty with the rest of Canada but deny it to Native people, he said.

"But there's a good majority there within the (Liberal) government that we can talk with them and they will understand the approaches that we are taking."

The Reform party may also pose a threat to ensuring Native issues are considered in Parliament, said Vancouver Island's mid-Island Tribal Council Chief Ray Harris.

"The Reform party is not going to deal with First Nation issues. They've got a racist reputation."

The Reform party's plans to cut social programs is also a threat because Natives are "80 to 90 per cent unemployed," he said.

The Reform party may pose a problem in terms of local, riding-based issues, but "we're used to that," B.C. Terry said.

"Their knowledge is reactionary rather than a deep-seated knowledge of our people."

It will be up to First Nations governments to educate Reformers on Native issues like self-government and teaties over the next few years, added Cyr.