Micmacs wary of deal with feds, province

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Micmacs of Nova Scotia have signed a three-way deal with federal and provincial officials designed to address major Native issues such as Justice and policing.

But some Aboriginal leaders are wary of where the agreement could lead.

"We are happy, (but)we have 502 years of experience that tells us we must always be leery," said Union of Nova Scotia Indian president Alexander Denny.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed Feb. 11 will bring senior federal and provincial politicians and Micmac leaders together to oversee ongoing forums on Native issues.

The tripartite forums on economic development, social services and justice should help solidify a possible relationship between the Micmacs and the province, Nova Scotia Premier Frank Savage said.

But the deal said nothing about funding for any of the initiatives, Millbrook Chief Lawrence Paul said.

"Not too much will come out of it. It's a good public relations things to do."

The Millbrook Band is currently seeking $54,000 to establish its own tribal police, Paul said. But federal officials have told him that the funds are not available.

Five bands on Cape Breton are also looking at tribal policing as an alternative to municipal police or the RCMP, he added. The bands requested 22 officers, but Ottawa has only approved a plan to train 14 or 15.

This is the first agreement to be signed between Ottawa, the provincial and status, non-status and on and off-reserve Natives, federal Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin said.

It also serves as proof of Ottawa's agenda to consult with Natives on important issues, he said. In time, he expects other provinces and Native groups to create similar groups.

Discussions on self-government were also of less value than expected, the president of the Native Council of Nova Scotia said.

Despite Irwin's willingness to deal with non-Indian Act Natives, the minister's commitment to Native self-rule did not go far enough, said Dwight Dorey.

"There was nothing about a whole lot of substance besides his commitment to talk over the next six months."

Natives based off-reserve in the Maritimes exercise long-standing Aboriginal, treaty and constitutional rights, Dorey said.

"We have to be included. We have to be dealt with as well."

Micmac treaty rights involve more than the right to manage resources, he said. They also involve commercial and trade rights.

Unlike many national Native leaders, Dorey said self-government negotiations must also include the provinces because many of the powers sought by Natives are currently controlled by that level of government.