Self-government talks serve Ottawa's agenda - Mercredi

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Ottawa has its own agenda in the quest for Native self-government and can no longer be trusted, the Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations said.

In a surprising turn-around, Ovide Mercredi slammed Jean Chretiens' Liberals for falsely recognizing Natives' inherent right to self-government during a speech against racism on March 3 in Edmonton.

"When we are told from another society that 'we recognize and respect your rights,' and then they turn around and say 'we have to define it and be comfortable with the definition before we grant it,' then I know that the assertion for the recognition is not a genuine assertion." Mercredi has until now been generally supportive of Ottawa's attempts to begin self-government negotiations with bands and Indian governments across Canada.

The grand chief even went so far as to say he would consider abandoning constitutional reform as a path to self-government in February, shortly after Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin announced Ottawa's plans to recognize Native self-government under Section 35 of the Constitution.

He also excused Irwin's stormy withdrawal from negotiations with the Lesser Slave Lake Region Indian Council three weeks ago in Edmonton as fair tactics.

But he told a group of 300 people assembled at Edmonton City Hall for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that Ottawa's overall treatment of Native issues has not changed with the new Liberal government.

The Liberal government is speaking out of "both sides of its mouth" when self-government is the topic, Mercredi said. Ottawa is only willing to recognize First Nations with municipal-style governments, not ones that have jurisdiction over issues like gaming on reserves.

Ottawa would also rather enforce its rights under the Canadian Criminal Code when there's gambling on reserves rather than enforce Natives' rights under Section 35 of the Charter.

Reform MP for Edmonton Southeast, Ian McLelland, who was also on hand for the speech, said the question of Native rights is difficult because everyone has their own interpretation.

Defining self-government in the House of Commons is essential to "know what we're talking about," he said.

Determining Native rights to trade and commerce will also depend on the costs, he added.

Several bands across Canada, especially the three Mohawk communities near the United States border in Ontario and Quebec, have said Ottawa has no right to regulate how Natives move goods like tobacco.

Mohawks from Kanesatake, Kahnawake and Akwesasne have been at the centre

of controversy for several months over the illegal smuggling of cigarettes from the U.S. More than 70 per cent of the contraband moves through the Akwesasne Reserve near Cornwall, Ontario Police estimates indicate a minority of the smugglers, only about five per cent, are Natives.

But McLelland said if the Mohawks got a bad rap, it was only because "they deserved it".