By Nigel Maxwell

Northern MP demands apology

Dec 15, 2014 | 5:50 AM

Legislation that will replace the Indian Act could soon become law.

The Senate will vote Monday night on Bill C-428. If the vote passes, the legislation will become law.

The bill was drafted by Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River MP Rob Clarke. He has faced numerous attacks for what critics say is a lack of consultation with First Nations people.

The most recent attack came last Tuesday from Liberal Senator Lillian Dyck during a Senate debate.

“As I mentioned, this is a private member’s bill, and it is very poorly written. It does not do what the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Clarke, said it would do. Frankly, it’s not worth the paper it’s written on. The bill was released by the private member to great fanfare, but it was a balloon full of nothing but empty air,” said Dyck.

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Dyck accused Clarke of showing “white man behaviour.” She said Clarke has rushed to get the bill through without the proper respect for First Nations people.

“When I asked Mr. Clarke whether he was a bit concerned that this bill was coming before the other (First Nations Education Act), he made what could be called a boastful interpretation: ‘Well, my bill got through first.’ That, for a First Nations man, is not traditional First Nations behaviour. It was not at all. It is what we would call môniyâw behaviour, or white man behaviour, and you can be insulted by that if you like. That’s Cree for “white man.”

Clarke was not available for comment Friday but he did issue paNOW a written statement.

“When I was elected, I decided to introduce a bill to eliminate the Indian Act at the very first possible opportunity,” said Clarke. “My first chance came in December 2011, when I tabled my first draft of this bill.”

“While I remain willing to listen to constructive criticism of my bill, I hope that the senator will reconsider her thoughtless and injudicious comments, and apologize for them.”

paNOW has attempted to contact Lillian Dyck for comment. She was travelling on Friday and so was not immediately available.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell