Northern Sask. leaders blast Indian Act replacement

With the passage of legislation that will affect all First Nations people, two prominent voices in northern Saskatchewan are speaking up.

Bill C-428 was signed into law last week, and is a controversial replacement for the Indian Act. It is the result of a federal private member’s bill introduced by Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River MP Rob Clarke.

He contended the bill puts more onus on the federal government to sit down with First Nations, and allows First Nations to draft their own bylaws without the federal minister’s approval.

Critics have said the bill’s preparation lacked consultation.

Last week, Liberal Senator Lillian Dyck poured fuel on the flame, accusing Clarke of displaying behaviour that was boastful, and “white man” behavior. She later apologized for the comment, choosing to call his actions “colonial” instead.

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Not one to mince words, former FSIN Chief Lawrence Joseph is pushing it one step further.

“I disagree with Senator Dyck’s assessment of Mr. Clarke on this point: he’s not acting like a white man. He is a white man,” Joseph said.

“He does not know how to live like an Indian. He never lived like an Indian. And he never will understand, in my view, the plight of Indian people and First Nations and Metis people.”

Joseph said he sees himself as a better representation of his culture, and explained what he sees as the differences between himself and Clarke.

“I speak the language. Mr. Clarke doesn’t. And I also appreciate the traditional cultures and ceremonies, traditions that people have. And I just love the food. I am part of the mosaic if you can call it that.”

Joseph does have a stake in how the North responds to the bill, since he wants to run as a Liberal against Clarke in the next election.

Lac La Ronge Chief Tammy Cook-Searson released a statement on Friday, saying her band is frustrated and doesn’t feel represented by Clarke through this bill.

“We want real input into the laws that govern us, not unilateral Private Members Bills,” she said in the statement.

Cook-Searson was also critical of Clarke’s communication and lack of consultation, saying updates on Bill C-428 only came to her band through the news.

She did acknowledge changes to the Indian Act are necessary, but require “that First Nations people decide together and what those changes will be.”

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk