[R-G] AFN accuses Harper of "assimilation" agenda after he speaks to rival group

[Anthony Fenton]

AFN accuses Harper of "assimilation" agenda after he speaks to rival  
group

November 2, 2007 - 20:58

By: Michael Tutton, THE CANADIAN PRESS

HALIFAX - Canada's largest aboriginal group criticized Stephen Harper  
for attending a meeting of a rival organization on Friday, though the  
prime minister responded he's merely seeking "common ground" with  
groups he can work with.

In a speech to about 200 delegates of the Congress of Aboriginal  
Peoples, the prime minister cited statistics that the majority of  
aboriginals now live in cities, and said his Conservative government  
will make their concerns a priority.

"Those living off reserve now account for nearly half of the  
population on the federal Indian registry," noted Harper.

"These people cannot be forgotten or ignored any longer," he told the  
members of the Congress, which was the only national native group to  
support the Conservatives in the last federal election.

However, Harper didn't announce any fresh initiatives to assist  
aboriginals living in cities or off-reserve.

Rather, he reminded the audience that his minority government has  
"refocused" funding into a training and employment program for  
aboriginals.

Harper also said a joint agreement the federal government has with  
British Columbia and reserves in that province to provide added  
funding for education is "a model of the kind of arrangements we'd  
like to enter into with provinces."

Harper said he wants a record of "real results through concrete,  
tangible actions" with "willing and able partners."

Still, Harper's mere presence at the meeting drew some harsh  
criticism from the Assembly of First Nations, which represents 633  
reserves across the country.

This summer, Harper declined an invitation to attend an Assembly of  
First Nations meeting in Halifax.

Rick Simon, Atlantic regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations,  
said "the chiefs of Canada felt snubbed at that point, and here's a  
group (the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples) that has no structure and  
accountability, and the prime minister finds the time to come in and  
address."

He said the assembly is disappointed.

"It's a coalition of the willing," Simon said. "Quite clearly the  
Conservatives have their own agenda and will ally with those who will  
go down the path of assimilation in First Nations issues."

Patrick Brazeau, the national chief of the Congress, had introduced  
Harper to the conference as "a man and a leader who has taken bold  
steps to ensure Canada's off-reserve aboriginal community are no  
longer considered a forgotten people."

However, Russell Diabo, a consultant to a variety of aboriginal  
groups who is based in Orillia, Ont., said he believes "(Harper) is  
just using them."

"Patrick Brazeau's gone out of his way to keep cozying up to (the  
federal Tories), all the while bashing the Assembly of First Nations.  
Basically, he's being partisan," he said in an interview.

Diabo said it is the same strategy that AFN National Chief Phil  
Fontaine used with the Liberals.

"Not much different than Phil. Different party, but same idea," said  
Diabo, who is not affiliated with either group.

"I think the perception of the Conservatives is that Phil is a  
Liberal and is too closely tied with the Liberals. They feel that  
he's being partisan, so they probably feel it's OK for them to be  
partisan on aboriginal issues."

He said the choice for the prime minister's first major speech to a  
native annual meeting sends a clear message on his agenda to "promote  
individual rights over collective rights."

Harper responded that he has worked with the Assembly of First  
Nations on land claims settlements and a settlement for Aboriginal  
Peoples abused in residential schools.

"I don't get into the rivalries between the various groups. We work  
with willing partners when we share common cause," he said.

Alexa McDonough, an New Democrat MP who was also attending the  
meeting, said, "I think it's unmistakable that part of his (Harper's)  
being here was to create a wedge. This is a party that specializes in  
wedge politics."

She said the timing of the prime minister's speech to the congress  
also causes her concern.

"The decision to not appear at the AFN but come here as a kind of  
last moment fly-by visit, is just a bit of your in-your-face,"  
McDonough added.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples was originally known as the Native  
Council of Canada before re-organizing in recent years.

Its leadership also says the group represents Metis and off-reserve  
status and non-status Indians.

Brazeau was the only native leader to support the Conservative  
government's decision to gut the $5-billion Kelowna Accord negotiated  
by the former Liberal government with native leaders and premiers.

Brazeau said the agreement to help lift dismal native health,  
education and housing standards was flawed because it didn't focus  
enough on off-reserve needs.
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