Billions in Liberal budget for Indigenous issues

It’s not an NDP budget, but the new agreement with the Trudeau government has increased social spending

By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contibutor

Ottawa, ON - Although the recently announced federal 2022 budget commits $11 billion over six years towards housing, health, social services and education for Indigenous people, Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns says it still falls short of addressing some injustices facing First Nations. The NDP caucus has entered into a Supply and Consent Agreement with the minority Liberal government. According to Johns, the agreement aims to bring stability to parliament and get Canadians the help they need “following a sustained period of chaos and disruption in national politics.” The agreement enables the two parties to work towards common goals such as dental and pharmacare, action on climate change and Indigenous reconciliation. Johns said the NDP are pushing the Liberals to deliver the promises they make in the fi rst year of the agreement, including funding for First Nations, that he says is inadequate. “One of the biggest disappointments was actually around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). No new money, absolutely appalled, disappointed to say the least,” Johns said. “[The Liberals] basically repeated what they already announced for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and two spirit lgbtqia+, so it’s extremely disappointing and we will keep fi ghting for them to deliver more money and to accelerate the implementation of the federal pathway on this.”

Photo by Karly Blats

The Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People is the government of Canada’s contribution to the National Action Plan, called for by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It outlines the Government of Canada’s approach to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns says the federal 2022 budget falls short of addressing some First Nation injustices. “In terms of the government’s commit- “Three hundred million dollars is a ment, they haven’t delivered on it…they drop in the bucket, it’s disappointing,” have not delivered on the Federal Path- Johns said. “A new Indigenous Urban, way that they’ve promised around Miss- Rural and Northern Housing Strategy is ing and Murdered Indigenous Women something we’ve been fi ghting hard for. and Girls,” Johns said. “We’re calling The NDP was able to secure a doubling for a clear plan and obviously resources of the federal housing commitment to around all of the calls to justice. This is Indigenous housing from $2 billion to our top priority. We’re going to continue $4.3 billion.” to put pressure on the Liberals to step In addition, Budget 2022 proposes to up.” provide $398 million over two years, The Native Women’s Association of starting in 2022-23, to support commuCanada (NWAC) says in a press release nity infrastructure on Canadian reserves, that the federal budget delivers funding at of which at least $247 million will be levels that could make a real diff erence in directed toward water and wastewater the lives of Indigenous women, but falls infrastructure. short on MMIWG. Budget 2022 also provides additional “The $11 billion over six years that funding of $209 million to increase the has been promised to Indigenous people support provided to Indigenous comis targeted at some of the most urgent munities to document, locate and memoissues, including housing, health, social rialize burial sites at former residential services, and education. We are also schools, to support the operations of a pleased to see that more money has been new building for the National Centre for set aside for infrastructure on reserves, Truth and Reconciliation and to ensure and to help First Nations locate burial the complete disclosure of federal docusites at former residential schools,” states ments related to residential schools. the press release. “We would have liked Johns said another area where the liberto have seen additional funds to stop the als fell short on the budget was their violence and genocide addressed in the commitment to the toxic drug supply and National Inquiry’s Final Report on Miss- overdose crisis. ing and Murdered Indigenous Women “The fact that they only budgeted $100 and Girls.” million for the toxic drug supply and overdose crisis that’s claimed over 27,000 “Three hundred million lives and has disproportionality impacted dollars is a drop in the Indigenous people in B.C. …that’s about $33 million a year spread out over 10 bucket, it’s disappoint- provinces and three territories,” John said. “That just shows that stigma exists ing.” right in the government in terms of the resources they’re applying to this - and that money is for treatment, for recovery, ~ Gord Johns, prevention, education and a safe supply Courtenay-Alberni MP and that’s just completely unacceptable.” An additional $227.6 million over two years, starting in 2022-23, is proposed in Additional funding for First Nations the budget to maintain trauma-informed, communities announced in the budget culturally-appropriate, Indigenous-led include $4.3 billion over seven years to services to improve mental wellness and help improve Indigenous housing, includ- to support eff orts initiated through Buding a $300 million investment over fi ve get 2021 to co-develop distinctions-based years, starting in 2022-23, to co-develop mental health and wellness strategies. and launch an Urban, Rural, and North- “This isn’t an NDP budget. We’re using ern Indigenous Housing Strategy. In addi- our power to secure results the Liberals tion, $2.4 billion over fi ve years is in the haven’t delivered. Results that will make budget to support First Nations housing a big diff erence in peoples lives,” Johns on reserves. said.

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Huu-ay-aht, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ mark 10 years

Two First Nations were the fi rst in B.C. to gain voting rights in a regional district

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Port Alberni, BC - With an emphasis on the path to “economic reconciliation,” April 13 marked 10 years since First Nations gained director status with the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Leaders from the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ and the Huu-ay-aht First Nations spoke before a full board meeting on April 13, a decade since they became the fi rst Indigenous communities in the province to gain representation on a regional district. “It’s been a big step for us to be involved at this level,” said Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government President Chuck McCarthy. “We’ve always been told under [Indigenous and North Aff airs Canada] what to do, when to do it.” Alan McCarthy, a legislative member of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government, noted how the ACRD quickly responded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. “This table has supported First Nations issues,” he said. Alan McCarthy is a survivor of the residential school system, as are Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Robert Dennis Sr. and Huu-ay-aht Ha’wilth Jeff Cook, who both attended the Alberni Indian Residential School in the late 1950s and 1960s. “It was not the best place to be, but it enabled us to get an education,” said Dennis. “For me it was a very bad experience. So bad I remember one time running away.” As the province reassess the future of its forestry industry, including the deferment of old growth logging in various areas in consultation with First Nations, Dennis emphasized the need for the government to listen to those with deep ancestral ties to the land’s timber. “We need old growth for our cultural purposes,” he said, warning against calls to halt the harvesting of all old trees. “Cultural genocide, that’s what I call it. Somebody trying to cease my right to practice my culture, and use it for whatever purpose I want to use that cedar tree for.” In recent years the Huu-ay-aht have gained a growing stake in Tree Farm Licence 44, a large section of Crown land within the First Nation’s territory south of Port Alberni. Dennis calls this newfound control over the Huu-ay-aht’s territorial resources “economic reconciliation”. “The opportunity is there if we do it right, and doing it right is managing the forest in a good way, including old growth,” he said. “Port Alberni was built on the forestry economy, and we should never lose sight of that. I know people say that it’s a sunset industry. Maybe it is, but there’s still opportunities.” After the Huu-ay-aht and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ joined the ACRD in 2012 the Uchucklesaht Tribe would follow in February 2014, as did the Toquaht Nation in October 2016. In Vancouver Island’s north the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, the fi fth signatory to the Maa-nulth treaty, joined the Strathcona Regional District one year ago. Penny Cote, Sproat Lake’s ACRD director of 17 years, called the movement of First Nations joining the regional district “one of the biggest events that’s ever happened in my career.” “We are in this together,” she said. “We all have challenges. Your challenges are our challenges.” But other First Nations still have yet to gain voting status with the ACRD, including the Tseshaht and Hupacasath in Port Alberni. “I would like to see all First Nations in our community participate in the regional district and have a voice and a full vote,” said Dr. Kel Roberts, who represents Long Beach. “Whether they’re treaty nations or not, it’s extremely important.” “Huu-ay-aht and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ are a model for Canada, but there’s a lot to be done,” added Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns. “Nations shouldn’t have to be in treaty to have a seat at the table.”

Photo by Eric Plummer Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Board Chairperson John Jack (centre), who is an elected councillor with the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, shakes hands with Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation President Chuck McCarthy (right) and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Legislative Member Alan McCarthy on April 13. The two First Nations celebrated 10 years with the regional district as voting governments.

“Cultural genocide, that’s what I call it. Somebody trying to cease my right to practice my culture, and use it for whatever purpose I want to use that cedar tree for.”

~ Robert Dennis Sr. Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor

Ha-Shilth-Sa belongs to every Nuu-chah-nulth person including those who have passed on, and those who are not yet born. A community newspaper cannot exist without community involvement. If you have any great pictures you’ve taken, stories or poems you’ve written, or artwork you have done, please let us know so we can include it in your newspaper. E-mail holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org. This year is Ha-Shilth-Sa’s 48th year of serving the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We look forward to your continued input and support. Kleco! Kleco!

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