Six Nations concerned about bill C-10

A report released by the United Nations about indigenous rights, was released Monday. In it, James Anaya says indigenous people in Canada are no better off than they were a decade ago. It also highlights the relationship between them and the federal government is more strained than ever before.

James Anaya spent 9 days last year speaking to First Nation leaders and federal government officials. The report noted the socio-economic state of indigenous people is distressing especially when we consider that Canada is a prosperous first world nation.

We talked to Six Nations Councillor Helen Miller. She told me Ottawa’s C-10 bill is the most disconcerting to her. Also know as the ‘Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act’, it was first introduced last November. Tobacco sold on reserves makes up the smoke shack industry and that has become the economic backbone of many reserves across the country: “You take that away from us and that means 2,000 people are going to be out of work. Not only that, there is a lot of spin off businesses that have come up because of the people in the tobacco industry. They’ve started other businesses in the community which also employ other people. And the tobacco people they donate to the community they donate to our sports teams to all different kind of activities for our youth.”

Another pressing issue is education. Prime Minister Harper promised $1.9 billion in federal money for first nations education earlier this year. However that deal recently fell apart and is now on hold. Miller says her community wants to be in control of their education.

Councillor Miller said: “We have no say over education system presently, we have no say over the teachers, the principals, or who gets hired who doesn’t get hired.  In fact, the principals and teachers aren’t allowed to speak to us.”

The other concern for the first nations community is the hundreds of missing and murdered indigenous women. The Harper government has decided not to hold a national inquest. However, this new report states such a measure is warranted.