"Chiefs' Policy Claims Natives Have Right to Self-Government"

By Vickl White, Expositor Staff

OHSWEKEN - After nine months, the province and the Chiefs of Ontario have produced a policy which could bring new life to the struggle for native rights.

Gordon Peters, head of the native lobby group, presented the statement Monday to Ontario native chiefs gathered at the Six Nations reserve for their annual meeting.

The policy, yet to be ratified by about 100 chiefs who are at the four-day conference, states that native people have an inherent right to self-government which is recognized in the Constitution.

It also says the province is committed to helping native communities work to implement that right.

Mr. Peters told the chiefs that nothing in the statement will take away from the federal government's constitutional responsibility for native people, but it will enhance their ability to negotiate with both levels of government.

"I think it's a significant and monumental step," he said. "It means we start working with a whole different frame of mind" on various self-government issues.

Georges Erasmus, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said no other government in Canada, provincial or federal, has been willing to support such strong statements.

"Most places are saying that there is no (aboriginal) title. Here we're saying not only is there title but Section 35 of the Constitution recognizes the right to govern ourselves."

Mr. Erasmus, who will step down as national chief in one week, said native people across the country will be able to use this policy to pressure other governments to take similar steps.

"This will be the standard in Canada that other governments are measured against.

"It's going to be very hard, particularly for NDP governments, to withstand this. And then the Liberal governments, and then all the Canadian political parties."

Some chiefs wanted to provincial government to come up with firm guarantees instead of general policy statements.

"I cannot support this because I find that the province has not shown any concrete action" to prevent logging all around the Gull Bay reserve, said chief Roger King.

Others said they could use such a document to force the province into action.

Nelson Toulouse, chief of the Sagamok band on the shores of Lake Huron, has been arguing with the Ministry of Natural resources over commercial fishing licences.

"I've been waiting on a document such as this that can be used in our fight," he said.

Six Nations Chief Coun. William Mountour said the policy will help his band work towards a separate justice system.

Although he feels the New Democratic Party represents "a new day and age," some of the other chiefs still have trouble trusting any provincial government, he said.

If the policy is ratified, Mr. Peters said the next step would be to develop the structures and procedures necessary to start negotiations on policing arrangements, education and other self-government issues.