The leaders of three national Indigenous organizations have expressed that the Liberal Party of Canada has not fully lived up to the promises of fostering new paths and nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous Peoples that were made in 2015. They have highlighted challenges in working with the federal government to implement rights and build a better relationship with the country. There has been a shift in the government’s agenda with the focus on issues like the housing crisis and increased cost of living, without adequate acknowledgment of the longstanding challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous leaders have emphasized the need for significant work to be done before the upcoming federal election in areas such as recognition of rights, child welfare reforms, addressing the infrastructure gap, and providing clean drinking water. The issue of who is recognized as Indigenous has become a point of contention, particularly in relation to the recognition of Métis governments, leading to questions about identity and self-government for Indigenous Peoples. The federal government has been urged to follow the lead of Indigenous leaders in understanding histories and acknowledging identities.
Child welfare is another major area of concern, with a $47.8 billion agreement reached between the federal government and First Nations to reform the on-reserve child welfare system. However, there are divisions among chiefs regarding the extent to which the agreement addresses the systemic issues faced by Indigenous children. Legislation such as Bill C-61, focused on ensuring clean drinking water for First Nations communities, has stalled in the House of Commons, raising questions about the government’s commitment to addressing critical issues faced by Indigenous Peoples.
The creation of a National Council for Reconciliation earlier this year, intended to monitor the federal government’s progress toward reconciliation, has been met with skepticism by Indigenous leaders. There are concerns that the council may not effectively address the ongoing challenges and may be used to undermine Indigenous efforts towards reconciliation. The need for a sustained effort from successive governments to prioritize Indigenous rights and reconciliation has been emphasized, with Indigenous leaders hoping that the momentum achieved so far is not lost in the event of a change in government after the next election.
Overall, while progress has been made in certain areas, there are still significant challenges in the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the federal government. Indigenous leaders are calling for a more consistent and comprehensive approach to addressing the longstanding issues faced by Indigenous communities, from recognition of rights to clean drinking water. They stress the importance of true partnership and commitment from the government to move towards reconciliation and meaningful change for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
