Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Throne Speech is Deficient: Aboriginal Social and Economic Conditions Are Caused by Federal and Provincial Theft of Aboriginal Lands and Resources

(Kamloops, Secwepemc Territory/January 30, 2001) Canada's Throne Speech confirms that once again, Jean Chretien, intends to avoid addressing the return of Aboriginal lands and resources to their rightful Aboriginal owners, which continue to be illegally taken by successive non-Aboriginal governments.

The Throne Speech mentions a list of Aboriginal social and economic needs such as;

Strengthening Governance, transparency, accountability, administrative practices.
Education, housing, infrastructure.
Early childhood and Headstart Programs.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Diabetes Prevention.
Reduce Number of Aboriginal People in Justice system.
Aboriginal peoples business skills and entrepreneurial expertise.

These needs have come about because of successive federal government policies of denying Aboriginal and treaty rights to lands and resources beyond Indian Act reserves.

In 1993, Jean Chretien broke his promises to recognize Aboriginal and treaty rights to lands and resources, which were contained in Red Book I.

Jean Chretien, also delayed responding to the Final Report and Recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples for over a year. When his government did respond, it was in two documents, Gathering Strength and Agenda for Action, both of these documents emphasized working on social problems and programs and ignored the RCAP recommendations calling for a redistribution of lands and resources for Aboriginal peoples.

The Tourism Committee of the German Parliament has already written directly to Prime Minister Chretien asking him to respond to their questions about the impacts of mass tourism like ski resorts, on Aboriginal peoples and their territories.

Chief Arthur Manuel, Chairman of the Interior Alliance, reacted to the Throne Speech by stating "Jean Chretien=s Throne Speech confirms that for a third time he is going to try and ignore Aboriginal and treaty rights to lands and resources, and focus instead on social welfare type programs and economic trickle down. We are being told to wait around for the federal Finance Minister to tell us what the amounts of funding will be made available to address our social and economic needs."

"While there is no doubt we need these financial resources, it is equally true that billions of dollars are being made by non-Aboriginal peoples off of our property interests in lands and resources that rightfully belong to us. Jean Chretien has announced through his Throne Speech, that he intends to keep up his Team Canada approach, and that he is going to the United States and Europe. We are also going to the United States and Europe to tell investors, customers and tourists that Canada is dealing in stolen goods derived from the theft of our lands and resources. We will ask them to shop, invest or visit elsewhere, until our Aboriginal title and rights are recognized and accommodated. In Europe, we will ask our support groups to demonstrate when Team Canada shows up in their countries."