Native anger will spill out, chief warns

By Mark BrettWednesday, March 21, 2007 Penticton Herald

A national uprising similar to the Oka Crisis is being predicted if the federal government continues to ignore aboriginal concerns, according to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. The Penticton Indian Band leader made the comments Tuesday, the day after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveiled his new budget. “I don‘t think there is much doubt that the frustrations and tensions are increasing to the point where we can expect an outward turning of the internal violence that we witness within aboriginal communities on a daily basis,” said Stewart, who is also the president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. “We‘re moving back to the frustrations that arose and intensified in the 80‘s that led to the Oka uprising in 1990 and we‘re going to see another national outbreak of expressions of that violence.”

Stewart said the $21 million in new funding contained in the budget for aboriginal initiatives is just another slap in the face of First Nations people. “We‘re absolutely outraged that the government of Canada is touting a 9 billion surplus yet are not prepared to address the deepening poverty in aboriginal communities,” he said. “The Conservative government failed to endorse the Kelowna Accord which reflected $5.1 billion of new investments into the economic development, health, education and housing programs within aboriginal communities across the country.” Stewart added it is a deliberate refusal on the part of the Harper government to address the “disgraceful and shameful poverty” of aboriginal communities and a failure to live up to its lawful obligation on issues such as land claims. According to the grand chief, settling those outstanding claims, as highlighted in a recent report by the Senate, could go a long ways to improving the welfare of all First Nations people in Canada.

“Our population has exploded and the growing needs have far outstripped the resources to deal with the myriad of social problems that confront aboriginal people,” said Stewart. “I refer to the increase in domestic and family violence, drug-related violence, gang violence that are all part and parcel of poverty.” He added the only reason B.C. is not already experiencing violent outbreaks such as in Caledonia, Ont., is the positive rapport with the provincial government. “But we have a poisonous relationship with the Harper government that continues to worsen at every turn,” said the grand chief. “You can well imagine where we‘re going to be if Harper gets a majority government in the spring. “There are some pretty deep storm clouds on the horizon.”