Green Party Supports National Chief’s Plan to Eliminate Indian Act

Press Release
For Immediate Release
September 2, 2010

OTTAWA — “The Green Party of Canada is prepared to work with First Nations citizens and their representative organizations and leaders in consultation and negotiation to build a new relationship between Canada and the Indigenous Peoples of Canada,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

May welcomed the remarks from Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief Shawn Atleo in his address to the AFN General Assembly. “National Chief Atleo is calling for a nationally facilitated, regionally driven and community mandated approach to move forward into a better future for Canadians and the original peoples,” said May.

“This is something the Green Party is willing to support,” said Lorraine Rekmans, Aboriginal Affairs Critic for the Green Party of Canada. “The National Chief has outlined a plan that calls on the full support of the Canadian Government. It is inclusive of First Nations citizens directly and it will lead us to much needed change constitutionally and institutionally,” said Rekmans.

“We can all agree that the Indian Act is an outdated instrument of oppression, control, paternalism and is long past its due date. The imposition of a colonial regime on First Nations has had drastic results including poverty and rampant suicide. It is a shameful instrument and we must eliminate it without delay,” said Rekmans.

Atleo, has outlined a number of elements to an AFN plan that calls for building a new relationship between the Crown and First Nations including an effort to organize intergovernmental participation at the Council of the Federation. He has called for a fully community-based engagement and decision making process to include grass-roots participation.

“Atelo’s plan is bold and courageous and is a much needed initiative to move Canada into the future. The Indian Act should be an embarrassment to all Canadians. It is a colonial dinosaur from the past and we need to put it behind us as soon as possible,” said Rekmans.

Contact information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
media@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca
c: 613.240.8921