If Pierre Poilievre wants to become the prime minister, then he still needs to educate himself about First Nation Peoples, says a former Chief.

The rebuke by Judy Wilson, a former Kukpi7 (Chief) from unceded SecwepemculSA国际影视传媒檈cw territory, of PoilievreSA国际影视传媒檚 first in-person speech to the Assembly of First Nations was par for the course as he pitched his firebrand SA国际影视传媒渃ommon-senseSA国际影视传媒� conservatism.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is my first meeting in person, but I hope it is the first of many,SA国际影视传媒� Poilievre said to a room of over 300 First Nation leaders, positioning himself as prime minister-in-waiting.

The speech did not veer from PoilievresSA国际影视传媒檚 slogan-ready promises to axe the tax, build homes, stop crime, and fix the budget, but instead reframed them with a First Nation lens SA国际影视传媒� addressing the Chiefs of OntarioSA国际影视传媒檚 judicial review of carbon pricing, First Nation policing, and the housing crisis on First Nations.

Poilievre also appealed to conservatismSA国际影视传媒檚 first principles, which he argues are shared with First Nations: the values of faith and spirituality, family, tradition, entrepreneurship and land.

SA国际影视传媒淚t may surprise some of you to learn that the values and institutions of your precolonial historySA国际影视传媒� are shared by Conservatives,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Much of the speech centred on PoilievreSA国际影视传媒檚 vision for small government: removing barriers to development in the form of what he calls SA国际影视传媒済atekeepers,SA国际影视传媒� and placing economic reconciliation at the forefront of his Indigenous policy.

Giving a specific example, Poilievre spoke to his flagship policy that would give First Nations the ability to tax industries operating on their traditional territory. The program would be optional, and companies would be granted a 50 per cent refundable tax credit to make it economically viable for industry.

Following PoilievreSA国际影视传媒檚 address, Wilson slammed Poilievre for not acknowledging Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the United Nations on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and inherent title rights for nations on unceded territory without treaties. Wilson also rebuked the opposition leader for failing to speak about the climate crisis.

SA国际影视传媒淗ow can we dismiss the climate crisis? We have heat domes people are dying from, we have wildfires you have to address the climate crisis,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

Wilson also derided Poilievre for failing to acknowledge residential school survivors, whose experiences led to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Gabriel Maracle, a political science professor at Carleton University and an enrolled member of Tyendinaga, believes Poilievre will continue to use the language of reconciliation in some capacity.

For example, Poilievre noted that SA国际影视传媒渟ocial support requires economic reconciliation.SA国际影视传媒�

That made sense in MaracleSA国际影视传媒檚 understanding of the Conservative PartySA国际影视传媒檚 approach to reconciliation.

SA国际影视传媒淔rom a conservative governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 perspective, ensuring economic development is foundational to protecting and supporting Indigenous peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 rights,SA国际影视传媒� Maracle wrote in an email.

Maracle does not think the legislation enshrining the United Nations declaration in federal law will be repealed, but he does see a scenario in which implementation could be dragged out and insufficient.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll inherent rights are framed by the Conservative Party as existing under the auspices of the Constitution, rather than rights that have existed on these lands before Canada was even a country,SA国际影视传媒� Maracle said about recent conservative policy rhetoric, including those found in the Conservative partySA国际影视传媒檚 policy declaration document.

For example, Indigenous Peoples are described as SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous CanadiansSA国际影视传媒� in the policy document, which frames Indigenous Peoples as a subset of a larger Canadian state.

The language directly contradicts the United Nations declaration, which raises the question of what free, prior, and informed consent will look like when nations oppose, rather than support, resource development.

SA国际影视传媒淚 believe in Section 35 consultation rights,SA国际影视传媒� Poilievre said in his speech, specifying that he sees consultation as a right that cuts two ways. SA国际影视传媒淚 believe those rights require our government consult with people who want those projects to go ahead, as well as those that donSA国际影视传媒檛 want them to go ahead.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y Matteo Cimellaro, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 National Observer