Indigenous organizations fear Budget 2021 allocations ignore them

Some Indigenous organizations in the NWT feel excluded from the $18 billion earmarked for Indigenous peoples in .

Released by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on April 19, the new budget proposes $18 billion in investments to narrow gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and bring about further reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and the M茅tis Nation.

But when it comes to how much the budget allocation will benefit NWT M茅tis, it depends on which M茅tis organization will receive funding.

The fiscal arrangement needs to be overhauled so that federal funding goes directly to Indigenous governments and not through the GNWT, said Dene National Chief Norman Yakeleya. NNSL photo

Garry Bailey, president of the (NWTMN), said he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 expect his organization to receive any of the $18 billion.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e asked for direct funding to the NWTMN. Most of the funding seems to go to the M茅tis National Council (MNC), which weSA国际影视传媒檙e not affiliated with,SA国际影视传媒� Bailey said. SA国际影视传媒�(We) end up falling through the cracks. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a big problem for us.SA国际影视传媒�

The lack of specific funding for the NWTMN indicates to Bailey that the federal government still hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 acted on the ruling in the Daniels decision of the Supreme Court. In 2016, that case recognized that M茅tis and non-status Indigenous people are SA国际影视传媒淚ndiansSA国际影视传媒� under section 91(24) of the Constitution Act.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been waiting for five years to have the Daniels case implemented, Bailey said. SA国际影视传媒淭he M茅tis are supposed to be treated equitably with all other First Nations now. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e supposed to get the same programs and services as other First Nations. Why isnSA国际影视传媒檛 the budget reflecting that? I canSA国际影视传媒檛 emphasize how important that is.SA国际影视传媒�

Even though Bailey said the NWTMN wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 consulted over the budget, he expressed his concerns with Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal over the phone just after the budget was released.

SA国际影视传媒淚 mentioned the government has been stalling on the negotiation process for years by not having refreshed mandates. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 nothing in (the budget) about finalizing the land (transfers). ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 nothing in there to support us in the interim. Land transfers would be beneficial for us for economic development.

SA国际影视传媒淭he news we got back was, SA国际影视传媒榊es, we hear you and weSA国际影视传媒檙e having talks about it but itSA国际影视传媒檚 been going on for years. ISA国际影视传媒檝e been bringing the issue up for years. ISA国际影视传媒檝e been involved in this for 25 years. TheySA国际影视传媒檝e never changed.SA国际影视传媒�

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

The (CAP), which represents non-status and off-reserve First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit peoples, was quick to raise alarm over omissions in the budget.

On the same day the budget was published, CAP stated in a that the budget ignores the communities that CAP represents and instead channels funding through the that favours larger organizations like the Assembly of First Nations, MNC and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

That process aims to recognize the unique differences and interests between Indigenous organizations and is in contrast to the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 old pan-Indigenous approach.

CAPSA国际影视传媒檚 national vice-chief Kim Beaudin agrees with BaileySA国际影视传媒檚 views on the budget and said the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 inaction on the Daniels decision has rendered M茅tis invisible, especially M茅tis unaffiliated with the MNC.

While he admits that his organization engages in few activities in the NWT, he points out that the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 distinctions-based approach excludes 80 to 90 per cent of Indigenous peoples living off-reserve.

SA国际影视传媒淚 consider myself a non-status Indian. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a band to advocate on my behalf,SA国际影视传媒� Beaudin said. SA国际影视传媒淭here are people in the NWT who need a voice and weSA国际影视传媒檙e looking to provide that voice, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 hard to provide that when we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the core funding.SA国际影视传媒�

Dene Nation

Dene National Chief Norman Yakeleya is thankful to NWT MP Michael McLeod, Vandal and other Northern leaders for their advocacy that helped bring about the $18 billion allocation for Indigenous peoples.

However, he thinks the CAP and M茅tis leaders make valid points.

For one thing, he would like more transparency over how the funds will flow into Indigenous governments and organizations in the NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes money directed to Indigenous peoples even gets spread around to non-Indigenous people,SA国际影视传媒� Yakeleya said. SA国际影视传媒淚s the GNWT going to put its finger in there and try to take some money? How much of that money is going to be filtered down into the Indigenous communities? Is it going to be dollar for dollar? Or 20 cents of the dollar? The devilSA国际影视传媒檚 in the details, as they say.SA国际影视传媒�

Yakeleya also acknowledges that CAP and the NWTMN are right to criticize the funding structure that prioritizes the large, national Indigenous organizations over smaller ones.

Governments, including the provinces, territories, Indigenous governments and land claims settlement organizations want a piece of the budget dollars, Yakeleya said.

SA国际影视传媒淓ach community has their own aspirations of how to build their economies. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 realize the damage it does to us because weSA国际影视传媒檙e thinking SA国际影视传媒榳in-lose.SA国际影视传媒� ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no SA国际影视传媒榳in-winSA国际影视传媒�.

SA国际影视传媒淚 believe the whole fiscal arrangement needs to be overhauled. In the NWT, we have the Tlicho and Deline self-government agreements. They should be on equal par with the GNWT, along with the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n and Sahtu. The funding should go directly to them and bypass the GNWT. The status quo is no longer working or no longer good enough. The Government of Canada needs to recognize that.SA国际影视传媒�

Yakeleya also acknowledges that CAP and the NWTMN are right to criticize the funding structure that prioritizes the large, national Indigenous organizations over smaller ones.

Governments, including the provinces, territories, Indigenous governments and land claims settlement organizations want a piece of the budget dollars, Yakeleya said.

Indigenous Services Canada did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.

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