Anti-Bill 191 campaign builds steam

Shibogama’s Margaret Kenequanash is planning to join the protesters at the Kill the Bill! No to Bill 191 – The Far North Act rally.
“It is a concern of mine that this could have a big impact on the lives of our people should this legislation go through,” said the executive director of Shibogama First Nations Council.
“One big concern that I have is the ministerial discretion. If we are saying we are a nation and we are sovereign, we should not hand over our jurisdiction to a provincial government. Especially if we have a treaty with the crown.”
Kenequanash said Shibogama would hand deliver it’s Anti-Bill 191 petitions to Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton for delivery to Queen’s Park.
“We also did a final submission that we will send to the Standing Committee of Bill 191,” Kenequanash said, explaining that she understands the government is going ahead with the clause-by-clause examination of the legislation with the Third Reading to be held possibly on Sept. 16 despite Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s opposition to Bill 191.
Kenequanash said if Bill 191 is passed it would be a big mistake by the provincial government.
“Unfortunately, if this goes through with NAN’s opposition, I think there are going to be a lot of impacts that will be created, not only for First Nations but also for the rest of Ontario’s people,” Kenequanash said. “If you remember what happened with the KI (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug) situation, I think we are going to be looking at more of those.”
Kenequanash said the people of NAN need to protect what is rightfully theirs.
“It (the legislation) looked good at the beginning when they started talking to us about it,” Kenequanash said. “There was a lot of work that has been put into this whole discussion.”
Kenequanash said the NAN communities forwarded “a lot of different papers” to the Ontario government on the Bill 191 issue, but each time nothing went through.
“It was a real frustrating process,” Kenequanash said.
Kenequanash said the communities and tribal councils have also sent out letters to the provincial government asking for changes to the legislation.
“When you take a look at the changes (the provincial government is) proposing, it’s merely a word change but the concept of that legislation is still there,” Kenequanash said. “It does not address the issues that our communities, our leadership want in the legislation.”
Kenequanash said the provincial government has been providing “a lot of lip service” to First Nations over the past few years.
“Although they keep saying there is a lot of people supporting their initiative, I have yet to see which communities those are,” Kenequanash said.
The Shibogama chiefs are planning to send a delegation from their communities to the Kill the Bill! No to Bill 191 – The Far North Act rally, which is scheduled for Sept. 15-16 at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation launched the anti-Bill 191 campaign after the NAN Chiefs-in-Assembly unanimously declared their official opposition to Bill 191 Aug. 13.
“We are done talking, it’s time to take serious action,” said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “First Nations must have a say in how and when our land will be developed. Bill 191 takes away that right for our remote communities in the Far North.”
Bill 191, the Far North Act, was introduced in June 2009 to permanently protect at least half of the Ontario’s Far North, covering an area of about 225,000 square kilometres, in a network of conservation lands and allow for sustainable development of the region’s natural resources.
“It is vital that we make NAN’s presence and position known,” Beardy said. “We are coming together in unity to fight for what is rightfully ours.”
Beardy said the NAN communities never gave up the right to govern themselves through the treaty making process.
“Neither did we give up our title to our homelands,” Beardy said. “That is the problem with (Bill) 191: the provincial minister has veto rights on decisions regarding to the uses of the land as well as the protected areas. We cannot support that.”
As well, Beardy said the Ontario legislation does not recognize First Nation jurisdiction and authority over their homelands.
“Also, that legislation fails to honour our inherent Aboriginal treaty rights.”
Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey said in an e-mail that Ontario is moving forward with land use planning as it is important to balance environmental protection with resource development across the region but the MNR recognizes as well that there is more work to be done based on dialogue with Beardy and other NAN representatives.
“It is inaccurate to say that the bill will take away First Nations’ decisions on how and where development can occur,” Jeffrey said.
“Bill 191 represents a change in the working relationship between First Nations and Ontario in the Far North. If passed, the bill would provide a new approach to land use planning, one of cooperation and joint responsibility for the planning process.”
Jeffrey said Bill 191 was amended after First Reading through feedback from NAN communities and others and will be amended once again clause-by-clause in the legislature.