WE'KOQMA'Q, NS,
June 21,
2024 /CNW/ - When Indigenous Peoples succeed,
Canada succeeds. A fairer future
for every generation of Indigenous Peoples includes better access
to education, and good-paying jobs. With renewed Nation-to-Nation,
Government-to-Government, and Inuit-Crown relationships, we are
creating thousands of jobs, generating economic opportunity for
First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, and closing the
education infrastructure gaps which have affected Indigenous
communities for far too long.
Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate the rich
histories, heritage, and strength of First Nations, Inuit and Métis
across Canada. Together, we
reaffirm our partnership in working towards a better future.
The Prime Minister, Justin
Trudeau, alongside Chief Leroy Denny of Eskasoni First
Nation and Chair of Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, Blaire Gould,
Executive Director of Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, and John Leonard Bernard, Interim Chief of the
We'koqma'q L'nue'kati, today welcomed an important milestone in
delivering agreements that address past injustices, improve access
to education, close infrastructure gaps, and deliver fairness for
Indigenous Peoples in Nova
Scotia.
This includes the delivery of:
- more than $16 million per year in increased
funding to Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey to maintain, repair, and replace
their existing education infrastructure, as well as bolster
governance functions to support their education system. This
funding will help ensure communities, including approximately 3,000
students, have the resources they need to succeed while remaining
connected to Mi'kmaw culture and language. It will support improved
quality of life, reduce poverty, and build a more resilient and
fair local economy.
- a $125 million proposed settlement agreement with the
We'koqma'q L'nue'kati to resolve their specific claim regarding the
improper sale of reserve land in 1862. Following the sale
of this land, with a lake on one side of reserve lands and a
mountain on the other, the community lost the opportunity to expand
and benefit economically from the use of their land. The new
proposed agreement is the result of many years of negotiations with
the First Nation. It will need to be voted upon by its members
before it can be finalized.
We are advancing reconciliation with concrete action. With
continued collaboration with Indigenous partners across the
country, we will achieve the objectives set out in the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and
contribute to the implementation of the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and Action
Plan.
As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day today, we
reflect on the experiences and achievements of First Nations, Inuit
and Métis across the country, celebrate their cultures and
diversity, and recommit to walking the path of reconciliation
together. By confronting our past, addressing its ongoing impacts
on Indigenous Peoples, and supporting their healing journey, we can
build a better, fairer future for everyone in Canada.
Quotes
"Our government is a partner on the shared path toward
meaningful reconciliation. On this National Indigenous Peoples Day,
I look forward to working with Indigenous partners across the
country to make meaningful progress on the issues that matter most
to them – and all Canadians. Together, let's build a better, fairer
Canada for everyone."
— The Rt. Hon. Justin
Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
"As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, we reaffirm
our commitment to understanding and acknowledging our past and its
ongoing impacts, a critical step toward healing on the path of
reconciliation. Acknowledging the difficult parts of our history is
central to redefining our relationships with Indigenous Peoples and
creating meaningful change today to last into the future. We will
continue to rebuild nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous
communities in Nova Scotia,
together."
— The Hon. Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of
Crown-Indigenous Relations
"Investing in education is investing in the present and future.
With better education, Mi'kmaw youth are better able to understand
their opportunities and to truly walk a path of self-determination.
This is important not just to an individual, but rather a family, a
community, and most importantly, a nation."
— Blaire Gould, Executive Director, Mi'kmaw
Kina'matnewey
"We are thrilled to make this announcement that enables
communities and the organization to do more. We have walked through
this process with a lot of optimism and look forward to the
positive changes this allows communities to make. We thank our
contributors and partners in this work from First Nations and the
federal government. While it is an important and significant first
step, we know that there is a lot of work to be done."
— Chief Leroy Denny, Eskasoni First Nation and Chair,
Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
"The initialling of the specific land claim on National
Indigenous Peoples Day is a momentous occasion for the community of
We'koqma'q. This resolution holds great significance and marks a
crucial step towards reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples. By
addressing historical injustices, this settlement represents a
cornerstone that will empower our community socially, economically
and culturally. We extend our utmost appreciation to all parties
involved in the journey towards a successful resolution that
affirms a promising future for generations to come."
— John Leonard Bernard, Interim Chief, We'koqma'q
L'nue'kati
Quick Facts
- Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey serves 12 out of the 13 Mi'kmaq
communities within Mi'kma'ki territory, in Nova Scotia.
- The funding provided to Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey is the result of
new fiscal policy approaches applied to education sectoral
self-governments under Canada's
collaborative self-government fiscal policy, which was co-developed
with First Nations partners and implemented in 2019 to better
reflect the costs of self-government.
- Education sectoral self-government agreements provide
Indigenous governments with the ability to establish an education
system that addresses the needs of students in participating
communities.
- We'koqma'q L'nue'kati (We'koqma'q First Nation) is a small
Mi'kmaw Community located in Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia of approximately
1,100 members. The community is bordered by Bras D'Or Lake and a
mountainous range known as Skye
Mountain.
- Specific claims address past wrongs against First Nations.
These claims, made by First Nations against the Government of
Canada, relate to the
administration of land and other First Nation assets and to the
fulfilment of historical treaties and other agreements.
- The date of the vote by members of the We'koqma'q L'nue'kati
nation on the proposed settlement agreement has not yet been
determined by the First Nation.
- From January 1, 2016, to
May 31, 2024, 299 claims have been
resolved by Canada for close to
$11.4 billion in compensation.
Since the launch of the Specific Claims Program in 1973 to
May 31, 2024, 704 claims totalling
$15.2 billion in compensation
have been settled through negotiations.
- On June 21, for National
Indigenous Peoples Day, Canadians come together to recognize and
celebrate the history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First
Nations, Inuit and Métis across the country. The day was created in
1996 as National Aboriginal Day and later renamed National
Indigenous Peoples Day.
Associated Links
- Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
- We'koqma'q L'nue'kati
- https://www.kinu.ca/about-usCanada's collaborative self-government fiscal
policy
- Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples Act
- National Indigenous Peoples Day
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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada