The Tribal Chairman of the Tsilhqot’in National Government calls Canada’s announcement of a New Recognition and Implementation of Indigenous Rights Framework as a significant step in the right direction.
Chief Joe Alphonse says they were in Parliament on Wednesday to hear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s call to recognize and support the right of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and control of their futures.
“When we start looking across the board and start looking at murdered and missing women, and the Colten Boushie incident there has to be more recognition of Indigenous First Nations across Canada.”
Alphonse says although certain departments have always done so, it is only a couple and there are many that haven’t.
“It’s also acknowledging where First Nations are in this country,” he adds.
“This is an extension of our court case so I think it’s a good thing for First Nations across Canada. We spend so much time trying to justify that we exist, now with this, we don’t have to worry about that.”
Trudeau said that he wants to breathe new life into Section 35 of the Constitution Act which recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and treaty rights that according to him have been ignored for the last 150 years having to go through the courts one case at a time.
Alphonse is in Ottawa this week meeting with federal government officials to discuss the exoneration of their war chiefs.
He says that a date of March 26 has been set for that.