Leaders meet with PM, discuss variety of topics

April 13, 2016

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee and Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins present Prime Minister Trudeau with both French and English versions of the 'We are all Treaty People' teachers treaty relationship resource on April 8 in Thunder Bay. — Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee and Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins present Prime Minister Trudeau with both French and English versions of the ‘We are all Treaty People’ teachers treaty relationship resource on April 8 in Thunder Bay.

By Marci Becking

THUNDER BAY – Indigenous leaders met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on April 8 to discuss education and health and infrastructure needs in First Nations.
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee, along with Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins, Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day, Treaty 3 Grand Chief Warren White and Nishnawbe Aski Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler all reported that they had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister.
“The Prime Minister did a lot of listening,” says Grand Council Chief Madahbee. “I told him we were heading into ratification this fall with the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement. I told him that the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body in each Regional Education Council will be the drivers in this process in terms of developing curriculum that will be focused on our culture, history and language.”
Madahbee also reminded Trudeau of the needs for capital infrastructure in education. There are many older schools that are in desperate need of repairs.
“I also gave him an update on our Child Well-Being Law and our Citizenship Law – E-dbendaagzijig. I reminded him that the Indian Act is a form of perpetual genocide,” says Madahbee.
Madahbee also hand-delivered a letter from the Robinson Huron Chiefs on the Treaty Claim and presented the Prime Minister with French and English “We are all Treaty People” teachers resource kits.
“I told him how Kelly Crawford from M’Chigeeng wrote the guide for teachers to help them teach the treaty relationship. I also told him about Alex Hebert from Dokis designed the LEGO belt and how difficult it is to get purple LEGO bricks.”
Ontario Regional Chief Day spoke about having a treaty dialogue with rights holders and climate change. Fort William First Nation Chief Collins spoke about mental health challenges and addictions as well as the economic impacts of not having the James Street bridge repaired in his community.

“The Anishinabek Nation is well-positioned for self-government,” says Madahbee. “We’re ready to go. I also told Trudeau about our Economic Blueprint.”

Nishnawbe Aski Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler spoke to the health emergencies in his territory as well as the Ring of Fire. Treaty 3’s Grand Chief Warren White focused his comments on the treaty discussion.
Trudeau said that there are a lot of challenges and sees them as opportunities. He acknowledged that he can’t fix everything, but has to start somewhere and get traction on the issues.