An interview with Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod on the upcoming federal election

By Catherine Murton Stoehr

NIPISSING FIRST NATION— On October 6, Nipissing First Nation Ogimaa Scott McLeod publicly endorsed Jagmeet Singh and the New Democratic Party for the upcoming 2020 federal election on his Facebook page saying:

“Justin Trudeau has used up all his political capital with me. I can no longer justify supporting him in good conscience simply to block Andrew Sheer and the Conservatives. The well being of Indigenous children in care is not a political bargaining chip. The fight for our children has now reached a point where there is apparently no difference between a Liberal government and a Conservative one. Our children deserve better. I will be supporting Jagmeet Singh and the NDP Party in the 2019 Federal Election.
#OrangeisthenewRed”

It’s dramatic for a First Nation leader to distance themselves from the Liberals. What did it mean to you as a leader to take that step now?  What are the risks you weighed?

There are always risks with anything.  There are risks for Indigenous people with having a Liberal government.  I feel in 2015 we didn’t vote the Liberal party in, we voted for change and that’s what we got at the time. But over four years, it’s been minimal change in the right direction.  The current government is somewhat complacent and it’s time to push for further change. It was a risk but sometimes you have to put your beliefs and your loyalty to the cause first.

 Did you get any pushback on your statements?

Some other people have their opinions. I never tell anybody who to vote for, but I believe in my position. Because I work closely with government and I learn their policies, I need to convey my opinion.

 What was your disposition at the beginning of the Trudeau government?

Back in 2015, it was more obvious that there was nothing to lose and everything to gain by voting the way most Indigenous people did. But it’s not about any one party. It’s about fighting to get what we deserve and improve people’s lives in our communities.

 From your point of view, what were the key or revealing moments for the 2016 – 2020 Liberal government on First Nations-Canada relations?

Passing of the Anishinabek Education System was huge, and we are grateful for that.  But so many things haven’t moved and, in some areas, have moved backwards.  You have to look at the big picture of the whole track record of government before honing in on individual issues.  You can’t praise any party for doing what is right and fixing wrongs. That should be expected. I don’t give the Liberals big political points for doing something they should be doing in the first place.

 In 2016, Autumn Peltier of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, then 12, gave Prime Minister Trudeau a water bundle and said, “I am very unhappy with the choices you have made.” He appeared to not understand what she was saying, what was your reaction to that?

I was there.  I wasn’t surprised.  It showed the way there was no connection there. It gave the true picture of the relationship that Canada has with First Nations. It’s a good example of different worldviews. Indigenous people see the misunderstanding between them but when non-Indigenous people see the video, they don’t see it.

In 2018, you spoke out against the Liberals’ proposed “Indigenous Rights Framework.”

The biggest disappointment about that was that it was unilaterally decided.  We were expected to agree to something that was presented to us without having input.  If they were talking about self-determination, it makes sense we should have talked about how that would come about.

Recently there has been press coverage of the Liberal government’s failure to build a treatment centre for victims of mercury poisoning at Grassy Narrows.

It’s one example of many.  That’s why I say if you were going to look at [your] son or daughter’s report card, you don’t just look at what they got in gym class.  When you look at all these failures together, the Liberals may have given it their best try, and it wasn’t good enough.

You made a public statement of support for Jagmeet Singh and the NDP shortly after the Liberal government requested a judicial review (appeal) of a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling to compensate First Nations children who were discriminated against. Was there a connection between that action and your announcement coming when it did?

There was absolutely a connection between the announcements. Instead of looking at what was the right thing to do, the current government looked at how they could save money at the expense of Indigenous children and families that were affected. And he didn’t seem to care about prolonging their suffering because there was a possible money savings.

 What are the strongest elements of the NDP platform for you?

Jagmeet was talking about clean water in our northern communities and that was huge, he saw it and he got it.  Some people say it seemed to be late in the game that he made Indigenous issues front and centre.  I look at is as he went and saw the communities, and he knows what the right thing is to do.

How would you characterize your support of the NDP? Enthusiastic, pragmatic, best of a bad lot?

I feel when it comes to support of the NDP, it is purely based on what I believe we can do together to make change for the better. I’m not a flag waving supporter of any party. I’m always looking at it as a means to an end. For me, I look at whose party platform aligns best with what we’re trying to achieve. Their position will never be perfect. I have a pragmatic approach.

You commented recently that the federal candidates in the Nipissing—Timiskaming Riding didn’t seem to know about the Robinson Huron Trial. In your mind, what are the possible implications of them not having that understanding?

I was speaking from what I assume, and in all likelihood, they don’t.  The problem is that when you don’t have party leaders that know those Indigenous issues, its hard for them to garner trust from the Indigenous people. Hopefully things like the Robinson Huron Annuities case get more attention so we can draw more focus to these issues, not just from politicians, but from all Canadians.

 How would your ideal meeting between yourself as a First Nation Chief and a federal MP (from any party) proceed?

First and foremost, an incumbent or any sitting MP should know what the issues are, should know what the people face. First Nations are part of the people voting too and the politicians should pay attention.  In 2015, we saw the impact Indigenous people can have on an election.