In less then a
week, the 2014 Liberal Party of Canada Biennial will take place in Montreal,
Quebec. With a rejuvenated party, excited members and supporters, as well as a
new leader there is much to be celebrated when many in the Liberal family get
together in less then a week – including policy proposals from all over what we
in the Indigenous world refer to as ‘Turtle Island.’
Indeed, the
Aboriginal Peoples' Commission is very excited for it has come so far since the
current executive gave new blood to a commission that was close to being taken off of life
support. I am proud to be apart of that executive, and even prouder that the
APC has 10 policies to discuss – not to mention that the LPC has a specific
section on Indigenous policy during this Biennial Convention (Big thanks to
Maryanne Kampouris). Out of those 10 policies, there is one that has already
been identified as a priority policy for the APC (http://www.liberal.ca/21-acknowledging-order-move-resolution-officially-reject-1969-white-paper/),
and this blog will assist to explain why.
The 1969 White Paper: Acknowledging the
Past in Order to Move Forward:
For many
Non-Indigenous peoples, the concept and correlation of the White Paper of 1969
to the Liberal Party is not fully understood or sufficiently acknowledged. Part
of this relates to the fact that in western theory and philosophy progress
requires always looking forward – no need to worry about past mistakes, to an
extent. This is what happened with the 1969 White Paper in the early 1970s.
Now, some of you may wonder why a policy from 1969 is of such importance to
recognize. Well, this relates to embracing and understanding Indigenous
philosophies and ways of moving forward. For many Indigenous nations/ethnic
groups – to move forward requires understanding the past. To understand the
past is of such importance in order to never forget of the past mistakes that
occurred in order to guide and build stronger relationships.
In
other words, to re-formulate a relationship, or as Justin Trudeau himself said
at the APC event in Whitehorse, Yukon in July of 2013 – a broken relationship,
it is important to consider both ways of thinking when trying to re-establish
and heal a relationship that has long been degraded by colonialism and paternalistic
policies such as the White Paper of 1969.
What is the 1969 White Paper?
With the election of Pierre Trudeau and the Liberal Party to a majority
government in 1968, the beginning of multiculturalism, integration, as well as
the ‘Canadian identity’ was developing threefold in the Canadian context.
Additionally, more people were noticing the issues many First Nations people
were facing on and off-reserve/inside and outside of their communities. It was decided under the Trudeau
government that there would be a cross Canada tour and consultation process
with various First Nations in order to comprehend what the issues were that
they faced and caused them to be in sub-standard conditions compared to that of
Canadians.
The consultations were quite amazing, in my point of view, as many First
Nations peoples got to highlight what has been impacting them for years,
decades and over a century. Many thought that this would be a turning point in
the Canadian/Indigenous relationship – perhaps one that would lead us back to
an understanding of mutual respect, friendship and recognition. However, that
would not be the case in June of 1969 when the White Paper was
introduced to the House of Commons.
The White Paper, when introduced, was actually the opposite of what
First Nations peoples told them during the consultations. The document
introduced sought to abolish the Indian Act, as well as all treaties,
treaty rights, Indigenous lands, and any recognition of the Indigenous nations.
Originally, the policy was applauded in the House of Commons, with both the CPC
and NDP speaking in favour of it. First Nations peoples became angry and this
may have been one of the final attacks that assisting with mobilization and the
re-emergences of concepts of Indigeneity as well as items like Indigenous
organizations, Cardinal’s Red Paper, etc. Unfortunately, instead of
acknowledging the mistake of the White Paper, the Liberals dropped it
and moved on.
How does it Impact Indigenous/LPC
Relations Today?
Although it is
today acknowledged by some party brass, past-politicians, and so on, that by not adopting one should consider it as a sign
of rejecting it - On many of the Indigenous points of view this is not
acknowledged or accepted to be the case. This of major importance
because Indigenous understanding is completely ignored on and in relation to
what this policy did to Indigenous/LPC relations. While the party has tried to
move beyond it, many Indigenous peoples never forgot and thus question the LPC’s
commitments due to the fact it has yet to officially reject what the policy
itself stands for, let alone acknowledge it as a mistake.
Over the last
ten years that I have been involved I, and fellow Indigenous Liberals that I
have met and worked with, have continuously heard about it. Whether the First
Nations peoples I talk to are politically involved or not – many still speak of
the 1969 White Paper as one that was meant to effectively wash away our
recognition and what remnants, at the time, still existed. Even though the
Liberals did not implement it the need to officially acknowledge it as a
mistake is still needed to show First Nations peoples that the party
institution and mentality itself has evolved.
People in the party may replace those who sat as Liberal MPs and Senators in
the past; replace those elected to executive positions in the party, and may
even replace past card carrying members – it does not necessarily change the
connotation some have to the name of the political party itself. Thus, I do believe that if the party
truly wants to work with the Indigenous nations and show the ability to work
nation-to-nation and obtain a relationship based off of mutual respect and
recognition, which Justin Trudeau himself has spoken of, the party needs to
acknowledge publicly that the White Paper was a mistake and that the
Liberals have learned from it.
Why Should You Care/Why Should you
Support This Policy?
I, as well as
others I know, can heavily attest to the change in Liberal mentality – most
noticeable being Martin’s push for the Kelowna Accord, National Child
care and Kyoto; Dion’s commitment to environmental stability and
protection of the earth; Ignatieff’s commitment to revamp education funding and
remove the caps currently imposed; and, most recently, Justin Trudeau’s
commitment to a respectful relationship where he agrees we must work together.
Even Trudeau himself said at the APC’s event in Whitehorse, July of 2013, that
no party is clear of the historical pasts in Canada’s history. The key, in my
view, is who has learned and which political parties acknowledge it.
Despite some
of these commitments, some Indigenous peoples still look to the Liberals in a
weary way, with even more not casting a ballot period (See the source section and my M.A Thesis which touches on this). For many First Nations peoples the fact that
the party itself has not yet acknowledged the pain such a policy as the 1969
White Paper inflicted means that trusting the LPC and extended a hand out in
friendship is a hotly debated and contested thing throughout ‘Turtle Island.’
Thus, I urge
you all to support the APC’s push for officially recognizing the 1969 White
Paper as a mistake to which the LPC will never repeat again. Many Indigenous
peoples in touch with their Indigenous nations and fellow peoples have heard
about this for years. It is time, at the LPC Biennial Convention of 2014 to
make it a reality and acknowledge the mistake of the 1969 White Paper.
Sources To Consider:
Banducci,
Susan, Todd Donovan, and Jeffrey Karp. "Minority Representation,
Empowerment, and Participation." The Journal of Politics 66, no. 2
(May 2004): 534-556.
Barsh,
Russel Lawrence. "Canada's Aboriginal Peoples: Social Integration or Disintegration?"
Canadian Journal of Native Studies 14, no. 1 (1994): 1-46.
Barsh,
Russel Lawrence. "The Nature and Spirit of North American Political
Systems." American Indian Quarterly, (1986): 181-198.
Borrows,
John. Canada's Indigenous Constitution. Toronto: University of Toronto
Press, 2010.
Borrows,
John. "'Landed' Citizenship: Narratives of Aboriginal Political
Participation." In Citizenship in Diverse Societies, by Will
Kymlicka and Wayne Norman, Oxford: Oxford University Press, (2012): 326-344.
Borrows,
John. "Seven Generations, Seven Teachings: Ending the Indian Act."
Research Paper, National Centre for First Nations Governance, Ottawa, 2008.
Cowie, C. (2013). Validity and Potential: Dual Citizenship and
the Indigenous Vote in Canada’s Federal Electoral Process. Masters of Arts
Thesis, University of Manitoba, Political Studies.
Epp,
Roger. “We Are All Treaty People: History, Reconciliation, and the “Settler
Problem.” In We Are All Treaty People: Prairie Essays, by Roger Epp,
(2008):121-141
Fournier,
Patrick and Peter John Loewen. Aboriginal Electoral Participation in Canada.
Government of Canada, 2011
Gordon,
Todd. Imperialist Canada. Winnipeg: Arbeiter Ring Publishing, 2010.
Government
of Canada. Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy (The White
Paper, 1969). Ottawa: Indian Affairs and Northern Development, 1969
Kulchyski,
Peter, D. McCaskill, and David Newhouse (1999). In The Words of Elders: Aboriginal
Cultures in Transition. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Ladner,
Kiera. "The Alienation of Nation: Understanding Aboriginal Electoral
Participation." Electoral Insight, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2003: 21-26.
Ladner,
Kiera. Peace and Good Order: A Treaty Right to Parliamentary Representation?
Ottawa: Carleton University, 1996
Ladner,
Kiera, and Michael McCrossan. "The Road not Taken." In Contested
Constitutionalism: Reflection on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
by James Kelly and Christopher Manfredi. Vancouver: University of British
Columbia Press, (2009): 263- 283.
Mecredi,
Ovide and Mary Ellen Turpel. In the Rapids: Navigating the Future of First
Nations. Toronto: Penguin Books. 1993.
Royal
Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP). 1996. Report of the Royal
Commission on
Aboriginal
Peoples,
Vol 1. Ottawa: Canada Communications Group
Royal Commission on Aboriginal
Peoples (RCAP). 1996. Report of the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal
Peoples,
Vol 2. Ottawa: Canada Communications Group
Royal Commission on Aboriginal
Peoples (RCAP). 1996. Report of the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal
Peoples,
Vol 3. Ottawa: Canada Communications Group
Royal Commission on Aboriginal
Peoples (RCAP). 1996. Report of the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal
Peoples,
Vol 4. Ottawa: Canada Communications Group
Royal Commission on Aboriginal
Peoples (RCAP). 1996. Report of the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal
Peoples,
Vol 5. Ottawa: Canada Communications Group
Schouls,
Tim. “The Basic Dilemma: Sovereignty or Assimilation.” In John Bird, Lorraine
Land and Murray MacAdam, Nation to Nation: Aboriginal Sovereignty and the
Future of Canada. Toronto: Irwin Publishing, 2002, 15
Simpson,
Leanne. Dancing on Our Turtle's Back: Stories of Nishnaabeg Re-Creation,
Resurgence and a New Emergence. Winnipeg: Arbeiter Ring Publishing, 2011.
Sherwin,
Allan. Bridging Two Peoples. Waterloo ON CA: Wilfred Laurier University
Press, 2012
Tobias,
John. “Protection, Civilization, and Assimilation.” In Sweet Promises: A
Reader on Indian-White Relations, by J.R. Miller, 127-144. Toronto:
University of Toronto Press, 1991.
Young,
Iris Marion. “Two Concepts of Self-Determination.” In Ethnicity,
Nationalism, and Minority Rights, eds S. May, T. Modood and J. Squires.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
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