An Effort to Explore RCAP - A 20-Year Commitment

This book: PEOPLE TO PEOPLE, NATION TO NATION – HIGHLIGHTS from the REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES, (Volume V of the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples; Canada Communication Group; Ottawa 1996 http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100014597/1100100014637) has been in my possession for close to 17 years. 

During th at time, I'm sorry to say, I have heard many First Peoples leaders and others refer to the RCAP Report, but it has only now occurred to me that we who call ourselves Canadian citizens also have a responsibility to refer to the Report and to demand action, as Treaty People.

Thus, I have boldly taken the liberty of recapping this Report into a very simple form that I can begin to get my head around, towards beginning to call for the implementation of the RCAP Report.  

This led to discovery of a Globe and Mail article by Anishinabek News editor Maurice Switzer:  "Reserve judgment: If you want to understand the harsh realities that led to the Kashechewan crisis, MAURICE SWITZER says, look at the works that are being ignored", Nov. 5/06.  He writes:  

"Vol. 5, Renewal: A Twenty-Year Commitment, demonstrates the RCAP report's real strength.  It is more than a recitation of past grievances: It offers a concrete action plan to implement many of its 440 recommendations. ...   Seven years later," he continues, "I rarely encounter university students who have ever heard of the RCAP report, let alone the Statement of Reconciliation that was part of Ottawa's official response.  It was titled Gathering Strength.  Most Indians call it Gathering Dust."

Fast forward from 2006 to 2013.

Now we have experienced passage of the omnibus legislation Bill C-45 by the current Stephen Harper government, which means that you and I are beginning to understand the frustration stated so firmly in the RCAP Report that "there must be an acknowledgement that great wrongs have been done to Aboriginal people".  For we see wrongs are being done to The Rest of Us as well, by this omnibus bill, especially as it pertains to "environmental protection and planned environmental degradation that is coming", according to Prof. Pamela Palmater.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okLmloA70z  This is the fourth part of four YouTube videos that speak directly to us as Canadian citizens.  

There is a way in which we are now all in the same boat when we look at what the Stephen Harper  government is doing to the country we call Canada.

So I invite you to have a look at this manifesto that follows, and to think about whether it would be worth the time and effort of at least some of us to come together to see where the RCAP Report could help all of us to find a new way of relating in peace, respect, friendship and harmony.

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PEOPLE TO PEOPLE, NATION TO NATION – HIGHLIGHTS from

the REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

WHAT?

Volume V, Chap. 5, page 125.

WHEN?

Published in 1996.  Begun in 1991.

WHERE?

Across the country.

WHO?

Co-Chairs:  Rene Dussault, j.c.a. and Georges Erasmus

Commissioners: Paul L.A.H. Chartrand, J. Peter Meekison, Viola Robinson, Mary Sillett, Bertha Wilson.

WHY?

“…to help restore justice to the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Canada, and to propose practical solutions to stubborn problems …”

HOW TO BEGIN:

- Government of Canada must commit to renewing the relationship … guided by the principles of recognition, respect, sharing and responsibility.

- We need a new Royal Proclamation, issued by the Queen and presented to the Canadian people in a special assembly called for the purpose.

Legislation:

- An Aboriginal Nations Recognition and Government Act;

- An Aboriginal Treaties Implementation Act;

- An Aboriginal Lands and Treaties Tribunal Act;

- An Aboriginal Parliament Act;

- An Aboriginal Relations Department Act and an Indian and Inuit Services Department Act

“The proclamation and companion legislation can be initiated by the federal government acting on its own.  But it would be better for the future of the relationship and for the negotiations that lie ahead if the governments of Canada, the provinces, the territories and the Aboriginal nations were to work together from the very beginning.”  (Page 132)

GATHERING STRENGTH AND BUILDING CAPACITY:

“To this point we have discussed structural measures …But structures don’t make change; people do.” …This requires early action in four areas:”

·         Healing of individuals, families, communities and nations (p. 135)

·         Economic development (p. 135)

·         Accelerating development of human resources (p. 136)

·         Institution building (p. 136)

THE HIGH COST OF THE STATUS QUO: (p. 137)

RENEWAL AS A GOOD INVESTMENT:

“Canada stands to gain by acting on our proposals.  Aboriginal people will gain by achieving greater productivity and higher incomes.  Other Canadians will gain through reduced government spending and increased government revenues.  Political, economic and social renewal can help Canada balance its books.”  (p. 140)

AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING:

“The tasks we have laid out for renewing the relationship …are huge – but they pale in comparison to the task of changing Canadian hearts and minds so that the majority understand the aspirations of Aboriginal people and accept their historical rights…

We urge Canadians to become involved in a broad and creative campaign of public education.  Our report can be a starting point – a basis for study groups, lectures, meetings and exchanges, organized by churches and unions, schools and hospitals, local businesses and national corporations, about what they can do to understand and accommodate Aboriginal people and their concerns.

“Remaining passive and silent is not neutrality – it is support for the status quo.” (p. 144)

CHARTING PROGRESS:

“We propose that the federal government set up an Aboriginal Peoples Review Commission to assess the actions of governments in accomplishing the tasks on the agenda for change.

“The importance of an Aboriginal Peoples Review Commission will lie in its independence and its ability to focus the attention of legislators and governments on the continuing process of renewal.  It should be independent of governments and report direct to Parliament.” (p. 145)

[Emphases are mine – jk]

Prepared by:

Jean Koning

Peterborough, ON

September 2, 2013

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Thanks for listening.