The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and our 14 member First Nations would like to congratulate Prime Minister-Elect Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party of Canada members on their election to a majority government.
We also extend our congratulations to the three newly elected NDP members in Nuu-chah-nulth traditional territories on Vancouver Island: Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni), Rachel Blaney (North Island-Powell River) and Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford).
The NTC would also like to acknowledge one of our own members, Brenda Sayers of Hupacasath First Nation, for putting her name forward as a Green Party candidate in North Island-Powell River. Kleco Kleco.
"Congratulations to everyone who used their voice and who exercised their right to vote," said NTC President Deb Foxcroft. "Thank you to all our First Nations and Aboriginal people in this country who made a difference in many ridings, here in B.C. and across the country."
NTC Vice-President Ken Watts said the message of Election 2015 is clear: It is time for change. Canadians have now recognized that First Nations issues have become a major political and social priority. Watts said that desire for change is reflected in the national voter turnout: 17.5 million voters, or 68.3 per cent of eligible voters (70 per cent in B.C.).
For Election 2015, Nuu-chah-nulth members turned out to vote in record numbers. They included first-time voters, those who hadn’t voted for a long time, young voters, students, elders, and Ha’wiih. Special thanks to those who helped ensure that our people got out to vote, both at the advance polls and on Election Day. We truly did Rock The Vote in our Ha’wiih Ha-ha-houlthee (chiefly territories).
In the face of a government that seemed indifferent – and at times hostile – to the aspirations of First Peoples, people in all provinces and territories have voted for change. For the first time in Canadian election history, unprecedented participation by First Nations, Metis and Inuit voters has tipped the balance in critical ridings right across the country.
We are encouraged by the record number of 10 Indigenous MPs elected to the 42nd Parliament of Canada. These include B.C.’s own Puglaas Jody Wilson-Raybould of We Wai Kai First Nation. Wilson-Raybould, a member of the Liberal Party, was elected in Vancouver-Granville, and must be considered a front-runner for a Cabinet post.
Foxcroft said she is optimistic that this new Parliament, with its record number of Indigenous MPs, will bring more respect and more recognition for Aboriginal values and culture.
"Perhaps now we have a new vision for Canada – a country where we strive to live in harmony, work and create a better life for our children, youth and elders."
As part of its election platform, the Liberal Party made a series of campaign commitments that have created high expectations for Canada’s Aboriginal people. These include:
- enacting the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including the adoption of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- immediately launching a national public inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- re-starting the 2005 Kelowna Accord process, with its $5 billion in unfulfilled programs
- spending $2.6 billion in core funding over four years for First Nations education, plus $500 million for First Nations education infrastructure, as well as ensuring that First Nations have control over First Nations education
- providing equitable funding for child and family services on reserve
- developing a Federal Reconciliation Framework to resolve grievances related to historical treaties and modern land-claims agreements
- increasing the amount of protected marine and coastal areas to five per cent by 2017 and 10 per cent by 2020
More specifically, the NTC calls upon the new government to halt the previous government’s attempt to interfere with the fishing rights conferred by the Supreme Court of Canada under Ahousaht et. al vs Canada, and to restore funding for fisheries research, habitat protection, and management that has been eroded since 2006.
As an organization, we will remain vigilant to ensure that the Liberal Government of Canada follows through with these commitments to create a Nation-to-Nation agreement with First Nations in all the provinces and territories.
"We now expect the new Liberal government to follow through with their commitments in an expedient manner – not another 100 years from now," Foxcroft said.
“There is a shift happening in this world and change is coming,” Watts said. “As Nuu-chah-nulth, we are proud to be a part of this movement and this shift that is happening. We call upon this new government to work with our people, and we ask all Canadians to work with First Nations, hand-in-hand, to create a better and brighter future for our children and for all Canadians."
Deb Foxcroft, OBC
President
Ken Watts
Vice-President
For more information, please contact Deb Foxcroft or Ken Watts at 250-724-5757
