Jack Layton’s speech to the New Democrat Aboriginal Summit

Welcome to the close of our summit for First Nations, Inuit and Métis issues and candidates, here in the heart of Algonquin territory.

Nine exceptional Aboriginal candidates. That's the largest group among all parties. Surely the most inspiring! And I’d like to introduce you to some of them.

My friend Lewis Cardinal is running in Edmonton Centre. Lewis has already received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Public Service—I can’t wait to see his talents at work in our caucus.

Edith Loring-Kuhanga is running in Saanich-Gulf Islands. For her service in the education field, she’s received a YMCA Woman of Distinction Award. We need Edith in caucus too.

Tania Cameron, in Kenora, brings that rare mix of youthful energy and deep experience—I already consider her a trusted advisor on First Nations health issues.

Crissy Sinopole, in Sarnia Lambton, is another community leader with deep experience that belies her youth. She’s a new face for many of you, but trust me—not for long!

Many of you met Lawrence Joseph before he had to rush to the airport. LJ is a former chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. The one who educated the pope about Residential Schools. He’s going to put Saskatchewan’s North back on the political map as an MP!

Three great candidates who couldn’t join us this week are:

• Jeff Horvath (Wild Rose)
• Stuart Somerville (Red Deer)
• Kurtis Baily (York Centre).

Kevin Chief couldn’t get away either. He was nominated just 10 days ago in Winnipeg North—by 750 boisterous supporters, I understand. I’m not surprised. Kevin is going to be a star in our party.

Today, we’re also joined by members of our Aboriginal Commission:

• Dan Wilson
• Lorna & Donna Standingready
• Trudy Spiller
• Kim Milne
• Cyril Keeper

Finally, thanks to our Ottawa team and caucus—and especially Jean Crowder—for pulling everything together this week.

It strikes me that, for some of us, this’ll be our last big meet-up in an HST-free Ontario.

We fought that tax shift tooth-and-nail. But come Canada Day, consumers will be paying more, and big business will be paying less.

And First Nations people will be paying an even bigger price ... in Ontario and in BC. And not just because many already struggle with lower incomes and less opportunity.

In March, hundreds gathered outside this building to remind us that the HST is being imposed in a way that ignores inherent and treaty rights—the right not to be taxed by another nation.

But Ottawa pushed this tax shift through without even consulting First Nations. They’re ratcheting rights backward instead of moving forward in partnership.

We’re here to turn that around.

Because our HST fight is emblematic. So many of the challenges we’re confronting are felt most acutely by First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

A month ago, just upstairs, we were celebrating the passage of our Climate Change Accountability Act! Getting this bill through the senate will give Canada world-class emissions targets!

I like to think we're answering the call of our grandkids—they deserve a future too. And if we listen carefully, we'll hear the most urgent call coming from Inuit and northern residents.

They're living with climate change: melting permafrost, species invasions, longer ice-free seasons that disrupt ways of life.

The time for idle talk is over.

All session, our caucus has been working to help people cope with the economic crisis. The job loss. The bone-chilling insecurity.

Well, this week, we had community leaders remind us how their people face a permanent recession. Thousands of kids are living without decent schools, clean water, good food, safe housing—their own bed.

We were reminded that unemployment on-reserve is four times the national average.

The time for idle talk is over.

First Nations, Inuit & Métis people come from many nations and cultures, and face different issues. But as I visit their communities, two points keep coming into focus.

First, all face challenges unseen elsewhere. There are barriers of distance and access; daily problems unimagined elsewhere; problems that for too long have been ignored by governments.

Yet, second, the incredible spirit of the people persists. Where hope will not yield to despair. Where tomorrow must be better than today. It is for these people, for their children, that we’re committed to making change happen.

Exactly two years ago, just up the hall, we witnessed a landmark event. I have never felt more proud to stand in Parliament.

No apology can undo the devastating legacy of Indian Residential Schools. No apology can reverse 150 years of discrimination and neglect. But that apology was a momentous first step.

I was deeply moved by the authenticity of that nation-to-nation exchange. One nation taking collective responsibility; other nations hearing the words with open hearts.

That, my friends, is something to build on. Moving forward nation-to-nation. That’s what New Democrats are calling for. And I’m proud of how our MPs do that every day in the House of Commons.

But it’s not enough to advocate reconciliation—nation-to-nation—our party must also strive to model it.

I’m proud of our Aboriginal Commission—under the guidance of co-chairs Dan Wilson and Edith Birkett-Lavalley. They’re bringing First Nations, Inuit and Métis voices into the heart of our party—the policy-making, candidate search, organizing.

I’m also proud of our work here this week. We shared ideas in caucus. Met with national Aboriginal organizations. Moved forward on our policy platform. And we’re coming away with a strengthened four-point agenda for reconciliation:

1. Forging a new partnership
2. Fostering economic opportunity
3. Addressing discrimination
4. Healing the past

Just a quick word from me on each stream...

Forging new partnerships starts with restoring nation-to-nation relations. You can’t do that without honouring inherent rights, including rights to self-government. You can’t do that without recognizing the legitimacy of indigenous governments. You can’t do that without a deploying a claims process that respects Aboriginal title. We’ll start by doing those things.

Second, fostering opportunity & prosperity means inviting that spirit of partnership into economic life. That starts by recognizing that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people are already driving development in their communities, and they’re ready to do more.

But for that, they need a partner ... to help build the resources people need to shine, as Ovide Mercredi put it yesterday. Serious investment in infrastructure. A revolution in education and training. Honest help building the tools people need to build better lives for themselves.

Third, addressing discrimination is a precondition for reconciliation. How can partnerships grow while Canada tolerates stark inequities between services for First Nations and services for the rest of us? How can partnerships grow if Ottawa won’t protect kids with Jordan’s Principle—three years after Jean Crowder’s motion passed in Parliament?

Fourth, healing the past is a work in progress but a key to moving forward. The next step after an apology is to become a partner in healing. A partner in fighting racism, in celebrating indigenous languages. A partner that learns how to listen.

My friends, nobody believes that the challenges before us are easy, or that the effort required to overcome them is modest.

But together, we’re deepening our understanding of the steps we can take to build a better future.

Let me say this: When Canada fails to honour its commitments to Aboriginal people, we pay a collective price.

We forego economic benefits that can come with their full participation. We forego environmental benefits that can come with their stewardship expertise. And we miss our chance to make Canada whole …to ensure that all people take their rightful place in this country.

I meet young people who seem to understand this intuitively, and it gives me hope. And increasingly, young Aboriginal Canadians are leading the drive for reconciliation—and that gives me hope.

I’m thinking of people like Chrissy, like Kevin. People like Shannen Koostachin, the young leader from the Attawapiskat First Nation who moved us so profoundly.

Shannen was in Grade 8 when she helped lead that struggle for a decent school. When she came here looking for a partner.

In Shannen’s memory, and to our New Democrat candidates, I say this:

Let’s work together to leave behind that era where the choice at election time was between a party that ignores you and a party that takes you for granted.

Let’s build a new era where First Nations, Inuit and Métis people take their rightful place—at the forefront of federal politics.

We leave here today even more dedicated to making the New Democratic Party the political home for Aboriginal Canadians. The party you count on to get involved in your community—your nation—and that empowers you to steer Canada.

There are some who say the Government of Canada is not your government. That Ottawa is for others to concern themselves with.

I disagree. I believe this is your Parliament. I believe you belong here.

And I believe that after the next election you and a lot more New Democrat candidates will be working right here in this building.

To forge a new partnership. To foster economic opportunity. To fight discrimination. And to work on healing the past.

Now let’s get out there and do it!