Bellegarde looks toward a busy 2014
- Judy Bird | January 17, 2014
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde is looking ahead in 2014 with hope and determination, but also preparing to embrace and manage changes that loom on the horizon.Perhaps the most pressing issue the FSIN faces now is a substantial funding cut from the federal government. Over two years, funding to the organization was cut by $2 million.
"That's going to have some huge impacts on how the organizations functions, how it operates, and even its effectiveness as a political lobby organization," said Bellegarde.
Without speculating on what cuts might come, he acknowledged that if no new source of revenue is identified by April 1, the organization will have no choice but to restructure. However, with change comes opportunity and Bellegarde believes new doors can open to help distance the FSIN from being dependent on federal funding.
"In order to be a strong effective organization, we cannot be dependent on government money. How can you lobby against the hand that gives you that money? With this cutback, I think its an opportunity for the chiefs of Saskatchewan, the leadership to find new creative, innovative solutions to finance organizations to really make it a strong, effective lobby organization."
One possible funding source is gaming. Bellegarde hopes to reopen negotiations with the province to change the way casino profits are shared.
"It's ironic when the premier says there's no revenue sharing agreement in place for any group in Saskatchewan. I say there is one revenue sharing example, but it's from our First Nations profits from SIGA going over to the Province of Saskatchewan's general revenue fund. The province of Saskatchewan gets 25% of our net profits from SIGA and then we in turn get 25% of the net profits from Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw. SIGA makes more money than Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw, so we're giving more of our net profits to the provincial government than we're getting back."
Some of those gaming profits could resource FSIN, but also be directed to economic development and education initiatives, he says.
"When we talk to the province about relationships and about revenue resource sharing, that's a good thing because we're supposed to benefit equally from the land and resource wealth. It just takes the political will and I'm hoping that Premier Brad Wall and his government will see that.
Bellegarde will continue the push to have First Nations included by industry as well. Partnering to build positive relationships is key whether it is in natural resources such as mining, or with pipeline companies that want to run lines through First Nations territories.
"There is an opportunity for not only employment, economic development spinoff but also for ownership. Why cant First Nations people own equity?" he asked.
Involving First Nations people in the natural resource industry meets another objective: responsible environmental stewardship.
"We bring that expertise concerning respecting the environment, the land and the water so that there's a balance between the environment and the economy."
For his years at the helm of FSIN, previous and current, Bellegarde has held treaty implementation as a priority, and 2014 is no different. "We are all treaty people. We are to mutually benefit and share the land and resource wealth equally. This country was founded on the treaty making relationship and the treaty commissioners. One of the ideas that is being talked about is looking at establishing a national treaty commissioner that will report to the Crown, and to us regarding the whole treaty implementation. That is something new and innovative. We are going to flush that out this year."
Bellegarde hopes all residents embrace the ideas of resource revenue sharing, treaty implementation and self determination of Indigenous peoples. "I always tell people don't be afraid of the concept for self determination of Indigenous peoples, of resource revenue sharing, of treaty implementation because if you embrace those, you will see that huge poverty gap close."
He repeated the findings of UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya, that based on the UN Human Development Index, Canada ranked sixth in terms of quality of life, while Canadas First Nations ranked 63rd. Its a disturbing truth that requires educating people about this double standard in order to bring change.
"Canadian people, Saskatchewan people are good people. Once they see that and get it, they will join our lobby to bring about that transformative change, and really bring about true reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the rest of society. That's my hope and dream for this year. It's a big one but I think we can do it."