Nation To Nation

On a special edition of Nation to Nation: The Assembly of First Nations elected its National Chief and it’s a familiar name. But it didn't come without controversy. A Crown Minister met with Chiefs on Election Day and the optics weren't good.

It’s the final episode of the season and the focus is on the crisis in child welfare. We hear from two mothers who refused to consent to having their children apprehended. And Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott explains how the policy of her department has changed to prevention rather than apprehension.

There’s only one week left for the federal government to meet its so-called promise to Kinder Morgan. And that is to guarantee that by May 31, a deadline imposed by the Texas-based oil company, that the Trans Mountain pipeline will be built. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said this week taxpayers should not be expected to cover any losses due to delays, which the Trudeau government has promised.

The Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake is not happy with the Liberal government’s support of Kinder Morgan, calling Trudeau’s claim of a new relationship with Indigenous people a lie. Kinder Morgan and Ottawa want the Tsleil-Waututh Nation to pay their legal bills over a possible delay in the judicial review to overturn the Trans Mountain pipeline project.

All week long the Conservative opposition has accused the government of nepotism and conflict of interest when awarding a clam harvesting quota to Five Nations Clams. Twenty-five percent of it is owned by five Indigenous groups but the brother of a Liberal MP owns the other seventy-five percent. As well, Muskrat Falls Hydro land protector had another run in with the police at a rally on Parliament Hill.

Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day says the spirit of the white paper is still alive on the day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the AFN’s Special Chiefs Assembly. FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron is not convinced First Nations have been consulted enough over Ottawa’s proposed framework initiative on Indigenous rights. And the family of Colten Boushie made a plea to the chiefs in attendance as they push for a Royal Commission to look into Colten’s death.

On a special west coast edition on Nation to Nation: Yale First Nation Chief Ken Hansen accepted a Kinder Morgan deal as his community’s way out of poverty. Chief Aaron Sumexheltza of the Lower Nicola Indian Band has a conditional agreement to allow the Trans Mountain pipeline through his territory. And constitutional lawyer Jack Woodward says First Nations and their rights need to be foremost in pipeline negotiations.

Our political panel of MPs debate how the federal government can possibly remove the uncertainty surrounding Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline project without mass arrests. We speak to a witness at a parliamentary committee studying the overhaul of the way projects, like pipelines, are reviewed and approved. And a man arrested for protesting at Kinder Morgan’s tank farm in Burnaby BC has his first day in court.

Russ Diabo has been a frequent and vocal critic of the Assembly of First Nations, so he surprised everyone when he announced his intention to run for National Chief. Two Ottawa area environmental activists talk about blocking the city’s traffic in support of opponents of the Kinder Morgan pipeline project. And a British Columbia First Nation may be key to stopping the pipeline dead in its tracks.

An Indigenous activist says Indigenous people arrested at a Kinder Morgan protest camp in BC are being treated differently than non-Indigenous people. N2N talks to two people who have been living at the camp continuously. And a Vancouver lawyer is fighting to get her clients band membership despite them already having status.

Indigenous Crown Relations Parliamentary Secretary Yvonne Jones defends her government’s approach to an Indigenous rights framework. The chief commissioner of Ontario’s Human Rights Commission explains why she thinks racism is pervasive and normalized in Timmins, Ontario. And two Members of Parliament appeared before a House committee to explain why Indigenous languages should be easy to use in parliamentary proceedings.

William George talks about the watch house he hopes will stop the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion in its tracks. Dalhousie professor Amy Bombay says student on student abuse at residential schools was common. And Chantell Barker talks about the over-representation of Indigenous women in prison at a UN session on the status of women.

A former gang member addresses a one day summit on gangs and guns hosted by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. MMIWG Chief Commissioner Marion Buller explains what the National Inquiry will do with the request for more time and money. And a Nunavut MLA wants a more cautious approach to devolution discussions with the federal government.

The political panel takes one last look at budget 2018 to debate whether it’s enough to begin to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. A $1.3 billion commitment to conservation in the budget may be of benefit to Indigenous communities. And Aboriginal witnesses appeared before a Senate committee to talk about the impact of the new cannabis law.

Cindy Blackstock says there is still work to do despite government efforts to close funding gap on child welfare. Legal scholar Val Napoleon couldn’t be happier that the British Columbia government will fund an Indigenous law program at the University of Victoria. And a Haida lawyer explains why two Haida men shouldn’t have been detained by Canada Border Services.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a bold announcement Wednesday in the relationship between his government and Indigenous people. He promised, before the next election, to have a legislative framework in place to recognize Indigenous rights. It will guide all government interactions with Indigenous people.

N2N’s political panel debates Bill C-262, on the adoption of UNDRIP. It passed second reading Wednesday night. Conservative Party voted against it, saying it’s being rushed through Parliament. Liberals disagree.

The political panel is back and talking about the new department of Indigenous Services. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas describes what he wants a nation to nation relationship to look like. And an Indigenous woman from Mexico wants Canadians to take note of her people’s plight against a major highway development.

On Nation to Nation it was day one of the emergency meeting on child and family services. Children are being disconnected from their families and communities and becoming lost said one Indigenous leader. And Nunavut’s senator wants input from residents ahead of a new arctic policy by Ottawa.

Inquiry’s Chief Commissioner Marion Buller defends her staff and delays in asking the federal government for an extension. An Ontario leader says First Nations there aren’t ready for legal marijuana this summer. And an interim board member says the new national reconciliation commission will act in the role of a watchdog.