There were strong words from the leader of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs on the opening day of a National Treaty Gathering in Onion Lake on Tuesday morning.
Chief Derek Neepinak says the Assembly of First Nations is not getting the job done when it comes to improving the state of the treaty relationship.
He says there are good people within the organization but its mandate must be questioned.
Neepinak also says he thinks First Nations have to take a stand against companies trampling over their traditional lands, as well as the federal government.
“I’m going to throw this Indian Act card away,” he says. “This Indian Act card is done with me and I’m done with it. I’m putting this in the garbage.”
The chief then went over and put the card in the garbage to wild applause.
He adds the spiritual relationship between First Nations and the land is at the heart of treaty implementation and it’s something not understood by the government.
Neepinak says he also feels that Indigenous political organizations, whether they are regional bodies or national ones, have become agents of non-Aboriginal government policy.
“What they do is give us a little bit of money,” he says. “Here’s some money to talk about citizenship, here’s a little bit of money to change your election rules, here’s a little bit of money to talk about education reform…and that’s how they have controlled the implementation of their policies over the last number of years.”
He acknowledged his own group is part of that system.