Aboriginal Leader Wary Of Government Language

Aboriginal Leader Wary Of Government Language

Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 14:46

A Native leader says the federal government is using “un-constitutional” language when it comes to addressing the Sharon McIvor case.

Betty Ann Lavallee of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples spoke last night to a standing senate committee.

Lavallee says she is disappointed to hear Ottawa use the term “engagement process” when it comes to changing the Indian Act, as opposed to “consultation”.

Canada has been given until April 2010 to fix certain portions of the Act, after a B.C. court ruled it discriminates against some children.

Lavallee says the government doesn’t seem interested in consulting Aboriginal people about what it intends to do.

She says a larger discussion needs to take place.