Ovide Mercredi suggests new treaty for Atlantic region First Nations at Halifax self-government summit

OvideMercredi, a former National Chief of the Assembly of the First Nations (AFN), says anewtreaty could be the best way for Atlantic regionFirst Nations to achieve self-determination.

He was the first of numerous Indigenous presentersfrom the across the country topresent their ideasat theinaugural First Nations Self Government Summit in Halifax.

"You have to think outside of the policies of the government of Canada," Mercreditold hundreds of delegates in the audience.

"What better way to think than the way in which your ancestors thought?"

Mercredi said he believes the Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) and Peskotomuhkatishould first focus on uniting to represent themselves by their territory, not by individual band councils,and thenreconsider what their pastrelationship with Canada has done to benefit their people.

"The past 150 years of reserves and band governments didn't produce the sovereignty [or]wealth that they require to look after their own needs as a people," Mercredi said in an interview.

"So they need a new treaty."

Mercredisaid a fresh treaty will allow the three nations to implement provisions thatoutlineclearly Canada's obligations to their people.He said thehistory of colonialism has already made First Nationsreliant on Canadian funding and infrastructure;anew treaty would affirm, in writing, that communities get what they need to continue bettering themselves.

In an interview, Mercredisaid he thinks that First Nations self-determination completely outside of Canadian policy is "not a possible dream," but that forging nation-to-nation relationships is something First Nations have always had the will to do.

"We have to reach back to the history and move forward," he said.

"That means a new treaty that deals with more land for the people, sharing the wealthas was originally intendedand having jurisdiction over children,families andlaw making."

'Not what we're looking at'

Sidney Peters,Chiefof Glooscap First Nation and co-chair of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmawChiefs, said he supported Mercredi'snotion of national unitybut that a new treaty isn't an option they're considering.

"That might work in other areasbut right now that's not what we're looking at," said Peters.

Peters said the Mi'kmaq in Nova Scotia have been making strides toward self-determination through arights-based strategycalled the Made in Nova Scotia Process. The process, whichincludes 11 ofthe 13 Mi'kmaw communitiesin Nova Scotia,allows negotiations outside of Canada's Comprehensive Claimsor Inherent Self-Government policies.

Peters said the Assembly of Chiefs andunique approaches to consultation and self-determinationhas helped to buildunity among chiefs in Nova Scotia, which he believes inspires pride in their communities.

"All 13 of us sit together," he said. "We're looking at the implementation of our rights here in Nova Scotia ... and we're starting to see positive strides toward that."

Peters said finding a unified direction to self-governmentwith the rest of theMi'kmaqcommunities in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland will take more time, since they all deal with different provincial processes, but that he thinks the ultimate goal is prosperity for the entire Mi'kmaw nation.

No one model that works everywhere

Roger Augustine, AFNRegional Chief for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, said he'llconsider all ideas offeredon self determination, and that Mercredi'sideas werewell-received.

"He nailed it, right on," Augustine said."Today's presentations are exactly what we're looking for. The idea is to figure out what needs to be done firstand we're already getting there."

Augustine said that while the intention of the summit is unification and self determination, there's no one idea that will work for everyone. He said that may actually benefit the three nations since it forces leadership to consider all optionsand look inward.

"Right now, we don't have a serious interpretation of how it's going to look," he said.

"There's no model to look at, but in this case that's good. You look at the grassroots interpretations, you go to reserve schools to hear from [children].The spirit of the self government or of self determination has to come from the people themselves."

The AFN said the parties hosting the summit are requesting feedback from delegates and will be producing a report on their findings. Sessions continue until Thursday.