.
Search
Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad
Seizing destiny

Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Ndilo (Nov 26/01) - Matthew Coon Come is passionate about First Nations' future. The time has come, he says, to 'make the difficult choices.'

The long fight for self-determination by the NWT's Dene, Inuvialuit and Metis cuts to the heart of Matthew Coon Come's driving passion as he leads the nation's largest First Nation political body into the age of globalization.

NNSL Photo

Matthew Coon Come: "They see us as lazy but they don't say that about Newfoundland, a province supported by a whole network of social assistance." - Jorge Barrera/NNSL photo


The Assembly of First Nations' national chief believes First Nations will never be free from the colonial albatross until they seize ownership of their destiny.

"As long as outsiders are making decisions for us, we'll always be in a position of blaming others," said Coon Come during an interview in the lobby of the Fraser Tower Hotel. On the table, next to his left elbow, sat an empty cup with orange juice pulp streaks along the rim.

"We have to make the difficult choices," said Coon Come. "I believe our people have the solutions but no one ever asked us."

He was in the NWT to speak at the Dene Leadership Assembly in Ndilo.

Coon Come is often viciously criticized by the Canadian mainstream media and First Nations leaders for taking strong positions on everything from systemic racism inherent in Canada to commenting on alcoholism plaguing some native leadership.

"We have tunnel vision," said Coon Come. "We have to get out of our own box."

This is his third visit to the North. He was in Tulita this summer for another Dene Nation assembly. Although he comes from the Northern Quebec Cree community of Mistessini, Coon Come said he has an affinity with the North.

"I can relate to the North in terms of where the national resources are," said Coon Come. "This is where it's going to happen and as First Nations we had better get together."

But it's this unity message that often gets skewed in the arena of public debate, according to Coon Come.

Unreal expectations

Any disagreement between First Nations groups is often big news, said Coon Come. The country's aboriginal peoples are expected to operate with absolute uniformity, a ridiculous expectation considering there are 80 different nations scattered across the world's second largest country, he said.

"Why are we as First Nations criticized when we can't agree on issues?" said Coon Come. "Why is that expected of us?"

The questions are rhetorical.

"Canada has always portrayed themselves as champion of human rights, they paint a rosy picture of the First Nations situation and always bring along a token Indian," said Coon Come. "There is a structural racism problem in Canada.

"They see us as lazy but they don't say that about Newfoundland, a province supported by a whole network of social assistance.

"We partly contribute to that. We don't speak the truth and we don't tackle it," said Coon Come.

He said he one of the biggest challenges facing First Nations is maintaining choice for the next generation.

"It's difficult to compete with television in homes and the majority of parents send their children to school," said Coon Come.

"We have to allow our children to make choices. Do they want to plug into the free market economy or go the traditional route?"

Coon Come remembers picking up a newspaper when he was a high school student in Ottawa. He read that flooding from a massive hydro project threatened his home community.

From that day, he has fought to keep the waters of colonial culture from drowning the original residents of this land now called Canada.

"It's what drives me," he said.

Assembly Notes

Deh Cho could sign

The Deh Cho First Nations could sign on to the Mackenzie Valley pipeline after March 31 - the date by which they expect to reach an interim resource revenue sharing agreement with the federal government.

"By March 31 the Deh Cho at that time will probably roll out the red carpet and get involve with the (pipeline) process," said Deh Cho Grand Chief Michael Nadli.

The Deh Cho First Nations is the lone hold-out to a major pipeline deal between First Nations and four multinational oil companies.

Work together

The Dene Nation and the legislative assembly are heading toward a closer relationship.

During last week's Dene Nation Leadership meeting, Premier Stephen Kakfwi pledged to work more closely with the chiefs.

"We have as government asked everyone of you to engage with us as partners," said Kakfwi.

As of press time, the Dene Nation was working on a resolution to strike an executive council made up of chiefs from each of the five regions.

Unfair treatment

Chiefs from small communities around the territory say the territorial government is not treating small and large communities the same.

They raised the issue around the table during the Dene Leadership Assembly in Ndilo last week.

"There has to be greater balance in the distribution of money (in the territory)," said Aklavik Chief Charlie Furlong.

Lutsel K'e Chief Archie Catholique said the territorial government needs to rework its formula when it comes to building schools and community facilities.

Revenue sharing

Finance Minister Joe Handley said he'd like to see First Nations groups work out a resource revenue sharing agreement among themselves.

A possible framework could look like this: A region could take a portion of their revenue, keep 75 per cent and redistribute 25 per cent to the other regions.

If each region with development did this, those regions with no development would still reap some benefits.

"It's more fair," said Handley. He said the government would never legislate such any agreement.