Far North Friday #80: The First Time

“First times” tend to be memorable. The first Federal political minister I met was Honourable Bob Nault. He was the Member of Parliament for Kenora - Rainy River at the time. He visited with Eabametoong First Nation on October 16, 2003. The Eabametoong First Nation invited me to attend the meeting.

I learned several things during that meeting.

I was not certain why I was invited, but several years later, I learned my presence was to signify to the Federal Government that the province of Ontario was engaged with the First Nation - all part of the tactics.

We gathered to await the arrival of Minister Nault. I sat in the back of the room, much like the child in the classroom who hoped to avoid the teacher’s eyes. I was surprised when Minister Nault walked into the room. He wore jeans and a denim jean shirt. Having never met a minister before, I expected a suit. In fact, he was wearing the uniform appropriate for the occasion. But, my perception was minister = suit.

When the minister entered the room, I began to stand up - after all, it was appropriate to stand for any political minister, wasn’t it?  Apparently not! I was halfway up to standing when I realized I was the only one getting up. I quickly sat down and shuffled around in my chair to conceal my embarrassed attempt to stand. “Was I going to stand? Not me. I am just adjusting my seat.”

Prayers and wise words were said by elders Louis Waswa (RIP) and Corny Nate (RIP) (Photo 1). Chief Roundhead (Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation) and host Chief O’Keese (Eabametoong First Nation) made remarks (Photo 2). Reference was made to the land-use planning projects underway. Spirited dialogue followed about the needs of the First Nations and proposed changes to the Federal Indian Act legislation followed. I learned that despite the spirited discussion, there was mutual respect - as I saw it.

 A quiet side discussion left me with the most important lesson. One Chief acknowledged there were some good proposed changes to the legislation, but that it would be virtually impossible for his nation to support them. Odd, I thought. The Chief explained that the Federal government had not engaged with the First Nations to jointly develop the changes. Effectively, the Federal Government would impose the changes on the First Nations. There was no joint development or ownership of the changes. It amounted to perpetuation of the assumed dominant role of the Federal government over the First Nation. That was not the nation-to-nation relationship understood by the elders. Simple, but complex. I learned that the role of Chief was the voice of the First Nation. I learned about community-level, consensus decision making. I saw first hand the tension created by the assumed dominance of the Federal Government over the First Nation.

It was the first time I had been in the same room with a political minister and it was one of the more important meetings for me. It raised my understanding about the expectation of the First Nations - to be treated as equals, as manifest during the early engagements between European settlers and the First Nation people. Eighteen years later, I still thank Eabametoong First Nation for the invitation. Meegwetch.

April 3/22; (Facebook March 25/22)