Land Essential to Mi’kmaq Economic Development At a Mi’kmaq Economic Development Forum held in Stephenville on May 24, 2006, several guest speakers highlighted the importance of land to economic development for the Mi’kmaq population in the Bay St. George area. Chief John Thunder is a sixth hereditary chief of the Buffalo Point Reserve in Southeastern Manitoba. He is a prominent and nationally respected expert in aboriginal economic development. The results of his leadership and intensive efforts to improve the lives of his 85- member band are clearly evident. Buffalo Point Development Corporation is responsible for the economic development initiatives undertaken by the people of Buffalo Point. Band members have leased band land and started successful businesses which, include a world-class marina with 350 docking slips, 18-hole golf course, an RV campground, luxury rental cabins featuring Jacuzzis and satellite television; a bar and grill with a video lottery terminal lounge; and trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobile activities. Future plans include a hotel resort, health spa, Aboriginal village theme park with teepee accommodations, a cruise ship for Lake of the Woods, Aboriginal art gallery and a museum showcasing the history and culture of the Buffalo Point First Nation. In his presentation to the attendees at the Mi’kmaq Economic Development forum, Chief Thunder, on several occasions, strongly emphasized that without land, there is little hope of improving the lives of the Mi’kmaq people in the Bay St. George area even with registration under the Indian Act i.e. a landless band agreement. Roger Obonsawin, of Brantford, Ontario is President of the OI Group of Companies. He has made many presentations including those to: The United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Treatment of Offenders in Caracas (Venezuela), the Fourth Trans-Atlantic Dialogue of the Migration Policy Group for the European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium), the United Nations Human Rights Committee on Civil and Political Rights at the University of Mexico (Mexico City), the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Self-Governance and Fiscal Relations, the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness (Metropolitan Toronto), and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Aboriginal Self-Governance and Fiscal Relations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Mr. Obonsawin is a frequent guest lecturer at York University (Toronto) focusing on Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and a frequent presenter to Aboriginal groups across Canada on issues related to government policy. Mr. Obonsawin presented a similar position to that of Chief Thunder. He indicated that the Federal Indian Act does nothing more than fund poverty. He stated that much of the funding generated through INAC ends paying for bureaucratic administrative expenses rather than for the intended aboriginal people and their communities. In this way government retains control over aboriginal communities and consequently keeps people poor by restricting their abilities to generate economic growth. The only way to break this cycle of living from government handouts is to develop sustainable economic development and this can only be accomplished if there is a land base from which to begin. Since its establishment in 2002, the Ktaqamkuk Mi’kmaq Alliance-KMA has always maintained the position that land is essential to the Mi’kmaq people. Some people become fearful when an aboriginal person mentions the word land. Therefore, it is important to define land more specifically. There are basically two categories of land. The first type is land that is set aside by government for the establishment of reserves as defined by the Indian Act. Reserves can be established in a relatively short period of time simply by a decision to do so by the federal government and willingness by the provincial government to transfer land for that purpose. The Miawpukek Reserve at Conne River was established in this manner. The second type of land is defined as traditional land by aboriginal people differs from reserve land because the reestablishment of traditional aboriginal land rights can take many years and is usually granted as a result of a lengthy court process. The KMA does not intend to ever give up its right to pursue the reestablishment of Mi’kmaq rights to traditional territory in Newfoundland and Labrador. Yet, the Mi’kmaq people continue to be ignored in the planning, development, utilization and management of traditional Mi’kmaq territory. It is unfortunate that the only progress aboriginal people make in Canada seems to be through either the court process or through public demonstrations and protest. Governments have shown little regard for the interests of Mi’kmaq people in this province and with that a total lack of respect as well. Similarly, mining, oil, paper, hydro companies, and others, who seek only to use our lands for profit and leave a legacy of destruction and pollution on Mother Earth should be aware that the Mi’kmaq people were here long before European contact and that we are here to stay. While we remain open and even encourage dialogue with any and all stakeholders, we are becoming more and more frustrated with the continuing total disregard for our interests by all levels of government, resource based companies and various government funded organizations. We must be included in the planning and decision making process. Consequently, the KMA will continue to pursue its own economic development and other initiatives designed to improve the lives of its members and their communities. We seek only equality with Conne River and other first nations communities therefore we have chosen not to participate in any joint venture or association with anyone or any type of organization whose objective is anything less than equality for our people. At a time when every other minority group in Canada seems to have the ear of and response from federal and provincial governments, we, as Mi’kmaq people, surely seek justice as well. To pursue anything less would be a sellout of our people, and that’s something the KMA is not prepared to do. Bert Alexander Chief Ktaqamkuk Mi’kmaq Alliance October 26, 2006 Back to the Wigwam ©2003-2008 KMA - Ktaqamkuk (Taga-ma-goog)Mi'kmaq Alliance   Hosted by Your Community, Online!