Harper Government Offers Newfoundland MI'KMAQ Indian Status Without Reservation
(St. Georges, NL - November 30, 2007.) Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in St. Georges Newfoundland today with Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) National Chief Patrick Brazeau, where he signed an Agreement in Principle that will ultimately grant the 7,800 members of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians their status as registered Indians. The Federation of Newfoundland Indians is CAP’s Newfoundland affiliate.
The announcement today paves the way for the Federation’s 7,800 members to receive many benefits under the Indian Act — including health and education benefits — without forcing them to move to a reserve.
Chief Brazeau calls the announcement historic. “Today, the Mi'kmaq members of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians can claim a victory. Their rights, their ancestry and their democratic will have been recognized. And, it has occurred in a sprit of true collaboration without the prescriptive application of the reserve system. This is real progress for real people, and I’m proud of what we have been able to achieve through partnership and negotiation,” said the National Chief.
Chief Brendan Sheppard, leader of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and Vice-Chief of CAP was quick to share his members’ excitement. “Nearly 8,000 members have seen the inherent right of the Mi'kmaq people of Newfoundland to self-identification affirmed and recognized. We view this as a belief in people. Prime Minister Harper, Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl and former Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice are all to be commended for working with us to move this historic endeavour forward today,” said Chief Sheppard.
The Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) was established in 1972 to promote the social, cultural, economic and educational well being of the Mi’Kmaq people of Newfoundland. The FNI currently represent approximately 7800 Mi’Kmaqs located in nine bands, primarily in the central and western regions of the province.
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is the national Aboriginal political organization advocating for the rights and interests of off-reserve Aboriginal Peoples throughout Canada since 1971.
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For further information, please contact:
Al Fleming
Director
Public Affairs
613-747-6022 (office)
613-867-8696 (mobile)
al@abo-peoples.org
