(Montréal) Québec intends to do everything possible to improve the lot of the First Nations and the Inuit.
Posted at 4:30 p.m.
The Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Ian Lafrenière, presented Friday in Montreal a plan of 141 million comprising 52 measures in six areas, the objective of which is to improve the social and cultural well-being of Aboriginal people.
This is a halving of the number of measures, with the aim of concentrating efforts on priority needs. “The previous plan contained a hundred measures. We decided it was way too much,” the minister explained.
Protecting Indigenous Languages and Culture
The priority projects aim to preserve and promote Aboriginal culture and languages as well as protect and support Aboriginal women and children.
The other projects concern the socio-economic conditions and the health of the members of the First Nations and, finally, their relationship with justice and public security.
Ian Lafrenière explained that he arrived at this result following consultations he conducted in 55 Aboriginal communities in Quebec.
“What I saw during my tour, several things: first, housing needs which were glaring in the majority of the communities. Secondly, the language and culture file, to be quite honest with you, is a file that has been extremely present for the past year,” he said.
The President of Quebec Native Women, Marjolaine Étienne, as well as the Grand Chief of the Abenaki community of Odanak, Richard O’Bomsawin, present for the announcement, were delighted with the climate of openness and discussion demonstrated so far. by Quebec for the development of the action plan.
Better communication
“I think there’s a little more open communication this time around,” Chief O’Bomsawin said. We have more meetings, we talk to each other more. On our side, even for our people, we are starting to have a little more open mind to allow them to come and talk to us, to tell them what the needs are. »
This openness, he confided, is largely attributable to the results obtained by the previous five-year plan, despite a bureaucratic heaviness that Quebec has promised to lighten. “In the last plan, personally, I saw results. I saw health centers expanded, I saw women’s shelters opened,” he said.
“We are happy with the plan. We are going to put things forward. We already have project ideas. All that remains is to write them down with a view to being able to submit them and to have concrete results, ”said Mr.me Stephen.
She said she hoped “that one day it can stop, those who experience discrimination, those who experience domestic violence”.
A plan under close surveillance
But she also warned that we would keep an eye on Quebec: “We will be close to this plan to ensure that the projects lead to results. »
“Money is good, but it’s not what solves the problems,” added Richard O’Bomsawin. We have seen it many times in the past. What will solve our problems will be to set things in motion. »
Philippe Meilleur, president of the Regroupement des Centers d’Amitié Native du Québec and host of the conference at the offices of Native Montreal, said he believes that the proposed measures “are a step forward on a long trajectory towards equity, justice society and a harmonious relationship between Quebecers and Aboriginal peoples.
He did not hide the fact that the government has a long way to go to repair the mistakes of the past, particularly with the Aboriginals who have left their communities. “The Government of Quebec, with its various departments and institutions, have not always been partners for our nations or for urban Aboriginal people. It is a reality that several commissions have clearly enumerated, that the government and its institutions have historically neglected our issues or worse, by the nature of their actions, have directly contributed to the loss of our cultures or the degradation of our qualities of life. »
Uncertainty created by Law 96
Minister Lafrenière also undertook to find a way out with the First Nations regarding the application of Bill 96, which notably provides for obligations in terms of learning French and no measures to secure the culture and native languages, two elements that raised the ire of the communities. Mr. Lafrenière argued that there are two years left before the law comes into force.
“Bill 96 has brought uncertainty for some Aboriginal communities. And my call today is to work together with First Nations […] in the next few weeks, the next few months, to act quickly, to find solutions that are pragmatic to help protect and promote Indigenous languages and cultures,” he said.
Pointing out that the number of young Aboriginal people who have gone to higher education and whose first language is English is approximately “200 to 300 people”, he expressed confidence in being able to find “solutions for these people- there,” adding that he had no intention of imposing one.
However, Richard O’Bomsawin had taken the trouble, in his speech, to send a message to the Minister: “Language is a matter of respect and being able to speak the language of one’s choice is a matter of respect. We must learn to respect each other and walk side by side as we were taught when we were young. »
Finally, the minister also had to defend himself from making this presentation in an electoral spirit, stressing that the previous five-year plan expired in 2022. “It was a date that was quite concrete, it was not me who I chose: it’s after five years. Very clever whoever could say that it is an electoral manoeuvre. We were coming to the end of the action plan and it had to be renewed,” he said.
It should be noted that the Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), Ghislain Picard, was absent for the presentation of the plan and Ian Lafrenière acknowledged that, although it was developed in collaboration with certain authorities of the AFNQL, the plan did not benefit from Mr. Picard’s “seal of approval”.