After three years in power, Prime Minister François Legault wants to breathe new life into his government.
The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) hopes that it will make a government that only reacts a government inspired by a real desire for a respectful relationship with the First Nations and not by its own popularity rating. . It is difficult to explain the lack of strategy of the Legault government, when it has had in hand, for two years now, the report of the Viens commission, which aimed directly at preventing situations such as the one experienced at the Joliette hospital. . A system-wide strategy. A strategy focused on systemic reconciliation.
In order to contribute to the second wind of the Legault government, the AFNQL made a suggestion and offered him some reminders. The AFNQL offers him a definition of systemic reconciliation, which will save precious time. Systemic reconciliation with the First Nations occurs when the entire system, i.e. the government of Quebec and all the institutions under its responsibility, under the leadership of their premier, actively work to restore harmony and respect with the First Nations. Nations.
Let us be very clear here: this is the only way to put an end to the social scourge of discrimination and systemic racism.
The AFNQL also reminds the Legault government of some of the proposals made by the chiefs since the start of their mandate.
One of the proposals is the establishment of the AFNQL-Quebec Political Table. The AFNQL chiefs made the proposal and Premier Legault accepted it. After two meetings of the Political Table, one on health and social services, the other on public security, it is clear that, like the CAQ government, the AFNQL-Quebec Political Table is in dire need of of a second wind. The AFNQL-Quebec political table must be inspired by respect for the jurisdictions of the First Nations rather than by the status quo and the imposition by the provincial government of its jurisdiction. This is one of the essential foundations of systemic reconciliation.
Another recent proposal from the AFNQL, made not only to the government, but also to all Quebec parliamentarians, is the holding, as soon as possible, of a special parliamentary commission on relations with First Peoples.
Such a meeting was held only once, in 1983, under the government of René Lévesque. The relationship with René Lévesque is not due to chance. Among the subjects discussed during the parliamentary commission as proposed by the AFNQL, several are related to the nationalist agenda of the Legault government. The chiefs of the AFNQL are the first to understand the importance of preserving the pride of a people, its language, its culture and its territory. On the other hand, the leaders of the AFNQL are convinced that a nation that respects itself and seeks recognition does not have to impose its supremacy on other nations that share the same territory. Colonial mentality and narrow-mindedness, under the pretext of nationalism or otherwise, have no place in a society committed to systemic reconciliation.
A third recent proposal from the AFNQL is to hold, next November, an economic meeting involving many economic actors from civil society in addition to the federal and provincial governments. The Legault government agrees to get involved and actively collaborates in its realization. The AFNQL hopes that this important meeting on the participation of the First Nations in the economic recovery will already be marked by this second wind of the Legault government, by a real desire to get out of the status quo and preconceived ideas.
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