First Nations chiefs protest Ottawa's 'hostility'

Last Updated: Tuesday, December 5, 2006 | 3:36 PM CT

CBC News

First Nations chiefs from across the country were joined by about 600 people for a rally in Ottawa Tuesday to protest the government's treatment of aboriginal people.

The Assembly of First Nations organized the rally to show their unhappiness with many decisions the Conservative government has made since coming to power earlier this year.

Northwest Territories AFN regional chief Bill Erasmus told CBC News the list of concerns is a long one.

It includes recent cuts of $100 million to aboriginal language programs, Canada's refusal to support the UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and Ottawa's failure to acknowledge the $5-billion Kelowna accord, signed by the Liberals, which promised to improve the social and economic conditions for aboriginal people.

"The primary reason is to educate the public about the attitude of this present government towards our people," Erasmus said. "We find they are quite hostile."

Ontario regional chief Angus Toulouse said people want to know why Ottawa is ignoring the abject poverty in aboriginal communities.

"It's the people at the community level that really are frustrated," Toulouse said.

"They see the government has a surplus of billions of dollars and they are wondering why isn't that resource coming back to the community then."

The leaders said the government has also ignored the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, which was completed 10 years ago.

Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, who attended the rally, was booed when given the opportunity to defend his government's decisions.

The chiefs are in Ottawa to attend a three-day meeting on issues facing their communities.