[Canada] Natives seek poverty aid

from The London Free Press

By KEITH LESLIE,

CORNER BROOK, N.L. -- Five national aboriginal leaders emerged from a meeting with Canada's premiers and territorial leaders yesterday saying they were encouraged by the support they received in their fight to have the federal Conservative government honour the $5-billion Kelowna Accord announced by the Liberals in November.

"We came here seeking support for our issues . . . especially what we consider the single-most important social justice issue in the country, and that is First Nations poverty," said Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations after meeting the premiers in this western Newfoundland city.

"It's obvious that everyone around the table sees the importance and the legitimacy of the (Kelowna) plan, and that we need to move forward to give effect to the principles set last November."

Chief Patrick Brazeau of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples said he thinks Prime Minister Stephen Harper is right to try a different approach from the Kelowna Accord because the Liberal plan didn't provide help for natives who live off reserves.

"We firmly believe that although the Conservative government has been in power only seven months, they will fulfil some of the commitments agreed to in Kelowna while putting their own individual spin on some of the priorities they want to focus on," said Brazeau.

"We're continuing to work with the federal government to ensure we provide hope for aboriginal Canadians."

But despite the apparent optimism from the aboriginal leaders, some premiers expressed doubt that the Conservatives would honour the 10-year plan that was designed to address poverty on First Nations reserves.

"This prime minister has his own agenda relative to the way aboriginal people in this country will be treated," said Alberta Premier Ralph Klein.