Treaties Recognition Week is wrapping up and the MPP for Kiiwetinoong is using the occasion to call on Doug Ford to honour sacred agreements between First Nations and the Ontario government.
Sol Mamakwa says First Nations continue to honour their treaties and share their land and natural resources.
“We never ceded our land to the government entirely, nor did we ever give up our sovereignty as a nation.”
The NDP critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation stresses “Treaties are more than contracts and real estate transactions. They are sacred agreements that set out for us how to maintain the relationship with newcomers then and now.”
Mamakwa says “The Crown has a role to play in this relationship too. First Nations cannot be the only ones holding up their side of the relationship.”
He says “We come to you and ask for your help in getting clean water, safe housing and proper infrastructure. If Ontario honoured the treaties as they were intended, we wouldn’t need to ask.”
“Is this government prepared to share resources as part of Treaty 9 and the Robinson treaties-yes or no?”
You can hear more by listening to Northwest Monitor Sunday morning following the 9:00 News on CKDR.
Treaties are more just than having First Nations friends. Treaties are more than having worked in the First Nations communities. Treaties are sacred agreements between settlers and First Peoples to share benefits of the lands and resources. This is not happening in Ontario. pic.twitter.com/A3ckzeBxXC
— Sol Mamakwa (@solmamakwa) November 8, 2019
