The federal government’s decision to separate the former Indigenous Affairs Ministry into two entities is causing concern among two Treaty 6 Chiefs.
In August 2017, Prime Minister Trudeau Announced INAC would dissolve and be replaced with Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations.
Yet Okimaw Henry Lewis of the Onion Lake Cree Nation says the move by the Liberals was offside and lacked the proper consultation.
“In 21 months, we have not received one correspondence inviting our Chief and Council from our Treaty Nation to discuss the re-organization of the government,” said Lewis, testifying before the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples Thursday.
Lewis told the Committee that Onion Lake has tried unsuccessfully to communicate with Minister Carolyn Bennett, regarding the government’s decision.
Lewis says the move to separate the ministries was done through an omnibus budget bill and is asking on the Senate to remove that provision and create stand-alone legislation, which would allow for the proper consultation and scrutiny with affected First Nations.