With just a few days left to determine the tight provincial elections race in New Brunswick, First Nations communities cast their ballots with one common demand: a government open to dialogue.
As promises on health care, housing, and education dominate debate spaces and shift voters’ opinions, Indigenous priorities include issues recently in the spotlight under the Progressive Conservative government.
“I think the important thing is to work together, unify the province, and sit at the table and negotiate,” Chief Terry Richardson from Pabineau First Nation said in a phone interview with Ku’ku’kwes News.
Along with the other eight Mi’kmaw communities in New Brunswick, Pabineau First Nation joined Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated (MTI), an organization that represents the nine Mi’kmaw First Nations in New Brunswick, in distributing a questionnaire to local political parties. The document, sent in September, mainly covers Aboriginal title claims, economic development, and systemic racism in the province.
The New Brunswick Liberals (NBLA), Green Party, and the New Brunswick NDP submitted their responses.
Similarly, Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick (WNNB), an organization representing the six Wolastoqey communities in the province, also sent a question list to political parties. They only received responses from the Progressive Conservatives (PC), the NBLA, and the Green Party.
Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar First Nation) Chief Jake Caplin declined to comment, only saying that everything he wanted to express was stated on the MTI questionnaire.
The Peskotomukati Nation, also known as the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group, did not send a questionnaire. However, Peskotomuhkati Chief Hugh Akagi said the provincial election is the only time candidates seeking office will listen to them.
“I will point-blank tell them what I think some of the pitfalls were that have led to this government being a good government [or] bad government,” Akagi said.
Litigation to cost “a bloody fortune”
All First Nations in New Brunswick have taken the provincial government to court over the issue of Aboriginal Title. The Wolasqey Nation filed a claim on behalf of the six Wolastoq First Nations while Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc. filed a claim on behalf of all but one Mi’kmaw First Nation. Elsipogtog filed its claim nearly a decade ago.
Throughout the campaign, the political parties have taken different approaches to these claims in the questionnaires, debates, and interviews.
On one side, the Liberals, Greens, and NDP agree on moving discussions of Aboriginal Title from the courts to the negotiation table.
“It’s been really difficult to watch the state of First Nations relations with the province,” Susan Holt, head of the Liberal Party, said in a debate that aired on CBC on Sept. 25.
David Coon, leader of the Green Party, said in the debate that the province is not conducting itself in compliance with the Peace and Friendship treaties by going to the courts.
“That’s gonna serve nobody; that’s gonna cost a bloody fortune,” he added.
Alex White, head of the New Brunswick NDP, said he believes in negotiating settlements “by developing resource revenue sharing and looking at Indigenous-led conservation methods.”
On the other hand, the Progressive Conservatives say they are defending the interests of all people in New Brunswick in court.
“We’re talking about something that was not ceded territory,” Higgs said during the debate.“There is a big distinction between Reserve Land that was taken away and then a lawsuit that’s affecting the entire province.”
Ku’ku’kwes News reached out to Blaine Higgs, Rick DeSaulniers, and Susan Holt for comment but did not receive a reply.
PC’s comments “deeply troublesome and offensive:” Wolastoqey
Wolastoqey chiefs were “particularly disappointed” with the PC Party’s answers.
“Notably, we find the PCNB position on Wolastoqey treaty rights deeply troublesome and offensive,” they said, accusing the PC Party of sharing a “disinformation narrative about private landholders.”
In contrast, Higgs stated in the debate that he supports the return of reserve lands. “In fact, we are intervening in one case to support the Elsipogtog’s claim that reserve land had been depleted over the years.”
Besides the PCNB’s responses, Wolastoqey Nation says they wanted to hear “more fulsome commitments from all parties.”
MTI did not provide comments to the responses of their questionnaires but highlighted the role of these in the election.
“To make an informed decision, it’s important for us to see which parties are committed to meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, the protection of our lands, and upholding our rights,” MTI said in a written statement.
Chief Terry Richardson said that all Mi’kmaw and Wolastoqey chiefs extended an offer to discuss priorities with all political party leaders. Only the Liberals and Greens sat with them.
“Both stated they’re more than willing to sit at the table and negotiate, which is what we’ve asked for,” he said. “Premier Higgs refused to sit with us, so that just was to show what he thinks of our relationship.”
*With files from Aswin Nair
This is part one of Ku’ku’kwes News’ coverage of the provincial elections in New Brunswick.
