First Nations in this region of British Columbia are sharing in the optimism promised by the recently elected Liberal majority government of Justin Trudeau.
The Liberal government, which includes eight indigenous members of Parliament, ran on a platform promising “a new nation-to-nation process;” more investment in First Nations communities and education; and a national public inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
In a statement, the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (NStQ), which includes the Canim Lake Band near 100 Mile House, says it was pleased with the election of the Liberals and delighted with Prime Minister Trudeau’s subsequent cabinet appointments.
“B.C.’s First Nations, who have been seeking the inclusion of more indigenous members in cabinet, look forward to the Trudeau government following through with significant commitments of more transparency and efficiency working with Canada’s indigenous communities, including the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ) and 43 other Nations in B.C. currently engaged in the treaty process.”
The NStQ congratulated Toronto-St. Paul’s MP Carolyn Bennet in having been appointed as Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, and former BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief, Jody Wilson-Raybould, for being appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, “an extremely important and influential role within the federal government.”
“This 'historic' appointment signals the relationship between the Crown and the indigenous peoples in Canada is about to undergo an unprecedented and positive shift.”