Think positive, work together conference told PAGES B1, B6
NAN women gather, discuss their roles PAGES B3-B4
Jets win annual hockey tourney PAGES 14-18
April 02, 2009
www.wawataynews.ca Vol. 36 #07
9,300 copies distributed $1.50 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974
Taxes can’t become ‘bureaucratic rebate system’: Beaucage Rick Garrick
Wawatay News
Regional Chief Angus Toulouse and Grand Council Chief John Beaucage are concerned about plans to harmonize the Provincial Sales Tax and the federal Goods and Services Tax. “While not ideal, Ontario currently has one of the most effective approaches respecting First Nation taxation exemption for point of sale purchases of any jurisdiction in Canada and in particular is a far more respectful and appropriate approach than that of the Federal Government’s GST,” Toulouse said. “It will be essential that First Nations are fully engaged in the implementation process to ensure that existing provincial processes and policies are fully maintained and respected. We will pursue these commitments immediately and have already had assurances from the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Brad Duguid that the intention is to maintain the Ontario policy and procedure on this matter.” Toulouse plans to meet with Finance Minister Dwight Duncan to ensure the implementation of the harmonization scheme respects the tax exemption rights of First Nations peoples in Ontario. “We will also pursue this matter with federal Revenue Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn,” Toulouse said. Beaucage has petitioned the Government of Ontario to take part in the taxation reform process. “First Nations in Ontario may be willing to support this taxation reform, provided it respects our right to tax exemption and improves the way in which that exemption is processed,”
Beaucage said. While Ontario currently recognizes the PST exemption and provides pointof-sale exemptions, the federal GST exemption requires a way-bill to prove consumables are delivered to an onreserve address and often requires filing for GST rebates. “We certainly don’t want to see our right to tax exemption reduced to a bureaucratic rebate system,” said Beaucage, who sees the harmonization of taxes as a unique opportunity for both levels of government to help ease First Nation poverty. “By agreeing to respect our treaty right to tax exemptions they can keep some badly-needed dollars in the pockets of the poorest people in this wealthy land.” Toulouse said the Chiefs of Ontario will assess the budget to ensure First Nations have full access to infrastructure spending. “In the past, First Nations have been excluded from broad-based initiatives,” Toulouse said. “We are advocating strongly that Government of Ontario must fulfill its commitment to a new relationship and ensure full participation and access to such measures for First Nations across Ontario.” Toulouse also noted the $250 million loan guarantee program announced in the budget to support First Nations participation in energy projects. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid said the $250 million loan guarantee program “will encourage partnerships as we move forward in (developing) energy projects.” Duguid also said the tax harmonization process should not affect the First Nations exemption to taxation. see TAX page 8
Protest over property
photo courtesy of NAN
Members of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Women’s Council, including Dora Beardy, protest Bill C-8, which deals with Matrimonial Real Property. The protest was held outside the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada office at Fort William First Nation March 26. See page 3 fr more on the protest.
ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᐅᑲᓄᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᑲᐃᐃᐧᔑᐸᑲᓇᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᕑᐃᐠ ᑲᕑᐃᐠ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ
ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᐊᐣᑭᐢ ᑐᓫᐊᐤᐢ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᒐᐧᐣ ᐳᑲᒋ ᐅᑕᓀᑕᒥᐦᐃᑯᓇᐊᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᒥᐡᑲᐧᑕᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᐣ. ᐊᓇᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲ ᓇᐱᐨ ᐁᓇᐦᐃᓇᑲᐧᐠ, ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᒧᑐᐨ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᒥᐦᐅᐁᐧ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᒥᓇᐧᔑᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒪᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑲᔭᑭᑕᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᐠᐢ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐣᑎ ᑲᐃᔑ ᐊᑕᐁᐧᓂᐨ ᑫᑯᓂ ᐅᒪ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐊᐦᑭᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒥᓇᐧᔑᓂ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᐠ ᐊᐱᐨ ᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᐠ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐁᐢᑎ ᑲᐃᒋᑲᑌᐠ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᑐᓫᐊᐤᐢ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᐁᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᐊᔑᑎᓂᑕᐧ ᐊᐱ
ᐃᐧᔭᓂ ᒥᐡᑲᐧᒋᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑫᒋᓇᐨ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓂ ᐱᒥᓂᔕᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᒋᐃᓇᑌᑭᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᑭᑌᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᔐᒪᐠ ᐣᑲᔭᓂ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᑐᒥᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᑭᑐᐨ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐊᔕ ᐣᑭᐃᔑ ᓇᑯᒥᑯᒥᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᑕᐧ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᓇᑲᐣ ᑊᕑᐊᐟ ᑐᑭᐧᐟ ᒋᐱᒥᑲᓇᐁᐧᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᔕ ᑲᑭᐃᓇᑯᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᒪᓄᑲᑌᐠ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐅᒋ. ᑐᓫᐊᐤᐢ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐁᐃᐧᓇᑭᐡᑲᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᓇᑲᓇᐣ ᔓᓂᔭᐃᐧᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓂᑲᓂᐡᑲᐠ ᑐᐊᐧᔾᐟ ᑕᐣᑲᐣ ᐁᐃᐧᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᐨ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᐃᐃᐧᔑ ᐅᐡᑭᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑕᐠᐢ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᐃᑯ ᒋᐃᓇᑌᓂᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲ ᑲᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᑕᐠᐢ ᐅᒪ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ. ᐣᑲᓇᑭᐡᑲᐊᐧᒥᐣ ᑲᔦ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᔓᓂᔭᐃᐧ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓂᑲᓂᐡᑲᐠ ᔕᐧᐣ ᐱᔦᕑ ᑊᕑᐊᐠᐱᕑᐣ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᑐᓫᐊᐤᐢ. ᐳᑲᒋ ᐅᑭᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᐣ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓇᐣ ᒋᐃᐧᒋᑕᐧᓂᐨ ᑲᐃᐧᐅᐡᑭ ᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ.
ᐊᒥᐃᐧᓂᑯ ᐁᑭᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᐃᐧᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑᐊᐣᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᐣ, ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐃᔑᐱᒥᑲᓇᐁᐧᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᑌᐸᑫᑕᑯᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲ ᒋᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒋᒥᓇᐧᔑᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᑫᐃᔑᐱᒥ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑫᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐳᑲᒋ. ᐊᑎᑲ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐊᐨ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᓂ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐣᑎ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᑕᐁᐧᓂᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᒋᐁᐢᑎ ᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᑲᐧᐣ ᒋᔭᐸᑕᐠ ᐯᐸᐣ ᑌᐯᐧ ᑫᒋᓇᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᑲᑭᐊᑕᐁᐧᐨ ᑫᑯᐣ ᒋᐃᔑᐃᐧᑐᐨ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐃᔑᐊᔑᒋᐱᐦᐊᐠ ᒋᐁᐢᑎ ᒧᐡᑭᓀᐱᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐁᑲ ᑲᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒪᐠ ᑲᑌᐸᑫᑕᑯᓯᔭᐠ ᐁᑲ ᒋᑎᐸᐦᐊᒪᐠ ᑕᐠᐢ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓂ ᐱᒥᐃᐧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐅᓀᑕᑲᐧᐠ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐳᑲᒋ, ᐁᐃᔑᐊᐧᐸᑕᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᒥᐡᑲᐧᑕᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐅᐡᑭᓭᓂᑭᐸᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᓂᔐᐧᑭᓭᐠ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓂᐠ ᒋᐃᐧᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑭᑎᒪᑭᓭᐃᐧᓂ. ᒋᓇᑯᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᑲᓇᐁᐧᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ
ᒥᓂᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᐁᑲ ᒋᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᑯᔭᐠ ᑕᐠᐢ ᐊᓂᐡ ᐊᒥᐦᐃᒪ ᑫᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐅᒋᐊᐸᒋᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ ᔓᓂᔭᐣ ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑕᔑᑯᐸᒋᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᐁᐧᓄᑕᐠ ᐊᐦᑭᐠ. ᑐᓫᐊᐤᐢ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᐅᑲᒪᒣᒋᑲᑐᓇᐊᐧ ᑲᐃᔑᐅᓂᐸᐸᑭᑎᓂᐨ ᔓᓂᔭ ᑫᒋᓇᐨ ᒋᑌᐱᒥᓂᑕᐧ ᑲᑭᓇ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑫᐅᒋ ᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌᓂᑭᐣ ᑭᒋᔭᐸᒋᒋᑲᓇᐣ. ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑭᐱᐃᓯᓭ, ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐅᒋᐊᔑᑎᓂᑕᐧ ᑫᑯᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᐠ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᑐᓫᐊᐤᐢ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᒪᐡᑲᐃᐧᑲᓄᑕᒪᐠ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᐁᐸᑯᓭᑕᑯᓯᐨ ᑌᐯᐧ ᒋᐱᒥᓂᔕᐦᐊᐠ ᑲᑭᐃᑭᑐᐸᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒪᐨ ᒥᓇ ᒋᑕᐃᐧᓇᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᒋᒥᓂᑕᐧ ᒋᐃᐧᒋᑕᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᒪ ᑌᑎᐸᐦᐃ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ. ᑐᓫᐊᐤᐢ ᑲᔦ ᐅᑭᒥᑯᑕᐣ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ $250 ᒥᓫᐃᔭᐣ ᐊᐃᐧᐦᐊᓱ ᔓᓂᔭ ᑲᑭᐊᓂᒧᒥᐨ ᒋᐸᑭᑎᓂᐨ ᑫᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ
ᒋᐃᔑᐃᐧᒋᑕᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᒥᑭ ᐃᐡᑯᑌ ᒪᐦᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ. ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᑕᐧ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᓇᑲᐣ ᑊᕑᐊᐟ ᑐᑭᐧᐟ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ $250 ᒥᓫᐃᔭᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐸᑭᑎᓂᐨ ᑕᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᓭ ᒋᐱᒋᓂᐡᑲᒪᑲᐠ ᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᑌᐃᐧ ᒪᐦᒋᑕᐃᐧᓇᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᐅᐡᑭ ᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑕᐠᐢ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᓇᐣᑕ ᐅᑲᐃᔑ ᐊᓂᒥᓭᐦᐃᑯᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲ ᑲᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᑕᐠᐢ. ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᒋᐱᒥᑲᓇᐁᐧᑕᐠ ᐁᑲ ᒋᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑕᐠᐢ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᓂ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᑐᑭᐧᐟ. ᒥᐃᐧᓂᑯ ᑲᔦ ᑫᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᓂᔭᑲᓇ ᒋᔭᓂᐱᒥᑭᑫᑕᒧᓂᑕᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐣᑲᔭᔕᐊᐧᐸᑕᒥᐣ ᒋᓇᑭᐡᑲᐊᐧᑭᑕᐧ ᑲᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᓂᑲᓂᑕᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐱᑯ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᑫᒋᓇᐨ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒋᔭᓂᐊᓂᒧᒋᑲᑌᐠ. ᐃᓇᐱᐣ ᐸᑭᑭᓂᑲᓂ 13