Treaty 6 First Nations leaders joined treaty leaders across the country to call attention to the "profound gap between ceremonial gestures and the reality of unfulfilled Treaty obligations."
In a news release Wednesday following the Speech from the Throne on Tuesday by His Majesty King Charles III, the treaty leaders said while the words were impactful, action is needed to back them up.
“The Throne Speech means little without action,” said Grand Chief Greg Desjarlais, Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations. “We are here to say the era of symbolic gestures is over. It’s time for the Crown to honour the Treaties in law, in policy, and in budget.”
According to the release, while the King acknowledged the Unceded Territory on which he stood and expressed hopes for a future rooted in “Truth and Reconciliation – in word and in deed,” First Nations leaders stressed that real Reconciliation must begin with justice, Treaty implementation, and shared decision-making.
Joint Treaty leadership calls for:
● Inclusion of First Nations staff and governance roles in the Major Projects Office;
● Legislated First Nations roles in environmental assessments and procurement;
● Protection of Treaty and Inherent Rights in interprovincial trade legislation;
● Recognition that no project proceeds without free, prior, and informed consent.
The Throne Speech addressed key confederation issues such as eliminating federal interprovincial trade barriers, creating a centralized Major Projects Office to speed up approvals, and reducing the federal operating budget.
The Treaty leaders expressed concern that any reduction in budgetary spending by the federal government must not come at the cost of justice for First Nations Peoples.
Treaty leaders also expressed hope about the King's commitment to "renewal" during a period of global instability.
“What we witnessed today must not be remembered for its pageantry alone,” said Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, Southern Chiefs’ Organization. “It must be remembered as the day we called on the Crown to end its silence and act on the spirit and intent of Treaty.”
Tuesday's Speech from the Throne marks the first time King Charles has delivered the Throne Speech in Canada since his ascension in 2022.
The ceremony opened with a performance by Métis fiddler Morgan Grace of Manitoba and featured Traditional colonial protocols, with dignitaries including former Prime Ministers and First Nations leadership led into the Red Chamber by the Usher of the Black Rod.
First Nations leaders also expressed the importance for accountability from G7 leaders as Canada gets set to host the summit later this month.
