Benoit (eagle) Clan


Chief Benwah says Benoit Nation happy Feds agree to register Mi'kmaq under the Indian Act

Degrau. Benoit First Nation celebrates the Prime Minister's Announcement. The Benoit First Nation was not mentioned when the announcement came that Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl and Prime Minister Steven Harper was coming to the St. George's Museum to announce that the Feds were green lighting the deal, opening the door for the creation of a new band (landless) under the Indian Act with its own band list. It fact it only mentioned the FNI and its nine bands. However, the deal is actually open to non-statUs Mi'kmaq all across the province and even those living in Conne River. This is because there are FNI members that are not members of any of the nine bands, but listed on the FNI general membership list. I and many of our band members are, so while our band is not officially affiliated with the FNI we are individually members of the FNI, including myself. We will be registered.

We support this deal because it does three basic things for us:

  1. It corrects a wrong that has existed since 1949, where the majority of the Mi'kmaq living in this province were not welcomed into Canada through the Indian Act registry. Prime Minister Harper acknowledged this. Our brothers and sisters were honoured in Conne River with status in 1984 and a reserve in 1987. St. Alban's Mi'kmaq got their status at that time- but as I understand it, because it was tied to the reserve that was created in Conne River, they needed to move to Conne River to benefit from status- something the registered people of St. Alban's choose not to do and in my opinion they have paid the price for not doing so.
  2. It registers us as status indians under the Indian Act. Something we could never qualify for before under pre-existing criteria. This is not to be taken lightly. Time for a reality check for those who do not take this seriously.
  3. It does make some programs and services available to us that were not previously available to us.

Is it a perfect resolution to our concerns and wishes - no I believe not. Does it give us everything we ever wanted as a people that were second class within the first nation community - I believe it does not. And we will need to see the deal in detail. But in the end it is my belief that we will accepted it because it is our best and only hope of progress that we have ever seen and ever see for some time to come.

The big event took place at the former courthouse in St. George's on Friday, November 30 at 1:30 pm - the newly renovated regional Mi'kmaq museum. A fitting place, considering the history of the building - of old styled law enforcement, misunderstood Mi'kmaq and the old jail cells in the basement where many of the Mi'kmaq people were once locked up in the name of so-called colonial justice. Deligates from the nine bands, the provincial government and the feds were there.

The Benoit First Nation Vice Chief Peter Benoit drove to St. George's to witness the historic event, only to be turned away at the door by the Prime Minister's security because our Vice Chief was not on the list of those permitted into the building. It was a slap in the face of sorts, typical of the arrogance we have often seen in the days past when the FNI was a closed club for the priviledged few. Maybe this was an error on someone's part with our invitation getting lost in the mail (LOL). In spite of this however, we still celebrate the deal and the importance this moment in history will be to our people.

As for the die-hards who oppose this deal, for those Mi'kmaq who do not agree with me and who want to hold out for something else, something more, I feel sorry for you because I believe that you will be left out in the cold. I believe you will be on the road to nowhere. On the bright side those of you who have a parent, aunt, uncle or sibling who gets registered under this deal, will be able to register later. So when your bubble finally bursts you will have something to fall back on. As for the rest who can't make such a connection, I believe you will never be registered. It was not my intention to offend anyone with my comments and opinions herein, but they are my opinions and feels on the matter and I speak from the heart with honesty and openness - welal'in (thanks).

Return home

 

Copyright © 2007 Benoit First Nation