Montréal's Indigenous leaders say Quebec premier's absence from Ottawa summit sends a message

Indigenous leaders in Quebec say the premier's decision to skip a First Nations-First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa shows Indigenous issues are not a priority for him. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon did not attend the Monday summit. He cited a tight schedule, and Quebec's minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit later said the absence was deliberate, so he could hold a direct nation-to-nation meeting within Quebec.

Francis Verreault-Paul, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), said he would have liked to see the premier at the table. He also raised concerns about the Parti Québécois's long-term goal of sovereignty. "I know what are the objectives of the Parti Québécois in the near future, to become a sovereign country," Verreault-Paul said. "But till then, I mean they have to govern and they have to govern with the federal government in terms of the… especially for First Nations."

Na'kuset, executive director of the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal, put it more bluntly. "Already when he gets an invitation to meet with chiefs around Canada, not really his priority," she said. She argued that urban Indigenous people in Montreal are over-represented among people experiencing homelessness and should be part of the conversation. She added that she expects the AFN to press the premier on tough questions when they meet.

The Monday summit discussed reforming or abolishing the Indian Act. Verreault-Paul said abolishing the law should not leave nothing in its place. "Doesn't mean that if we do abolish the Indian Act that we're going to get on the other end with nothing," he said. "Obviously, our role as leadership is to make sure that if we do abolish the Indian Act, what's going to be, what will be replaced by that Act? So I think that's the question."

St-Pierre Plamondon agreed to meet AFNQL representatives on Wednesday. The AFNQL's priorities for that meeting are protecting and revitalizing languages and culture, the management of lands, and the role of First Nations in land management. "On the other hand, talking about identity, identity for us it's about our lands," Verreault-Paul said. "How are we going to manage our own lands? Are we going to be part of that? And that remains one of the biggest questions that we have to address with the new government and hopefully we'll find some solution."

HighOnCity reported that the premier would meet the AFNQL on Wednesday after skipping the Ottawa summit. Na'kuset said she also wants the premier to address the issues facing urban Indigenous people in Montreal.