As Finance Minister Bill Morneau delivers his third federal budget today, Indigenous Peoples are expecting the Trudeau government to deliver on some massive, massive promises. They’re going to deliver, right? Right??
Here’s five things Indigenous Peoples are watching for.
1. Reconciliation
This government is big on reconciliation, even though Walking Eagle News is pretty sure it means something completely different for them than it does for Indigenous folk. Expect the feds to raise the reconciliation ceiling to levels not seen since ever.
2. Reconcili-ACTION
See #1, except add earnest yet still somehow grave-sounding press conferences from Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott where they stress the need to ‘do better’ and reassure Indigenous Peoples that help is one the way — perhaps beginning in 2019.
3. Perry Bellegarde saying we need to close the gap
Whatever the outcome of today’s federal budget announcement, Indigenous Peoples are expecting a press release and perhaps an appearance by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde expressing the need for the country to close the gap and reminding everyone that work needs to be done. No one is expecting Bellegarde to be angry when the budget ultimately falls short.
4. Hugs
Though it’s never been a budget item in the past, we can expect the federal government to promise an immediate injection of hugs for Indigenous communities — perhaps personally delivered by a teary-eyed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
5. Pipelines that carry reconciliation, oil, fresh water and fish
Will this be the generation that finally sees pipelines that carry reconciliation, oil, fresh water and fish, from coast-to-coast and through every single First Nations, Métis and Inuit community?
Dare to dream, Canada.
Dare to dream…