Some First Nations people critical of Justin Trudeau's commitment to reconciliation
CBC
Some Indigenous people reacted to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement this week that he would resign once the Liberals select a successor by praising him for his commitment to reconciliation, but others are pointing to unkept promises.
Russ Diabo, a Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) policy analyst, said he's "not a big fan" of the Trudeau government.
"I've been a critic of the Trudeau government's approach because they've used basically a communications strategy of talking about reconciliation," said Diabo.
Diabo does give the Trudeau government credit though for increased spending on Indigenous programs.
According to the 2024 federal budget, the Liberals increased spending in Indigenous communities to more than $30 billion in 2024 from $11 billion in 2016.
However, Diabo said the money was invested into the current "colonial Indian system," referring to how the government works with First Nations communities under the Indian Act, which he said created circumstances leading to systemic poverty.
"It's not enough. It was a drop in the bucket from what's needed," said Diabo.
"I don't think the situation has really improved much for them at the community level, which is why you're seeing a lot of unrest."
Diabo also criticized the government's commitment to lifting all long-term boil water advisories on reserve by 2021, a 2015 election promise.
There were 105 long-term drinking water advisories on reserves in November 2015. Since November 2015, 147 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted. As of Nov. 7, 2024, there were 31 long-term advisories in place in 29 communities, according to government data.
"If it was a priority for him, like he said ... all of them would have been out of the way," said Diabo.
Clayton Thomas-Müller, a member of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation also known as Pukatawagan, in northern Manitoba, is an activist, author and director of the book and film titled Life in the City of Dirty Water.
He said it is disappointing Trudeau didn't keep his promise to lift all the long-term boil water advisories.
He was also critical of the Liberal government's climate legacy.
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