Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice says he has a plan that will put a significant dent in the massive backlog of unresolved aboriginal land claims, beginning as early as this spring.
Prentice's comments come amid warnings from some First Nations activists of a summer that will be filled with protests that are sure to include rail and road blockades.
Prentice, speaking on CTV's Question Period, said he plans to announce a policy within the next few weeks -- likely after the inquiry into Ipperwash comes forward on June 1st -- that will set out new policies for dealing with the claims.
He said there is a current backlog of 800 unresolved land claims on the government's books.
"The frustration has been gradually building about those land claims, and I have said the situation is unacceptable and I intend to deal with it," Prentice said.
The Globe and Mail this week cited sources that said Prentice's plan will give the Indian Affairs Commission independent power to rule on land claims.
Under the current system, the ICC can investigate allegations of treaty violations and make recommendations about resolving disputes, but the government makes the final decision on whether it is at fault and whether disputes should be resolved.
Prentice was the co-commissioner of the ICC in 2001, and at that time he advocated for reforms that would give the body full independent powers to resolve grievances with binding decisions.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as opposition leader, also outlined a similar plan.
The argument isn't new, and such a change has been demanded for more than a decade.
A recent Senate report cited by The Globe suggested the historic change could dramatically speed up dispute resolution and provide financial benefits to native communities.
Prentice suggested such reforms are a realistic possibility.
"No decision has been made yet. It still requires discussion. It's one of the things that is on the table," he told Question Period co-host Jane Taber.
Prentice said the government currently resolves only about eight land claims disputes per year. At that rate it would take a century to resolve all the claims currently on the government's books.
He said that is an unacceptable timeline and the system requires a serious overhaul in order to speed up the process.
But he said it is also important to come up with a system that has legitimacy both in the eyes of native and non-native people.
"There's been a complaint for 60 years that the government of Canada serves as the defendant and jury and research body, and it's too much -- that the Canadian government is in conflicting roles. We're trying to get to the heart of that as well," Prentice said.
Few options left
He warned, however, that native threats of summer blockades and protests are the type of actions that erode goodwill among non-natives, and are unacceptable methods for negotiating.
However, National Grand Chief Guillaume Carle, who represents natives not living on reservations, said his people are desperate and have few options left for making their voices heard.
"Well, hopefully the Canadian population doesn't think that this is confrontational, because it's the only point that's left or the only way now that's left for people to be able to show how they feel."
He said Canadians need to look beyond the protests and try to understand the deep frustration that is driving the native people to take such action -- most of which he said is non-violent and not intended to engage police.
"I think what we're trying to say to the Canadian population is please help us," Guillaume said.
"Our kids are dying, they're uneducated, they're unhealthy and they have no future to look at. I mean, we are part of the people that depend the most on welfare and at the end of the day, that has to stop because there's no (pride) there."
