Several Manitoba Chiefs express their desire for King Charles III to reconsider his decision not to meet with Indigenous leaders during his visit to Canada.
Grand Chief Kyra Wilson of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs Organization, along with Indigenous leaders from various regions, gathered on Parliament Hill to urge the Crown to honor the treaties they have signed.
“We stand beside you as allies,” Daniels emphasized. “That is the essence of the relationship in this nation.”
During his visit to Canada with Queen Camilla, Charles will deliver the throne speech, becoming the first Canadian monarch to do so in almost 50 years. His schedule includes meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Governor General Mary Simon.
Grand Chief Wilson criticized the exclusion of First Nations leaders, viewing it as a sign of disrespect.
“Although we often hear the phrase ‘nation to nation,’ the reality is quite different,” she expressed. “It seems to always be First Nations seeking entry, knocking on the door. This cannot continue.”
Wilson remains optimistic that Charles will reconsider his stance before concluding his visit on Tuesday afternoon.
“While we see many policies, funding agreements, and compensations, they do not truly address the essence of treaty fulfillment, which is our focus this week,” she highlighted.
Grand Chief Daniels will be present for Tuesday’s speech in Ottawa, aiming to advocate for the 32 nations represented by SCO.
“I anticipate witnessing a revitalized relationship and acknowledgement of past wrongs, paving the way for a reformed future,” Daniels anticipated.
“The history with the settlers in our territories has been intricate, characterized by sacred agreements and harmful betrayals.”
Daniels aspires to see a departure from the actions of previous rulers and their administrations, which have negatively impacted generations of First Nations individuals.
“It is imperative to reset our relationship with the Crown fundamentally. At the opening of the 45th Parliament of Canada, I look forward to establishing a foundation for our future generations to prosper through a genuinely renewed and fair relationship.
“This requires more than incremental changes to systems that aimed to dismantle us; it necessitates forging a new path together as First Nations and settlers sharing this land bestowed upon us by the Creator.”
— with contributions from Iris Dyck
