Billion-dollar benefits for B.C. if First Nations treaties settled

Business in Vancouver

November 19, 2009

Completing treaties with First Nations in B.C. sooner rather than later yields the most benefit for First Nations and the province, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report. The report found that if all 60 First Nations currently in the B.C. treaty process completed their treaties by 2025, the First Nations could receive a net financial benefit of $10.28 billion.

B.C. could receive $6.4 billion in economic benefits after deducting $3.9 billion in settlement costs. Total wage income in B.C. could rise by more than $14 billion over a 40-year period. The report suggests the total net economic boost to the province from completing treaties is significantly higher than the actual costs the B.C. government will pay to settle treaties.

The report, unlike previous studies, was based on results from actual final agreements including Tsawwassen First Nation.

More info at: www.bctreaty.net/

Some First Nations making real financial progress

By Don Cayo - Vancouver Sun

October 29, 2009

What would it mean if Canada’s First Nations were, if not rich, then at least as well-to-do as their non-native neighbours?

The short answer is a lot. Because native poverty is so broad and so deep that turning it around would mean a huge shot in the arm for the entire Canadian economy.

Despite recent economic progress – which may be spotty, but is still substantial – First Nations continue to trail other Canadians in every measure of wealth, not to mention social indicators. The median income of aboriginals in Canada in 2005, for example, was just $16,572, compared to $25,955 for all Canadians combined.

More at: www.vancouversun.com/columnists/Don_Cayo.html

First Nation plans to charge rent for band housing

CBC News

September 29, 2009

A First Nations community in northern Manitoba thinks it's come up with a novel solution to its housing problems. Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) said it is poised to start charging residents rent to occupy all band-owned housing.

And while many First Nations communities charge rent on a few select homes, an NCN spokeswoman said theirs would be the first in Manitoba to apply rent to all of the community's homes. Lou Moody, who heads up the NCN's housing committee said it's a matter of necessity.

The band, located about 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg, hopes to fund new housing construction with the money they get. Moody said NCN spends $1 million a year just to maintain band houses. "We have to charge rent," he said. "We're just going around in circles and not getting anywhere."

‘Lousy food is cheap’ – Dr Evan Adams

By Judith Lavoie - Victoria Times Colonist

November 1, 2009

Dr. Evan Adams, provincial aboriginal health physician adviser, said rates of diabetes vary across First Nations communities, with higher rates in rural and remote communities where access to specialists is more difficult and there are fewer opportunities to be active.

"Part of the solution is community development and the community environment -- gymnasiums, recreation centres and recreational opportunities," he said.

One recent success has been promoting traditional activities such as the annual canoe journey, Adams said. "It's a way to get fit and have fun."

But much of the problem is also socio-economic, Adams said.

"Lousy food is very cheap. So if you can get 10 hamburgers for $5.99, that's what you eat," he said. "Communities need good access to good quality food and fruits and vegetables."

Aboriginal leaders, university and college officials and, most of all, students are worrying about a review by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada of the Post-Secondary Student Support Program.

They fear that INAC will decide to transfer control of $314 million in student grants for First Nations university and college students to the Canada Student Loans Program which is administered by provinces.

Currently, status First Nations have constitutional rights granting them access to federal funding for education. Money is distributed by individual bands, but no student is guaranteed funding.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation said in a 2008 report that Aboriginal students prefer grant-based education funding through their bands to repayable financial assistance.

INAC admitted the review was underway in late December. A few months earlier, the Canadian Federation of Students called on the federal government to help out with what it said was “massive student debt” that was more than $13 billion.