Natan Obed makes an announcement on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. The president of the national Inuit organization says had Ottawa engaged it earlier on developing legislation to create a national reconciliation council, they wouldn't be where they are today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
OTTAWA – The president of a national Inuit organization says he cannot support federal legislation to create a national reconciliation council.
The legislation which will create a board of directors to oversee Ottawa’s implementation of the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
At a press conference in Ottawa, Natan Obed says the bill could result in recommendations “that may be completely out of sync” with Inuit positions.
And he says if the Liberal government had engaged Inuit earlier on developing the law, the two groups wouldn’t be where they are today.
As it stands, the three national Indigenous organizations representing the Inuit, Métis and First Nations are all set to have seats at the table, but a parliamentary committee studying the bill recently added one for the Native Women’s Association of Canada.
Unlike the other organizations, the women’s association is not considered a rights-holder.
Members of Parliament recently passed the bill in the House of Commons, sending it to the Senate, which could decide to make further amendments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2022
