Feds likely to make changes to land claims body: official

The federal government is expected to announce a new plan soon to reform the current system used to resolve outstanding land claims in Canada.

Renee Dupuis, chief commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission, said in a statement that the commission expects that changes are coming.

The commission, set up in 1991 to investigate claims made by First Nations that have been rejected by the government, has the power to make recommendations to the government about how claims could be resolved. It does not have the power to make independent rulings.

"For many years now, we have been calling on the federal government to reform the present land claims system by setting up a permanent, independent claims body," Dupuis said in a message on the commission's website.

"We are encouraged that change is on the horizon and we are eager to collaborate with all parties to ensure that a fair and just system that works for both First Nations and government is put in place."

There are more than 800 outstanding specific land claims in Canada, according to the commission, which has a staff of 51 people and had an annual budget of $6.9 million in the fiscal year 2005-2006.

The Assembly of First Nations has said it would take about 130 years to resolve the outstanding claims at the current pace of negotiations.

Experts say the expected changes, however, may not help to resolve the hundreds of outstanding claims if resources are not provided to the commission to take on a larger role.

Larry Chartrand, director of the aboriginal governance program at the University of Winnipeg, said the real problem is a lack of government staff to look at the backlog of claims.

"There is some obligation on government to provide the resources so there isn't that delay in receiving justice."

Liberal Indian Affairs critic Anita Neville, MP for Winnipeg South Centre, said the mandate of the commission needs to be expanded to enable it make binding decisions.

"I understand it will only deal with those claims that have been rejected. What's clearly needed is the capacity to deal with the many claims that have not been addressed in any way."

Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, has said that it takes on average eight years for a lawyer to even look at a claim. Prenticeserved on the commissionfor 10 years and is considered an expert in land claims negotiations.

Anger, however, is rising across First Nations communities in part because of outstanding land claims, Phil Fontaine, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said in a speech earlier this week in Ottawa.

He has announced that First Nations will hold a national day of action on June 29 to improve the lives of aboriginal people across Canada.

"First Nations poverty is the greatest social justice issue facing Canada," he said in a video on theassembly's website. "But we have a plan for action, a First Nations plan."

That plan is designed to help First Nations become more self-sufficient.

"We are the youngest and fastest growing segment of Canada's population," he said. "Our future is Canada's future. Strong First Nations mean a stronger Canada and that's good for all of us."

Chief Terry Nelson of Roseau River First Nation has called for a blockade of rail traffic on June 29 as part of the day of action.