Colonialism comment shows 'gulf of misunderstanding' - The Windsor Star - October 2, 2009

By Jorge Barrera

The leader of the country's most prominent First Nations organization on Thursday raised the temperature on a simmering controversy sparked by the prime minister, when he said Canada had "no history of colonialism."

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo dismissed the government's defence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's statement and demanded a meeting to discuss it.

"The prime minister must be held to the highest standard, especially when speaking to the international community. There is no room for error. The current line of response from federal officials that the prime minister's remarks were taken 'out of context' is simply not good enough for someone in his position," said Atleo in a statement.

Harper made the remark last Friday at a news conference with international media during the G20 Summitt in Pittsburgh.

"We also have no history of colonialism," said Harper. "So we have all of the things that many people admire about the great powers, but none of the things that threaten or bother them."

The Prime Minister's Office has said Harper's statement was taken out of context, and that he was differentiating Canada from countries that had imperial ambitions in their past.

Atleo, however, said the prime minister's comments showed the "gulf of misunderstanding" between many Canadians and First Nations people.

"The future cannot be built without regard to the past," said Atleo. "Internationally, Canada has been scrutinized and harshly criticized for its treatment of indigenous peoples and failure to respect aboriginal and treaty rights."

Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl's office refused to comment, and Harper's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Atleo said the effects of Canadian colonialism remained. "It is the attitude that fuelled the residential schools, the colonial Indian Act that displaces traditional forms of First Nations governance, the theft of Indian lands and forced relocations of First Nations communities, the criminalization and suppression of First Nations languages and cultural practices, the chronic underfunding of First Nations communities and programs, and the denial of treaty and aboriginal rights, even though they are recognized in Canada's Constitution."

Harper drew no immediate backlash after he made the comment. The words appeared near the bottom of a Reuters wire story and may have quickly been buried and forgotten, were it not for cyberspace, where the statement was repeated in blogs, chat boards and on alternative news websites, even sparking a YouTube parody involving the "Ojibway Rambo."

The NDP was the first federal party to raise the issue, when B.C. MP and aboriginal affairs critic Jean Crowder reacted in the House of Commons on Monday. "Canada does have a history of colonialism. Reconciliation won't happen until our prime minister admits that," said Crowder.