Aboriginal Endowment Fund Dinner

It is a privilege for me to address this first dinner in support of the Aboriginal Endowment Fund. As you all know, the Fund is being established to encourage Aboriginal people to more broadly participate in the political process. This is an important goal and the organizers of this event should be commended.

Why is this goal important?

I have heard Elijah Harper say that there is a reason for Aboriginal lack of enthusiasm for the federal process. He has said the reason is simple -- federal politics were not discussed around Elijah's family table with his father because Aboriginal people were denied a federal vote until 1960. In retrospect, this fact should be an embarrassment and something no Canadian should be very proud of.

We had a collective responsibility in this denial. We had a collective responsibility in countless other exclusions. And now if we truly mean what we say about Aboriginal self-government -- Inherent Right and Treaty -- then we have a collective responsibility to ensure that Aboriginal people have a powerful voice in government; that Aboriginal people are entitled a right to dialogue at a level table; that Aboriginal people are welcomed to the democratic process:

- not as antagonists
- but as partners, and friends

In 1958, two years before it was legal, Senator Len Marchand, in defiance, cast his vote in the general election. Ten years later, he was elected to Parliament and went on to become the first native in a federal cabinet. We owe Len Marchand a debt of gratitude for his leadership and inner strength.

What Canadians have not acknowledged, and they must, is that Canadian history is full of Len Marchands. People like Poundmaker, Crowfoot, Jake Fire, Isaiah Smith and countless others. They are part of what makes Canada strong. They are part of what makes Canada what it is.

I was once the Minister of Indian Affairs. Although I often joke about how difficult the job was, it is was one of the most personally satisfying times of my life. The friends I made then are still friends today -- 30 years later.

I used to wonder about historical promises made, "as long as the sun shines, as long as the grass grows, and the rivers flow".

As I matured politically, I came to realize that these words -- these promises -- were not footnotes, but rather living pledges that we have made to each other; living documents that are to guide our relationship into the millennium.

In other words, they were not the ultimate destination but rather the guide posts to that destination.

As you know, Canada is the Aboriginal name for "village." Within this village of ours called Canada, I have always maintained -- throughout my entire political career -- that we could be different but still be Canadian; that we could have different languages and different cultures, but still be bound by a common love of Canada; that we could proudly share our feelings of tolerance, our feelings of caring, acceptance, and understanding.

We have the Aboriginal Peoples Commission. And we have elected two Aboriginal people under our banner. But, quite frankly, two is not enough.

The diversity of Aboriginal issues is so complex that more Aboriginal people are needed in Parliament. People who, with passion and knowledge, bring Aboriginal issues to the attention of the nation. I believe this sincerely and pledge to you continued efforts and support to find and assist Aboriginal people become candidates of our Party; to win nominations; to win seats so that they might take their rightful place in the House of Commons.

That relationship, between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, is constantly evolving. One of the most recent markers in the relationship was the presentation of "Gathering Strength -- Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan."

Through our Statement of Reconciliation, we recognized that the ways of the past belong to the past.

As a government and as Liberals, we recognized that there are new approaches to embrace for the future, approaches that will focus on building strong Aboriginal governments and communities, in a broad partnership with Aboriginal people and other governments, organizations and individual Canadians.

For us to live together in our great country, celebrating our differences, we need to know and understand each other. The legacy of the past makes this a challenge of the future. How will we better know and understand each other if we can't even find ways to relate to each other?

Aboriginal people must organize themselves and speak to Canadians in a way that all Canadians understand. That means everything from doing business with Aboriginal entrepreneurs to negotiating modern treaties.

That's not to say that the onus is all on Aboriginal people to make the rest of us understand on our terms. Aboriginal people have been at politics in this country much longer than we have.

What I mean is that Aboriginal people face the tremendous challenge of developing political structures and organizations in a modern world -- on an accelerated time line -- to reflect who they are and what they want.

There are national Aboriginal leaders here who can tell us how tough it is and also how rewarding it is to see attitudes change for the better.

Governing is difficult. It is always easier to be in Opposition. For every step forward there are detractors. But it takes courage to take those steps. There are watersheds in any relationship. "Gathering Strength" is one of those watersheds. It took foresight by the Aboriginal leadership and my ministers to come together in January when Jane Stewart delivered the Statement of Reconciliation on behalf of the Government of Canada.

Tonight, I want to commend those leaders and those ministers. To let them know that I am proud of them. To let them know that I am solidly -- and our government is solidly -- behind them no matter how difficult the journey may be.

As Chief Richard Poorman has said, "this process is by no means perfect" (but) "we need to move on down the road". And we will.

There is a tremendous challenge ahead of us. For too long "Indian politics" and main stream politics have been seen as two separate entities -- two separate rivers. Elders have wisely observed that as the aspirations of Aboriginal people are gradually being realized, there is a basic uneasiness.

We have seen the emergence of "code-word politics". Words that by any rational assessment are designed to turn non-Aboriginals against Aboriginals. This is unhealthy and will not be tolerated by any Liberal.

But we need your help. Allies can only stand beside each other. The only way to protect is to participate. The only way to progress is through collectivity. That is a lesson that we as Canadians can -- and will -- show the world.

When I step back and look at the current evolution of our relationship, I am encouraged by what I see. I am optimistic for the future.

Like any relationship, the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians is one that requires constant effort. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal People told us to strive for a relationship of mutual respect and recognition, responsibility and sharing. This is a dynamic that must be strengthened on every level -- person to person; community to community; government to government.

We must now make it possible for Aboriginal people to take their rightful place in this country in every sphere -- the social, the economic and the political. We as a Party and government, and we as Canadians, have much to gain.

Tonight, we are taking an important next step toward achieving that goal. Once again, I want to thank you all for coming out to show your support.