Latest news with #NatanObed
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
ITK will not attend meeting with premiers, citing presence of ‘fraudulent collectives'
Inuit Tapariit Kanatami has declined an invitation to attend a meeting between national Indigenous leaders and premiers of Canada's provinces and territories being held in Huntsville, Ont., this week, saying non-rights-holding groups will also be attending. The three-day meeting starts July 21 and includes all 13 provincial and territorial premiers and 'follows a pattern of the Council of the Federation to include organizations that represent fraudulent collectives that falsely claim to represent Inuit,' said an ITK news release issued Thursday. 'We continue to encourage Canada's premiers to respect Inuit democratic governance, our constitutional rights and our right to self-determination.' The news release does not specify any groups and ITK spokesperson Patricia D'Souza declined to elaborate. Instead, she said: 'Our position on fraudulent collectives is well-documented.' ITK president Natan Obed was not available for an interview. This is not the first time ITK, which is the national organization representing Inuit in Canada, has skipped a meeting of the Council of Federation, which is the name of the organization of the heads of Canada's provincial and territorial governments. In 2023, ITK president Natan Obed declined the invitation to the meeting in Winnipeg and along with Cassidy Caron, president of the Métis National Council, criticized the federation for allowing Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and Native Women's Association of Canada to attend. Those two organizations are once again on the list of invitees for this week's meeting. 'ITK generally welcomes any opportunity to share Inuit priorities with territorial and provincial leaders, but any such meeting should be done with clear objectives and be respectful of Inuit governance,' Obed said at the time. The National Chief of the the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Brendan Moore called ITK decision 'unfortunate,' in an email to Nunatsiaq News on Friday. 'We respect their decision and wish them well in their continued efforts,' said Moore. Representatives Native Women's Association of Canada declined to comment. Over the years, ITK has opposed participation in public or government engagement events with groups it considers illegitimate. In 2024, the Northern Lights Business and Cultural Showcase was cancelled because of ITK's concerns about the involvement of the NunatuKavut Community Council, a collective representing approximately 6,000 people in northern Labrador who claim to be Inuit . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Carney to hold talks with Inuit leaders on major projects bill in N.W.T. next week
Prime Minister Mark Carney will be in Inuvik, N.W.T., on July 24 to continue talks with Indigenous groups on the government's major projects bill. Carney will co-host the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee with Natan Obed, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president. The meeting will cover a range of issues according to the Prime Minister's Office, including how the Building Canada Act can be implemented consistent with Inuit land claims agreements and in partnership with Inuit. The Building Canada Act gives the government the ability to fast-track projects that are deemed to be in the national interest by sidestepping some review requirements under a host of federal laws. Carney hosted a meeting with hundreds of First Nations chiefs in Gatineau, Que. Thursday in the first of three meetings with Indigenous groups. Some chiefs walked out of the meeting of the summit saying they saw an insufficient response to concerns they'd been raising for weeks, while others left the meeting "cautiously optimistic." Before travelling to Inuvik, the prime minister will also briefly visit Fort Smith, the town in the Northwest Territories where he was born and spent his early childhood.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Carney to hold talks with Inuit leaders on major projects bill in N.W.T. next week
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during the First Nations Summit at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Thursday, July 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney will be in Inuvik, N.W.T. on July 24 to continue talks with Indigenous groups on the government's major projects bill. Carney will co-host the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee with Natan Obed, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president. The meeting will cover a range of issues according to the Prime Minister's Office, including how the Building Canada Act can be implemented consistent with Inuit land claims agreements and in partnership with Inuit. The Building Canada Act gives the government the ability to fast track projects that are deemed to be in the national interest by sidestepping some review requirements under a host of federal laws. Carney hosted a meeting with hundreds of First Nations chiefs in Gatineau, Que. Thursday in the for the first of three meetings with Indigenous groups. Some chiefs walked out of the meeting of the summit saying they saw an insufficient response to concerns they'd been raising for weeks, while others left the meeting 'cautiously optimistic.' Before travelling to Inuvik, the prime minister will also briefly visit Fort Smith, the town in the Northwest Territories where he was born and spent his early childhood. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
National Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Liberals could find out soon whether their rushed projects bill will spark another Idle No More
Article content A lot of Indigenous leaders agree with the urgency of powering up the economy. Article content David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, told the Senate that he supports the legislation because the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump threaten the Canadian economy, which would cause hardship for his people. 'We stand with you,' he said. Article content Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said he's concerned about the legislation's ability to limit native rights but he's also hopeful that big projects could be very good for Far North communities. 'There's an incredible opportunity to really become an Arctic nation,' Obed said. Article content Whatever acrimony has erupted over the legislation obscures the improved relations between Indigenous groups and Canadian governments, said Shannon Joseph, chair of Energy for a Secure Future, a non-partisan group that focuses on energy policy. Article content One of the recent trends that had helped improve the relationship is the increase in the number of natural resources projects where Aboriginal communities have taken equity stakes, aided at times by government loan guarantee programs. Article content 'Indigenous peoples are at the heart of this (process),' Joseph said. Article content Carney is now going to great lengths to show that he sees things that way too, emphasizing that Ottawa won't deem projects to be in the national interest without first consulting with affected Aboriginal communities. The new office responsible for advancing big projects will include an Indigenous advisory council that he said will be responsible for ensuring that Aboriginal rights are respected. Article content After the federal bill was passed in Parliament, however, Carney acknowledged that there's more work to be done and said that he plans to begin consultations with Indigenous groups July 17. Article content 'The first thing we will do to launch the implementation of this legislation in the right way is through full-day summits,' Carney said a week before the bill was passed. The federal legislation has company in its intent and controversy: Recent bills have also passed in Ontario and British Columbia that were designed to fast-track major projects. And both were criticized for inadequate consultation with First Nations. Ontario Premier Doug Ford made things worse when he opened old wounds around trust and paternalism when he boosted his provincial bill by arguing that Aboriginal communities can't expect to continue to get economic support if they don't support the infrastructure projects that the economy needs. Article content 'You can't just keep coming hat in hand all the time to government,' Ford said. 'You gotta be able to take care of yourselves.' He soon after apologized. Article content Fiddler was among several Indigenous leaders who accused Ford of racism. Fiddler's riposte was that native communities are tired of federal and provincial governments coming 'hat in hand' for the resources on Aboriginal land. Article content Fiddler says it's not too late to stop the damage to a slowly improving relationship between governments and First Nations. But that would mean slowing down legislation to give Aboriginal communities more time to review and consult with their communities and potentially push for changes. But politicians across Canada are suddenly in a hurry; they're taking their chances. Article content
Winnipeg Free Press
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indigenous leaders tell Senate major projects bill moving too fast, call for consults
OTTAWA – The president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami says 'Canada's weakness' is publicly saying reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is of top priority then acting like it isn't when it introduces legislation like the major projects bill. The legislation is being widely criticized by Indigenous leaders and community members across the country. Bill C-5 would give the federal cabinet the ability to set aside various statutes to push forward approvals for a small number of major industrial products, such as mines, pipelines and ports. Natan Obed was one of three Indigenous leaders speaking in the Senate chamber today who all said their rights were not properly considered in the legislation. Obed, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand all want the government to allow more time for Indigenous groups to express their concerns. Chartrand says he'll support the legislation, but worries Métis won't be fully included in the benefits it promises. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
