WHITECAP DAKOTA NATION, SK, July 15,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable
Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of
Crown-Indigenous Relations, delivered an apology on behalf of
the Government of Canada, to the
nine Dakota and Lakota First Nations in Canada for past harms relating to Canada's longstanding denial of their rights.
Minister Anandasangaree affirmed the nine communities' status as
"Aboriginal peoples of Canada" with constitutionally protected
Section 35 rights. This historic apology is an important step
toward healing and reconciliation which will help renew our
Nation-to-Nation relationships.
This long-overdue statement of recognition and apology was
delivered at a ceremony held today with Dakota and Lakota First
Nations' leadership, Elders, youth and community members at
Whitecap Dakota Nation. Approximately 650 people were in
attendance.
The Dakota and Lakota First Nations have long sought formal
recognition of their rights and an apology for the past wrongs
which were acknowledged in today's statement. For too long,
Canada failed to formally
recognize the Dakota and Lakota First Nations as "Aboriginal
peoples of Canada" within the
meaning of Section 35 of Canada's
Constitution and treated these First Nations unjustly as "second
class First Nations" and strangers here in Canada. The nine Dakota and Lakota First
Nations were not invited to sign Treaties in the 1870s and received
no Treaty rights or benefits as a result, including smaller
reserves than Treaty First Nations.
The Dakota and Lakota First Nations were critical to the
development of Canada, and this
lack of recognition by Canada has
had a profound impact on the Nation-to-Nation relationship and to
the Dakota-Lakota people for many generations. The Dakota and
Lakota have endured the same legacies of colonialism as any other
First Nation in Canada: they were subjected to the Indian
Act, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop and various other
laws and policies that have harmed Indigenous Peoples. The Dakota
and Lakota have shared in this experience, yet have been denied the
constitutional recognition and protection that other Indigenous
groups have.
Today's historic ceremony is also an important step towards
ensuring that every person in this country learns about our
collective history and Dakota and Lakota contributions to
Canada. The Government of
Canada will continue to work with
its Dakota and Lakota partners to rebuild relationships based on
respect for rights and advance their visions of a better future for
the benefit of their communities.
Quotes
"We deeply regret the time it has taken to acknowledge the
rightful place of the Dakota and Lakota as Aboriginal peoples of
Canada with constitutionally
protected Section 35 rights and we apologize for the past harms
suffered by generations as a result. With today's statement, we
hope to begin writing a new chapter together where trust is
rebuilt, rights are respected and our Nation-to-Nation
relationships are renewed for the benefit of generations to
come."
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations
"Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation Leadership and community want to
acknowledge the special relationship that has been developed with
this Federal Government. This apology recognizes the Dakota people
as being Indigenous to this land we call Canada. I believe this will allow our people
to begin the process of Reconciliation and healing in our
relationship with Canada. Birdtail
Sioux Dakota First Nation will commit to take its rightful place in
the economic and political landscape of this country."
Chief Lindsay Bunn Jr.
Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation
"Greetings, Chiefs, on this historic day for Dakotas in our own
homelands. Dakotas are the keepers of the buffalo territory. I
would like to thank the Government of Canada for this apology, one that should have
been given when they first arrived in Dakota Country. I would also
like to thank government officials and chiefs as we gather here in
Wapaha Ska Oyate."
Chief Raymond Brown
Canupawakpa First Nation
"It is essential that any apology recognizes the necessity for a
legal response to safeguard the rights of the Wahpeton Dakota
community. This response should involve the return and conservation
of lands that were not ceded, responsible governance of the land,
rejuvenation of traditional practices, and a shared respect for our
natural resources."
Chief Don Smoke
Dakota Plains Wahpeton Nation
"This Apology is a significant milestone in Canadian History
where Canadians can finally be told about the rich history of our
Ancestral Oceti Sakowin Nation, and opens the door to endless
possibilities in trade, commerce, and sustainable economic
development within our Oceti Sakowin Territory in the middle of the
continent where the Jays Treaty can finally be exercised. This
declaration by Canada finally
acknowledges the contributions of our Dakota Ancestors in
establishing Canada and provides a
foundation for asserting our immemorial rights and Aboriginal Title
position in Manitoba."
Chief Dennis Pashe
Dakota Tipi
"Dakota People's have never
considered themselves refugees or American in their ancestral
territories, which were amongst of all indigenous peoples the
largest at time of contact. Such labeling of the Dakota Peoples
served the interest of the Canadian government but was to the
disadvantage of and resulted in the marginalization of the Dakota
Peoples. I accept this apology as an acknowledgment of this
historical and current wrongdoing and look forward to reparation,
healing, and a better future for our Dakota Peoples as positive
contributors to Canadian society."
Chief Vincent Tacan
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
"Today, we acknowledge the significant injustices and
discrimination that Standing Buffalo has faced for generations. The
federal government's apology marks a pivotal moment in our history,
opening new doors and providing new horizons for our people. This
crucial step towards healing and reconciliation, grounded in our
longstanding allyship with the Crown, allows us to build a future
of mutual respect, honoring our cultural legacy and ensuring a
prosperous and sustainable future for Standing Buffalo."
Chief Rodger Redman
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation
"Today, we recognize the importance of this apology, but it must
be accompanied by a clear and unwavering commitment from the
federal government to fundamentally change the quality of life in
our communities. The recognition of Section 35 rights for the
Dakota is crucial, but we must remember that these rights are not
derived from that section; they originate from our inherent
sovereignty and land rights, which have remained intact and
unaltered. Wahpeton Dakota Nation's sovereignty and title to our
lands have never been extinguished. This apology is a significant
step, but it must lead to tangible actions that ensure our people's
future is one of prosperity, dignity, and respect. Only then can we
truly begin to heal and move forward together."
Chief John Waditaka
Wahpeton Dakota Nation
"For too long, the Dakota in Canada have been treated as foreigners in a
land that has been our home since time immemorial and in a country
that we helped create, defend and build into a multicultural beacon
of prosperity and tolerance. Last year, Canada finally acknowledged the Dakota as an
Aboriginal People of Canada, and
enshrined that recognition in the Whitecap Dakota Self-Government
Treaty, brought into force with unanimous approval under Bill C-51.
This apology today builds on that affirmation, and takes us one
further step ahead in the journey of healing and recognition that
is so long overdue."
Chief Darcy Bear
Whitecap Dakota Nation
"As we acknowledge the deep wounds of the past, we reflect on
our history as steadfast allies to the Crown. Chief Sitting Bull
wisely said, 'If I agree to dispose of any part of our land to the
white people, I would feel guilty of taking food away from our
children's mouths.' This apology is a step towards healing,
honoring our sacrifices, and committing to a future that preserves
our legacy and ensures a sustainable and economically prosperous
future for our people."
Chief Ellen B. LeCaine
Wood Mountain Lakota
Quick facts
- There are five Dakota First
Nations in Manitoba and
three Dakota First Nations and one
Lakota First Nation in Saskatchewan who are not a party to any
historic treaty entered into between Canada and other First Nations in those
provinces.
- These First Nations are: Birdtail
Sioux, Canupawakpa, Dakota Plains, Dakota Tipi and Sioux Valley in Manitoba and Whitecap, Wahpeton, Standing
Buffalo and Wood Mountain Lakota in Saskatchewan.
- The Dakota and Lakota have a long history of steadfast allyship
with the Crown, which includes their critical role, along with
other Indigenous Nations, in defending what is today Canada during the War of 1812.
Related links
Statement of Recognition and Apology to the Dakota-Lakota First
Nations
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SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Canada