Mitchell trying to close the gap

Andy Mitchell, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development says a gap still exists between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians.

Mitchell made his remarks in North Bay Friday while speaking to Nipissing University students.

His objective as minister, Mitchell said, is to work close this gap, a task he believes could take many years. Mitchell’s plan calls for aggressive action and specific objectives over the next three years.

Working together
First he plans to work on the relationships Canada has with all aboriginals from coast to coast, while bringing together all levels of Government to work towards the common goal.

Mitchell said there are now several different ministries working with First Nations at the federal level. The problem is that these ministries are all working vertically when they need to be working together. This problem, Mitchell said, is being addressed by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Since taking over as PM, Martin has appointed a cabinet ministry for aboriginal affairs, which will bring all 14 existing Ministries together to co-ordinate at one table.

Mitchell’s plan is made up of principals. The strongest of which is “taking a collaborative approach”. Under this approach all groups would work together, understand collectively, share a common goal, and share a relationship built on mutual respect.

“That isn’t just saying ‘I respect you and what you say’ but actually living that respect,” Mitchell said.

Too or for mentality
One of the key factors to his plan calls for is trust, which Mitchell said will take time to earn.

Another principal in his plan is to move away from the “too or for mentality” most frequently adopted by governments. Instead he plans to provide the tools for aboriginal groups to build with.

Those tools, he said, will have to be flexible; a solution which will benefit aboriginal communities in Western Canada may not benefit aboriginal communities in Northern Ontario. Mitchell calls this the “bottom-up approach.”

“I believe that solutions exist in all communities so we need to start there and work out,” he said.

Mitchell said he plans to introduce legislation in the House of Commons in the coming months that will give aboriginal communities the rights to self government and allow them to achieve their objectives.