MANIWAKI, QUEBEC — (Marketwired) — 09/06/13 — Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation – Chief Gilbert W. Whiteduck of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation stated today that he was disappointed to read the August 19, 2013 Press Release from the Chiefs of five Algonquin Bands from north western Quebec announcing that they were inviting the Governments of Quebec and Canada to participate in good faith negotiations to reach an agreement on a modern treaty. The five First Nation communities are; Abitibiwini, Long Point, Lac Simon, Kichisakik and Wahgoshig which is located in Ontario.
Chief Whiteduck stated, “The Federal Comprehensive Claims Policy is about extinguishment, certainty or whatever else the governments want to call it. You can not call a moose a beaver. We are not interested in extinguishing our inherent Algonquin Aboriginal Title and Rights. We seek true justice as outlined in the articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples.”
“The government–s goal and approach is one of a colonizer who views the indigenous peoples as a nuisance to corporate development. They are therefore prepared to use the big stick when necessary and to misinform the Canadian public when it suits their agenda.” Chief Whiteduck stated, “We will continue to speak out and to take actions that our community views appropriate in order to protect our ancestral rights to our collective territory. We are not prepared to extinguish our Aboriginal Title and Rights to our collective ancestral territory and this includes eastern Ontario. We are prepared to work with willing partners to develop innovative indigenous approaches to share the land and all that it provides.”
“The Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation community asserts its inherent rights to the ancestral Algonquin territory. The cornerstone of any respectful dialogue must be built on this inherent right and immersed in and guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” stated Chief Whiteduck.
The Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation Community is located 130 kms north of Ottawa, Ontario within what is called the Province of Quebec. Kitigan Zibi is the largest of the 10 Algonquin communities which are located in Western Quebec and Eastern Ontario.
Contacts:
Darhlene Twenish
819-449-5170
819-449-5673 (FAX)