Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says only Prime Minister Mark Carney and Manitoba's premier, Wab Kinew, were the leaders who talked about abolishing the Indian Act at last week's meeting of federal, provincial and First Nations leaders in Ottawa, CTV News reports. Both men had said the idea was raised and backed by some chiefs.
Woodhouse Nepinak said chiefs were more focused on major projects legislation they believe threatens their rights, and that those discussions were sidelined by the remarks. Carney has said he is open to the idea but later suggested the 1876 law could be reformed rather than scrapped. The office of Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said Kinew was not alone in raising it. The act gives Ottawa wide powers over First Nations, and there is little agreement on what should replace it.
Source: CTV News