AMC welcomes historic first reading of land acknowledgement in Manitoba legislature
November 29, 2021
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
alexpapineau
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) issues this statement to acknowledge today’s historic first reading of a land acknowledgement in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The land acknowledgement recognizes that Manitoba is located on ancestral First Nations’ lands and that the spirit and intent of Treaties and Treaty making is respected. It will be a permanent legislative process and formally codified through the Standing Committee on Rules of the House.
Grand Chief Arlen Dumas stated, “On behalf of the AMC, I thank the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly for the invitation to sit in her gallery as part of the delegation of First Nations representatives for the first reading of the land acknowledgement in the legislature. The AMC also thanks the Honourable Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba, all members of the PC caucus, and all members of the Manitoba Legislature for their efforts at resetting and repairing the relationship with First Nations in Manitoba. These efforts were demonstrated last week when all Manitobans watched with pride another historic first when MLAs were accompanied into the legislature by our northern First Nation drum for the speech from the throne.”
Grand Chief added, “Today’s first reading of the official provincial land acknowledgement in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba is another momentous moment in our shared history as we all work in the spirit of cooperation and respect to reset the relationship, which has been badly tarnished over the last few years, between First Nations in Manitoba and the provincial Crown. To First Nations, the land acknowledgement is more than symbolic; it is also a key step to righting previous wrongs perpetuated on First Nations in this province and moving forward in the spirit and intent of Reconciliation.”
“The AMC was pleased to advise former Indigenous Relations Minister Eileen Clark and her committee on wording for the province’s official land acknowledgement. Although all suggested AMC wording did not make it into the final document, we are pleased that Manitoba under the leadership of Premier Stefanson has developed a land acknowledgement and has made significant efforts in recent weeks for reconciling the provincial government’s agenda with First Nations’ economic and political aspirations,” concluded Grand Chief Dumas.