Good morning, everyone. My name is Jamie Gallant. I am the president and chief of the Native Council of Prince Edward Island.
I'll begin by welcoming you to the traditional Mi'kmaq territory of Epekwitk.
The Native Council of Prince Edward Island is a community of people who continue to reside off-reserve throughout the traditional ancestral homelands of the Mi’kmaq people here in Prince Edward Island. With the assistance of the federal interlocutor from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, the Native Council advocates on behalf of aboriginal people throughout the province.
I'm here today to ask you to reconsider the current fiscal allocation. But before I do that, I must provide some background information on the situation on Prince Edward Island.
There are approximately 1,730 aboriginal people living on Prince Edward Island, according to 2006 census data, with 970 being female. Those participating in the census and claiming to be registered Indians are 825, of which 95 have an aboriginal language, 640 have a high school education, and 155 have a bachelor’s degree. In 2005, those over 15 years of age with no work or employment were 685, and 1,365 had an employment income of under $19,999.
Those are some statistics in regard to the aboriginal population in Prince Edward Island.
I'll provide some differences between those residing on-reserve and off-reserve. The population for the four reserves is approximately 445, with about 144 of those individuals being in private dwellings. In the Charlottetown area, there are 730 aboriginal people, with 450 being female. The Summerside area has 150 aboriginal people, with 70 being female. Aboriginal housing off-reserve is not tracked by the census system.
According to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, federal funding provided to the P.E.I. first nations in 2007-08 was approximately $8.5 million, with $1.9 million allocated for education, $1.1 million for community health services, $2.4 million for infrastructure, $1.1 million for social assistance, and $319,000 for housing. In comparison, the Native Council received $341,900 for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
First nations per capita federal funding is about $19,000 for those living on-reserve, and this does not include allocations to tribal councils, which is a separate issue altogether.
I realize that first nations situations are distinct and would not warrant an equitable allocation of over $24 million for the other 1,285 aboriginal people living off-reserve in Prince Edward Island. I am not requesting considerations for lighthouses, railroads, or ferry services, although they may appear archaic in comparison to the current federal responsibilities outlined in the Constitution.
There have been shifts in demographics, legal definitions, responsibilities, legislation, and Indian law since Confederation. There are more aboriginal people living off-reserve, unable to speak their language and facing disparities in education, employment, and health, in comparison to other Canadians. Many of these aboriginal people are women and children, who are not in the purview or jurisdiction of chiefs and councils.
I am requesting consideration of addressing these issues through a shift in fiscal allocations. Aboriginal people living off-reserve are continually being underfunded in regard to obtaining a standard of living enjoyed by Canadians, many falling within the jurisdictions of the provincial governments. Although we as an organization at one point in the past had a good relationship, this is not the current situation that we are faced with here in Prince Edward Island.
Increased funding is required for early child development, child care, child welfare interventions and supports, language education, health, housing, justice, and training and employment. These are some examples of areas requiring attention. There may be some instances in which individuals may capture some funding between the cracks; however, they are the exception to the rule.
The federal interlocutor for Métis and non-status Indians “helps to find practical ways to improve federal programs and services for Métis, Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal people”, which would also require additional funding to address the issues I have raised previously.
Again, I would like to thank you for providing me the opportunity to address you here today, and I look forward to any questions that may come forward.