[Witness spoke in Anishinaabemowin and provided the following text:]
Aanii - Biidaabin dezhnikaaz, jiijaak dodem, mnidoo mnising ndoonjibaa.
[Witness provided the following translation:]
Hello. My name is Sunrise. I come from the Crane clan. My homeland is Manitoulin Island in the traditional territory of the Anishinabek Nation.
[English]
Meegwetch and thank you for allowing me to speak with you today on the barriers to indigenous economic development.
I'm the chair of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board, which is a ministerial-appointed, non-political organization mandated to provide advice to the federal government on issues related to indigenous economic development.
The board was established in 1990 and is comprised of first nations, Inuit and Métis business and community leaders from across Canada. To help inform your work, I invite you to check our board's website, which includes our series of national indigenous economic progress reports. Our next report will be released in 2023.
I also invite you to review our board's report entitled “Reconciliation: Growing Canada's Economy by $27.7 Billion”, as well as the 2019 OECD report on linking indigenous peoples to regional development, and the upcoming national indigenous economic strategy for Canada. If these reports were implemented, many of the economic barriers would be addressed.
All Canadians have become more aware of the truth of Canada's treatment of the indigenous peoples of this land. While the effects of colonialism have been devastating to the social, physical and mental health of our communities, one of its most nefarious objectives was the deliberate exclusion of indigenous peoples from sharing in the wealth of this country.
I cannot stress strongly enough that indigenous populations continue to face deeply rooted systemic and institutional barriers embedded in the Canadian legal, education, health, governmental and economic landscape.
For Canada to undo this damage, it must be understood that achieving reconciliation will not be possible without vibrant indigenous economies, characterized by economic self-sufficiency and socio-economic equality with the rest of Canada.
Studies show over and over again that when indigenous communities prosper, so do the regions around them. Look at the recent reports outlining the billions in annual indigenous contributions to the economies of Atlantic Canada, Manitoba and Alberta. If indigenous peoples had the same education, income and employment levels and business opportunities as those experienced across Canada, the GDP would increase by $30 billion to upwards of $100 billion annually.
In addition to the reports already mentioned, the NIEDB is recommending solutions that can pave the path to economic reconciliation.
One, ensure that the implementation plan for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act is co-developed with indigenous people.
Two, formally recognize our jurisdiction and the legal frameworks we are developing to control and participate in development in our territories.
Three, support the development of indigenous-led institutions to help build indigenous economic capacity, share leading practices, and deliver programs and services. Work is already under way for institutes for community infrastructure and indigenous business procurement.
Four, support the network of aboriginal financial institutions with capital to support the growth and expansion of the indigenous business sector, increase employment and provide housing mortgages, and help alleviate the backlog of indigenous housing that currently exists.
Five, increase funding for indigenous economic and business development to 10% of total federal spending on indigenous peoples, in part to make up for past funding shortfalls and to recognize the fact that each dollar spent on indigenous economic development leverages important community and social benefits and enhances regional economies across Canada.
Finally, implement the soon-to-be-released national indigenous economic strategy for Canada, which is a collaborative effort involving more than 20 national indigenous organizations. This strategy is our vision for economic reconciliation and is built upon the four strategic pathways of people, land, infrastructure and finance. The strategy includes calls to economic prosperity that speak to all levels of government, corporate Canada, small businesses, all institutions across the country and our own people.
In conclusion, you have an opportunity to help remove the impediments to indigenous economic inclusion. In addressing the solutions offered, your work requires addressing the disparities of the past, a change of mindset, the political will and real financial investment, which we know will benefit all of Canada.
Meegwetch. Thank you.