{"id":1728,"date":"2025-10-16T19:52:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T19:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/repealbill5.ca\/?p=1728"},"modified":"2025-11-12T16:53:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T16:53:21","slug":"indigenous-voice-and-consent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/repealbill5.ca\/index.php\/2025\/10\/16\/indigenous-voice-and-consent\/","title":{"rendered":"INDIGENOUS VOICE AND CONSENT"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Submitted by Cory Bilyea, an Indigenous journalist working for Midwestern Newspapers. She is a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River, better known as Onkwehonwe, the original people. Cory is a survivor of intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Ontario Government says it will honour the duty to consult Indigenous People, but what exactly does that mean? How they plan to conduct this consultation is a mystery, as the government itself isn\u2019t clear on what that looks like. The current passage of Bill 5 leaves more doubts than assurances that the government will actually put any real effort into fulfilling their duty.<\/p>\n

As we wait with bated breath for the Ontario Legislature to return to work to see what happens next, it might be worth noting that settler governments have not practiced meaningful dialogue with First Nations in any way, shape, or form since 1492. A trail of broken treaties, forced relocations and the ever encroaching stream of settlers in need of more land don\u2019t really help me to put my faith in their words now.<\/p>\n

The fact that the resources they have already extracted from our Mother Earth have not now, nor ever benefitted Indigenous People, why would we believe that they will do so this time?
Bill 5 contains approximately 50,000 words. The word Indigenous appears eleven times. Four of those appearances replace the word \u2018Aboriginal\u2019 with \u2018Indigenous\u2019. So that leaves seven. That, in and of itself, is noteworthy and more than a little alarming.<\/p>\n

To me, this means Indigenous People and consultation are not top of mind. Treaties are barely mentioned at all. The only mention of any treaty is in the Endangered Species Act\/Species Conservation Act where it says, \u201cFor greater certainty, nothing in this Act shall be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from the protection provided for the existing Aboriginal or treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada as recognized and affirmed in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Bill 5 acknowledges Indigenous and treaty rights, it does not detail specific measures to actively involve Indigenous communities in decision-making processes, such as those related to environmental assessments, species conservation, or land use. The effectiveness of these protections would depend on how the government implements the legislation in practice.<\/p>\n

The Bill does not define or mandate the use of Indigenous protocols, such as community-led decision-making, cultural practices, or ceremonial processes, in project approvals or conservation efforts.
Although Indigenous traditional knowledge is mentioned in species classification, it is not integrated into other areas, such as environmental assessments, special economic zones, or energy procurement.
While the Bill acknowledges Indigenous rights and traditional knowledge in limited contexts, it does not comprehensively incorporate Indigenous protocols into its legislative framework. The reliance on constitutional protections and consultation mechanisms leaves the integration of Indigenous protocols largely dependent on how the government implements the legislation in practice.<\/p>\n

The Original Peoples (specifically the Anishnaabe) of this land that is now called Canada have a set of principles called the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Encompassed in the teachings are a set of principles from Anishinaabe culture guiding individuals and communities toward living a good life with peace and without conflict. The teachings are Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, and Truth.
In our culture, these guiding principles are the basis for everything we do, including how we ensure that the next seven generations will benefit from what we do today.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a breakdown of the teachings:<\/p>\n