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The Cree Nation has
always retained it sovereignty. We have the right to
self determination an issue that I have worked in
Canada on at the international for over 30 years.
Being sovereign does not mean we have to have our own
country as there can be many Nations in one country.
In 1995 we held our own referendum before the Quebec
referendum to demonstrate our Cree sovereignty and to
prevent another nation from deciding our future and
with whom we can politically associate. This act alone
got the Cree Nation more respect and recognition and
further reinforced our reputation as one of the major
political actors in Canada. It took many years to
build this reputation.
It is not clear what my opponent Matthew Mukash means
when he talks about sovereignty. Does he want to lead
us to a dead end by trying to separate us from Quebec
and Canada? He wants “de facto sovereignty, not
relying on handouts” he told the Montreal Gazette.
Does he mean that we will no longer take government
funding that we are entitled to and implied in the
Mohawk/Cree produced film One More River. Other
aboriginal nations are jealous of our success and want
us to fail.
Mocking the government assistance many of our people
need and are entitled is insulting. Yes we have
created a lot of jobs in the band operations, health,
education and construction sectors but still some of
our people need assistance and they should be treated
with dignity.
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