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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Co-Chairs Report

2. Dr. Carolyn Bennett

3. Indigenous MP – Don Rusnak

4. IPC Ontario Region News

. I dige ous Wo e ’s Update

6. IPC By-Laws Update

7. INAN Committee

Indigenous Liberals Newsletter Fall 2016 | Issue 3 | Released November 29, 2016

MESSAGE FROM IPC CO-CHAIRS

Since our last update, the IPC continues to work hard and move forward on much of the

mandate we set out to achieve since May 2016. The process for IPC Bylaws, to be known as

the IPC Charter, continues to be outlined. Additionally, bylaws within the LPC constitution

reflecting policy, registered liberals, and PTB structures have been discussed and formulated

with the input of the IPC in order to make sure Indigenous voices are included within the

governing structure of the LPC and the processes required for party policy formulation and

registration as Indigenous Liberals. We truly appreciate the work occurring on all fronts of

bylaw formulation that is being spearheaded by not only our Sub-Committee on Organization

but also from our IPC members.

The IPC was fortunate enough to highlight the current formulation of the general bylaws that

ill efle t ea h of the IPC’s egio al structures while also highlighting the new structure of

IPC-Ontario on October 22, 2016. The IPCO, alongside LPCO, held their executive elections in

Niagara Falls/Traditional Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Territory. In doing so, IPCO

established its new structure and also brought in a new executive for the 2016-2018 term.

We both would like to take this opportunity to also congratulate those who will be

representing IPCO and assisting with much of the relationship building and groundwork that

is being put together within the lands and ridings which are shared between Indigenous

nations and Ontario.

I additio to the IPCO holdi g thei ele tio s, a fu d aise as held fo the IPC’s I dige ous Electoral Endowment Fund (IEEF). The fund is to assist incumbent Indigenous Liberal MPs

a d e I dige ous Li e al a didates i Ca ada’s fede al ele tio s. The fu d aise , titled U it Th ough Di e sit , as a eakfast pa el, ith speake s i ludi g MPs Celi a Caesa -

Chavennes, Don Rusnak, and Carolyn Bennett. Over 80 individuals attending, making the

IPC’s fi st fu d aise outside of the LPC’s atio al ie ial o e tio s si e the sp i g of 2012, a success. We look forward to taking the experience of this fundraiser and hosting

many other successful ones across the lands of Turtle Island that are shared with Canada.

Lastly, we look forward to meeting and seeing many of you in person as we look to prepare

and have further elections for many of our other regions in 2017. It is only through the

involvement of our dedicated supporters, volunteers and members that we can continue to

not only succeed in the internal changes being put forth through the bylaw process but also

for future successes of fundraisers and the outreach needed on the ground between the

party and Indigenous peoples.

Kinanâskomitin; Chi-Miigwetch; Marsi; Thank You; Merci Beaucoup!

Gifting Reconciliation by Dr. Carolyn Bennett

Fo ea s, I ha e ee gifti g e o iliatio to f ie ds!

The first year, I gave them all

signed copies of John Ralston

“aul’s A Fai Cou t . The e t year, everyone received a DVD

of CBC’s th Fi e. O e ea , I asked Thomas King if he would

sign 10 copies of The Inconvenient Indian. He suggested that I order them

from the local bookstore in Guelph. I then sent him the names so he could sign

and personalize them, and then the store shipped them to me. Easy peasy.

Last year, everyone was gifted opies of Wa Ki e ’s The Reason I Walk, which

he signed for me on a trip to Winnipeg last fall.

Last December, I was struggling with what to give my friend Joc Palm, who

owns Glen Bernard Camp for girls. The amazing Eleanor LeFave – owner of

Ma el’s Fa les, a t ul o de ful hild e ’s ook sto e i idi g – dropped

off a copy of Missing Nimama. Written by Melanie Florence and illustrated by

F a ois Thisdale, Missi g Ni a a is a t ul po e ful hild e ’s ook that deals with the pain of a young indigenous girl whose mother had been

u de ed. It as sudde l e i po ta t to e that the li a at Jo ’s a p would have a selection of indigenous authors appropriate for campers and

staff of all ages. I asked Eleanor to put together a 'reconciliation' gift asket… hi h, of ou se, i luded Missing Nimama. It made me happy!

I hope that all IPC members will help me as we try to build on the success in

June of #IndigenousReads. Many book clubs chose to read indigenous authors,

and the Twitterverse and Facebook really got onside.

I am proposing that next month (December) we have a real Twitter campaign

to Gift Re o iliatio as e lead up to Ca ada’s th i thda . As ou a know, Reconciliation is one of the four themes for #Canada150 – as chosen by

the Prime Minister and Minister of Heritage Mélanie Joly – along with Youth,

the Environment, and Diversity and Inclusion.

Christmas shopping has never been easier!

Indigenous authors, artisans and chefs are all creating fantastic solutions to our

seasonal gifting stress.

I would love it if we could Tweet out a gift idea every day. But especially with a

#IndigenousReads hild e ’s ook that a help uild the o e tu to as the Year of Reconciliation.

Dr. Carolyn Bennett on Twitter and Facebook

#GiftingReconciliation

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Indigenous MP Profile – Don Rusnak, MP for Thunder Bay – Rainy River

In 2015, Don Rusnak was elected as the first Indigenous Member of Parliament for his riding of Thunder Bay – Rainy

River. He currently sits on the Standing Committee of Indigenous and northern Affairs and serves as Chair of the

Liberal Indigenous Caucus. Don is also the Director-at-Large of the Canadian-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship

Association.

Born and raised in the city of Thunder Bay, Don has always had a vested

interest in the people he works with and the people he represents. As the

son of Ukrainian and Anishinaabe parents, and a member of Lac Des Mille

Lac First Nation, Don celebrates diversity and inclusiveness as key

fundamental principles he lives by each and every day.

These principles drove him to first study Political Science and Integrated

Forest Resource Management at Lakehead University. Mr. Rusnak

continued his education pursuing a law degree at the University of

Manitoba. In his final year of study he was admitted to an Intensive

Program in Aboriginal Lands, Resources and Governments at Osgoode Hall.

Don has had an impressive career in law. As a Crown Prosecutor in Eastern

Alberta, he prosecuted criminal and regulatory offences. He also worked

for Manitoba Health and was interim Executive Director of Grand Council

Treaty #3. His strong connection to his family and community brought Don

home to Thunder Bay where he started his own law practice.

As a lawyer, Don witnessed first-ha d ho the p e ious go e e t’s tough o i e app oa h as affe ti g o u ities i No th este O ta io a d hi de i g Ca ada’s path to e o iliatio . His desi e to i p o e the

safety, well-being, and economic state of his community lead him to enter a career in politics. Don was

overwhelmed by the support he received with his election in 2015 and has since worked tirelessly to represent the

people of his riding while also promoting Indigenous perspectives in the House of Commons.

He has proven time and time again, that he is a genuine, honest, and hardworking individual who represents

his constituents with vigor and integrity and is committed to working with Indigenous communities to create a

better future for all of Northern Ontario.

Follow Don Rusnak on Twitter, Facebook and learn more about the Indigenous Liberal Caucus

PM Justin Trudeau and Don Rusnak

Don Rusnak and Indigenous MPs attending National Aboriginal Day 2016 sunrise ceremonies

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Suzy Kies, Co-Chair Indigenous Peoples Commission – Ontario Region

As you can imagine, most of this last quarter was consumed with activities related to the Liberal Party of Canada in

Ontario (LPCO) 2016 AGM in Niagara Falls. We were all very much aware that the LPC would be watching since this is the

first Biennial since Winnipeg. We felt it was important to set the a high fo the othe p o i ial LPCs.

Chad Cowie – IPC National Co-Chair, Ronda Evans – IPC National VP

Organization and Membership, Louis LPC Commissions Coordinator and

IPC O ta io Regio ’s e Co-Chair Nathan Sukhdeo were instrumental

in our success, their hard work and efforts made all the difference.

Miigwech to all, you have no idea how grateful I am that you not only

stepped in and took over but also understood what I was trying to do

and made it happen. I got so many positive comments about the

Indigenous Electoral Endowment Fund (IEEF) breakfast and it didn't stop

until I left the reception after the closing.

In addition to the very successful IEEF breakfast fundraiser, the IPCO

urged the LPCO to include an Elder from the territory in the opening

ceremony for the LPCO AGM. Tyler Banham and the LPCO executive have been very supportive of the activities I

proposed and, as a result, this was the most Indigenized Provincial and Territorial Association Biennial I ever attended.

We also hosted our second Indigenous Studies workshop; this one was on the Treaties. As my goal was to foster

understanding of why the T eaties e e sig ed a d h the a e still ele a t , I took a more holistic approach to the

topic than we usually see. I put the Treaties in their historical context by linking them to historical events in Europe at

the same time. For example, while Hiawatha's people were making peace, the Normans were invading everything they

encountered on their way to the Crusades.

I focused on the fear of the Europeans and how this motivated them to make Treaties. I also spoke about how the

Industrial Revolution was a significant factor in the Treaties with the English and how profits were their over-riding

motivation for the terms of their Treaties.

The workshop was very well received and almost everyone attending asked to have the slides sent to them or for IPCO

to put on a workshop in their region. Dr. Bennett attended and was quite pleased with how everything went.

Indigenous Peoples' Commission - Ontario Region, New Executive

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The Fall 2016 season is upon us and it's brimming with good news for Women. By Lynn Geary

Du i g O to e e ele ated Wo e ’s Histo Mo th. The Ho ou a le Mi iste of “tatus of Wo e , Patt Hajdu, announced that Equal Voice will receive $1 million in funding over 3 years to address systemic barriers that contribute to

the under-representation of women in politics. Equal Voice statistics show that at the Fede al le el, o l % of MP’s are women. At the Municipal level only 26% of Councilors and 16% of Mayors are women. Canadians are invited to use

social media to relay stories about women and girls who have inspired them using hashtag #BecauseofHer.

A big shout out and kudos to MP for Labrador and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Yvonne

Jones, for her hard work and commitment to reaching an acceptable agreement to end the hunger strike over Muskrat

Dam. Well done to the brave hunger strikers who stood up for their rights, beliefs, the lands and found peaceful

resolution.

The Hon. Minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould presented Bill C-16, an Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act

to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. That would make it

illegal to deny services, employment, accommodations and similar benefits to individuals based on their gender identity

or expression.

The enactment also amends the Criminal Code to extend the protection against hate propaganda set out in the Act to

any section of the public that is distinguished by gender identity or expression and to clearly set out that evidence that

an offence was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on gender identity or expression constitutes an aggravating

circumstance that a court must take into consideration when it imposes a sentence. Very good news for LGBTQ2+

community!

Our Prime Minister appointed 9 new Senators, 5 of whom are women. This is great progress. Congratulations to All!

Appointed Independent Senators who are women:

● Patricia Bovey, MB, Art Historian

● Marilou McPhedran, SK/MB, Lawyer and Human Rights activist

● Nanc Ha tli g, NB, Wo e ’s Issues expert

● Wanda Thoma, NS, Social Worker and educator

● Diane Griffin, PEI, Conservationist

October 27th saw the Hon. Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Carolyn Bennett and the Hon. Minister of

Health, Ja e Philpott, a ou e go e e t’s o it e t to othi g less tha a s ste i o e haul of Child a d Fa il se i es oast to oast to oast. Also a ou ed as the appoi t e t of D . Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux as

Ministerial Special Representative responsible for leading a National engagement process and providing advice on the

reform of on-reserve First Nations Child and Family services program.

Quoted from the news release:

Budget 016 made historic investments in First Nations Child welfare, with nearly $635 million over 5 years in new

funding. This included $71 million this year for immediate relief for additional prevention services to address the most

pressing concerns. Truth and Reconciliation wrote the calls to action they wisely began with child welfare. In the same

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manner our Government is committed to reforming Child and Family services and ensuring we are putting the needs of

Indigenous children first. Read the full release at: www.aandc.gc.ca and www.hc-sc.gc.ca.

This wraps up just some of the Women's issues in recent news but there is a great deal going on. It's a great time to get

involved in your country and your community. Please check out the Indigenous Peoples Commission and the Women's,

Youth and Elders commissions, or your EDA or PTA boards, for excellent volunteer opportunities.

Blessings to everyone!

Lynn Geary

National VP Indigenous Women

IPC Rep ese tati e to the Natio al Wo e ’s Li e al Co issio

IPC By-Law Development By Ronda Evans, National VP Organization and Membership

The process for IPC by-law development continues in earnest. Appreciation goes out to IPC members

fo the su e feed a k as it has helped shaped the Co issio ’s path fo a d.

A few survey highlights include; a) an enthusiasm for simplifying options for individual donations to the Indigenous

Election Endowment Fund, b) bylaws reflecting structural changes that reflect Indigenous representation and breaks

down regions into forms that reflect Indigenous nations, communities, organizations, treaties, political accords, etc., c)

IPC involvement and vetting Indigenous policy development and participating in LPC Candidate selection processes, d)

the importance to have IPC involvement in LPC biennial convention planning, and e) supporting IPC as an effective

Indigenous voice within the party.

In the IPC by-laws/charter, every region/territory will have the same General IPC Regional Associations Duties, but the

structures and duties section will be refle ti e of the su e feed a k ith ea h o e taki g i to a ou t its’ u i ue region/territorial nature. Despite being rather detailed, tedious, and sometimes perplexing work, IPC members should

take pride in creating a solid IPC foundation for the future.

Your participation in further by-law development outreach efforts is appreciated in advance.

LPC By-Law Development

Recently, an opportunity for Registered Liberals to review the draft by-laws and participate in a by-law tele-townhall was

e-blasted and I encourage members to share their thoughts by November 6th on moving forward with by-laws for

registered Liberals, Policy, Electoral District Associations, Provincial/Territorial Boards, and Commissions.

Not a registered Liberal? Consider joining LPC and becoming part of the most open movement in Canada -

https://www.liberal.ca/register/

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The House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) By Joshua Fraser, National VP Communications

As with past parliamentary sessions, the 42nd Parliament has a House of Commons Standing Committee on

Indigenous and Northern Affairs, also known as INAN. The committee is comprised of MPs based on their

party standing in the House of Commons, with representation of official parties only. Here is a brief overview

of what parliamentary function INAN serves when dealing with Indigenous peoples and legislation. Currently

the committee is undertaking important work on the suicide epidemic facing Indigenous communities.

The a date of the “ta di g Co ittee o I dige ous a d Norther Affairs the Co ittee includes all areas covered by the federal department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs

Canada, whose legal name remains the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern

Develop e t DIAND . The Co ittee a study a y aspe t of the Depart e t’s a age e t and operation, as well as legislation, programs or policy areas administered by the

Department. Traditionally, the Department has taken responsibility primarily for on-reserve

registered First Nations people, Inuit and northern or territorial affairs. In turn, the Committee

has pri arily o sidered legislatio a d issues related to these populatio s a d su je ts.

Committee Members

Chair

Andy Fillmore

Vice-Chairs

David Yurdiga

Charlie Angus

Members

Gary Anandasangaree

Mike Bossio

Remi Masse

Cathy McLeod

Michael McLeod

Don Rusnak

Arnold Viersen

Further to the excellent representation by Liberal

Members of Parliament, we are also pleased to have

two Indigenous Liberal MPs sit on the committee;

they are Michael McLeod and Don Rusnak.

To find out more about the committee please visit:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/INAN

Photos from INAN Website