Leaders agree the appointment of Mandy Gull-Masty as Indigenous Services Minister – the first Indigenous person to take the role – is a historic move forward for the federal government. Gull-Masty was sworn into the new Liberal cabinet May 13 under Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“I was very happy with the outcome of the election,” said Grand Chief Norman A. Wapachee. “And then her appointment as minister caught everybody by surprise. Now I have a feeling the Indigenous population will be more of a priority in Ottawa.”
The Grand Chief said communities from all over the province were sending their congratulations.
“After getting sworn in as Grand Chief I started receiving her emails and they were all from Indigenous leaders who were very happy to see Mandy get in as MP and for her appointment as a cabinet minister.”
Makivvik President Pita Aatami was one of those leaders. “I’ve known Mandy since I became president,” Aatami said. “She is aware of our issues and will be able to fight for our causes, not just for the Cree but also for the Inuit and Naskapi of the region.”
Aatami said he is hopeful Gull-Masty will be able to move forward on the issues Inuit have been struggling with for years. Aatami went on to voice his disappointment with former Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou MP Sylvie Bérubé of the Bloc Québécois.
Aatami said Gull-Masty campaigned throughout riding, “which is huge.” He first met with Gull-Masty in Kuujjuaq as she began touring communities.
“She took the time to come up here unlike the other candidates who never even reached out to us or asked us what our needs are,” Aatami said.
Aatami revealed an Indigenous riding is in the works and the Inuit of Nunavik have been planning with the Eeyou and Naskapi of Quebec for their own electoral region.
Grand Chief Wapachee confirmed the three nations’ plans, which have been in discussion for years. Wapachee said he presented their proposal for an all-Indigenous riding to the province, but it was denied due to the requirements that electoral ridings must have a population of at least 80,000 people. The intended Indigenous riding would have fallen short of those numbers.
“I was the one who presented the riding change so our region could have more adequate representation at the federal level,” Wapachee told the Nation.
Wapachee’s idea was to cut out the Abitibi region entirely from the riding using the argument that it is a highly populated area creating disproportionate representation of the region.
Like Aatami, Wapachee also gave a failing grade to former Bloc MP Bérubé and confirms she never visited Nunavik or Eeyou Istchee. “It didn’t look very good on her,” he said.
Atami called it unfortunate that the three Indigenous groups were not allowed their own riding this time around but vowed to keep working on it.
The Inuit President’s vision for the future is one where an Indigenous MP becomes the norm for the region which he said is an important goal as those in the south cannot relate with the struggles of living in Canada’s North.
“We all face similar issues up here and we are living in a very different world than the rest of the province,” Atami said.
Wapachee said although the request for their own riding wasn’t approved, it is on the province’s radar that the Indigenous populations want change.
Shifting from a regional role as Grand Chief, Gull-Masty now speaks for the riding of Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou and, in her new role as minister, also represents Indigenous People from across the country.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak commended Carney, calling the selection of two First Nations women for his cabinet, Rebecca Chartrand and Gull-Masty, inspiring.
“First Nations across Canada are so proud of these strong leaders,” Woodhouse Nepinak said in a statement. “Their skill, knowledge and experience will serve all Canadians well in the important portfolios on Indigenous Services and Northern Development.”
The National Chief is looking forward to collaborating with the new cabinet, highlighting public safety and job creation as her priorities for First Nations.
Atikamekw Nation Grand Chief Constant Awashish said his priorities for the new minister are for better social and health care for Native people in Quebec, adding “maybe this time things will be different.”
Awashish is cautiously optimistic saying the government machine is “a big boat” and although the new Liberal government will have its own agenda, he is confident Gull-Masty will do her best to further self-determination for all Indigenous People.
For the Inuit of Nunavik, Aatami said Gull-Masty is well aware of the priorities of his people which are housing and the high cost of living in the North.
Grand Chief Wapachee said projects will move a lot smoother with an Indigenous person representing government, which will help to foster trust between federal representatives and Indigenous nations.
“She lived up North, she knows the realities, challenges and social issues,” he said. “Now we have an Indigenous leader who can work directly with First Nations across Canada.”
Wapachee added that he will miss working alongside Gull-Masty but is certain her vision for the people of the Cree Nation will carry over to the office of Indigenous Services.
“One of the things she told me when I asked if she had a message for the people,” Wapache noted, “was this: ‘Tell them that I have never left. My role has changed to a different capacity in Parliament, but I am still here for them.”’