Indigenous Nations, Politics

Anna Kindy Explains Why She Does Not Endorse A Section Of DRIPA & More

While she recognizes DRIPA as a valuable document, MLA Anna Kindy recently informed the SRD Board that she does not support ‘article 26.’ The topic came up when she took part in the May 26 Board meeting. 

Kindy began by stating, “ Part of the reason I’m here is to actually learn how things are run.  I’m not going to pretend I know everything, far from it.  It’s a steep learning curve, but my motivation is to truly represent my constituents. I ran for a party, but I’m apolitical now that I am an MLA,  I just look at issues separately and try to bring people’s voices to the legislature, to whoever it needs to be brought to.  I’m not a public speaker by nature, but I do answer questions very readily, so I’m just going to pass it over to you guys if you have any questions.”

Regional Director Mark Vonesch, of Cortes Island, responded,  “My question is about Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act (DRIPA). During the election, your leader spoke about dropping it and since then, members of your party have denied the graves that have been found in some residential schools. That’s raised a lot of concern and I’m just wondering if you could comment on that.”

Anna Kindy:  “Okay, first of all, let’s go back to the first question, DRIPA. You have to look at unintended consequences of every bill that passes. UNDRIP is from the United Nation and we are the only, and I will repeat the only jurisdiction worldwide that has adopted it word per word (as DRIPA).”

“Most of DRIPA is fine, I’m a hundred percent for economic reconciliation. What we’ve done is terrible and we need to reconcile what we’ve done. It’s about treaties, it’s about economic reconciliation. What DRIPA does, if you look at section 26,  there’s a question of what will be the private property rights of every British Columbian.”

Article 26

1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired.

2. Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well as those which they have otherwise acquired.

3. States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources. Such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the Indigenous peoples concerned.

Anna KIndy:  “The entire aspect of crown land will be under the jurisdiction of 4% of the population potentially to make decisions and I am of the opinion that we all have equal rights. We are all Canadian.” 

“Economic reconciliation means that we need to make sure that we lift First Nations out of poverty.  In this region, what that means is to support industries that are lifting them out of poverty. I’m an addiction doctor. If you look at the GNN nation (Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations), they had 10 or 11 overdoses and suicides in a two month period in 2024. So this is urgent, I don’t talk about semantics.”

“The issue is section 26. This is in a democracy and we’re an equal society, we all should have the same rights.” 

Mark Vonesch: “In regard to my second question?”

Anna Kindy: “What was your second question?” 

Mark Vonesch: “The members of your party that have denied the graves that have been found in residential schools and the harm that’s caused.” 

Anna Kindy: “Which graves are you talking about?”

Mark Vonesch: “I don’t have the specifics, you’re not aware of the issue?” 

Anna Kindy: “No, you are asking me a question. You need to specify what graves you’re talking about.” 

Mark Vonesch: “I don’t have the specifics of which graves.”

Anna Kindy: “So when you have the specifics come back and talk to me. The specifics are important and this is where the truth comes in. In my entire life, I’ve always looked at every issue and not what somebody tells me is the truth.  If you come to me and ask a question, make sure  you reference which graves you’re talking about.”

“There are many First Nations that unfortunately died in residential schools. We can’t deny that. What we did was terrible, to take kids from their families and put them in residential school was not a good thing. We should never do that. That I don’t deny, but  come with specifics please.”

There were also several questions about the so-called ‘Henry VIIIth clause’ of Bill 7, which premier Ebby has since withdrawn. His government will revise this section and introduce it to the legislature as a new bill. 

Anna Kindy: “ Bill 7 came as a big surprise. It was attached to a tariff response. John Rustad already tabled a motion regarding the trade barrier and tariff response.  The idea was we would work together to make sure that we take care of the province,  because these tariffs are serious. What came with the bill was basically a huge power grab by the government that could override the legislature.  It basically gave the government executive power to pass bills or whatever they want. For example, they could override a municipality and increase taxes.”

“This is a very serious power grab. No other province has done it.  There’s a big movement pushing back, including the Green Party, because  this is attached as a response to tariffs, but it really has nothing to do with tariffs.”

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