August 25, 2022
Broad opportunities in Aotearoa-Canada indigenous pact
Foreign Affairs and Associate Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta say there is a lot Māori can learn from Canada’s First Nations peoples.
The Canadian Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hadju, is in the country and yesterday signed an Indigenous Collaboration Arrangement with Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ms Mahuta says it’s a signal the countries want to take what is already a long-standing indigenous relationship to a new level.
“So when I think about collaboration with regards to language revitalisation, potentially social procurement ways of doing things and learning from each other, truth and reconciliation, economic development, service delivery, we can share those experiences, learn from each other, create networks between indigenous business groups, women’s groups, youth groups to secure a range of opportunities,” she says.
Ms Mahuta says Minister Hajdu and her delegation are keen to see how the Waitangi Tribunal and treaty settlement process works, Maori representation in central and local government, and Maori education initiatives.