Ottawa pledges $5 billion to aboriginals

Prime Minister Paul Martin has closed a two-day summit on aboriginal issues by pledging federal funding of more than $5 billion over the next five years for a program to improve the lives of native people.

Martin called the deal, reached after intense negotiations in Kelowna, B.C., with premiers and a handful of aboriginal leaders, "an unprecedented step forward."

"Aboriginal Canadians have no desire for more rhetoric," Martin told a news conference that closed the summit on Friday. "They have needs and those needs demand attention. It's as simple as that."

But while the deal sets targets to improve education, housing, economic development, health and water services, details of how some of the money will be spent and who will provide the services must still be negotiated.

The government has targeted $1.8 billion for education, to create school systems, train more aboriginal teachers and identify children with special needs.

Ottawa also plans to invest $1.6 billion in housing, including $400 million to address the need for clean water in many remote communities. As well, $1.3 billion has been promised for health services and $200 million for economic development.

Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, called the deal a breakthrough for his people.

"All of the targets we've set are achievable," said Fontaine. "We're driving this process and we're forcing government to respond to our plan."

Despite the deal, the issue of providing health services remains outstanding. The final communique described it as "a work in progress."

Although health care is a provincial responsibility, the health and welfare of First Nations is under federal jurisdiction. Native groups and the premiers are concerned that Ottawa will download its historic responsibilities.

And with Martin's minority government likely to fall Monday, the $5.1-billion commitment is not guaranteed.

Some aboriginal leaders left the summit disappointed.

Beverly Jacobs, president of the Native Women's Association, said there's nothing in this agreement to curb the alarming rate of violence against women.

Jacobs thought of walking out of the meeting in protest, but she changed her mind after Martin promised to hold a summit on native women's issues.

"We thought it as important that we stayed to make sure our voices are heard," she said. "We wanted to stay and continue the fight."