Land claims deal should ease tensions: Prentice

The federal government's proposed plan toimprove the native land claims system and settle hundreds of long-standing disputes should helpensure an aboriginal national day of action later this month is peaceful, Federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice says.

Prentice hailed the Conservative government's plan Wednesday asa "major breakthrough" that wouldreduce anger among First Nations communities and expedite the resolutionofmore than 800outstanding land claims across Canada, which take an average of 13 years to process.

But he also warned that anyconfrontation or blockadeon June 29 would be "counter-productive" and "erode the good will that exists toward aboriginal programs and services."

"We want to see peaceful demonstrations that day and we don't want to see any of the illegal actions that would disrupt the lives of innocent people," Prentice told CBC News Wednesday.

First Nationsleaders say the day ofactionisdesignedto draw attention to outstanding land claims, and to the racism and poverty faced bytheir communities.

But Chief Terry Nelson of the Roseau River First Nation in Manitoba has threatened to block railway lines running through his community on the day of action.

Prenticesaid the response he has heard so far from First Nations leadersacross the country has been supportive, but added he can understand why the announcement would arousesuspicion.

"Frankly, it's because there's been a backlog of claims over the last 20 years,"Prentice said. "First Nations have been very positive about what they've heard, but they want the system to work."

He cited the 150-year dispute at the centre of a continuingFirst Nations occupationsin the southern Ontario community of Caledonia as an example of some of the long-standing claims that havefuelled aboriginal frustration.

Fontainehails 'historic'proposal; othersexpress doubts

The proposed billallocates $250 million a year for 10 years to land claim settlements andcalls for the creation of a newindependent tribunal that will make final decisions about disputes.

The bill,announced Tuesday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper,will be tabled in the fall after a summer of discussions with native leaders from across Canada.

It calls for the transformationofthe existing Indian Specific Claims Commission into a mediation body. The independent commission currently investigates disputes and makes recommendations, but has no power to make rulings.

At Harper's side Tuesday,Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine praised thegovernment's "historic" proposal,saying it gives hope for First Nations people who have fought for decades for fair and just resolution on land claims.

But some regional First Nations representatives said Wednesdaythebill is justa drop in the bucket.

Barry Bonspille, adviser to the Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council in Kanesatake, Que., said he can't believe Fontaine agreed to support the land claims proposal.

"To have the national chief support it gives credence to the Conservatives'point of view that they can handle things better than the Liberals," Bonspille told CBC News.

"Maybe they can, but certainly not with $250 million towards land claims [a year.]"