Still, Archibald says she is eager to build a relationship with the minister. “I don’t want to solely judge him on the mistakes of his past. I’m hopeful that he actually has evolved in some of his views, and that means that we can have a positive relationship with him.”

Brock Pitawanakwat, chair of Indigenous studies at the University of Sudbury and a research fellow at the Yellowhead Institute, is less optimistic about Rickford and the new provincial government. “I think for any First Nations leader, the election of Doug Ford as premier is going to be a challenge,” he says. Pitawanakwat says the lack of acknowledgement of Indigenous peoples during the Tories’ election campaign, the ministry name change, and the fact that Rickford will have to divide his time between Indigenous affairs and the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines are all causes for concern.

“I think in many ways this is somewhat of a step backwards for the relationship between First Nations people and the new provincial government. I think Indigenous issues will be low-priority,” says Pitawanakwat.

Sounds like there isn't a lot of trust between the indigenous people and the Ford government.  This does not make a very strong base to move forward on.  That is, of course, providing that we ever do start to move forward. 

Tequila