OTTAWA—The Conservative government went into its January meeting with aboriginal leaders against the backdrop of the Idle No More movement planning to focus on how the treaty relationship affects economic development, according to newly released documents.

Secret briefing memos prepared for top officials at the Aboriginal Affairs department who attended the Jan. 11 meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper, cabinet ministers and a delegation from the Assembly of First Nations reveals the sometimes stark contrast between how the federal government and aboriginal leaders approached the issues on the table.

The Assembly of First Nations went into the meeting — against the wishes of several of its chiefs, who sided with Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence in demanding Gov. Gen. David Johnston take part — with a list of eight short- and long-term demands it argued would lead to a restoration of the nation-to-nation relationship envisioned by treaties signed between indigenous peoples and the Crown in the 18th century.

This included ensuring there is a school in every aboriginal community, allowing federal funding to increase with inflation and be based on total population living both on and off reserves, a public inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women and examining whether the Conservative government complied with its duty to consult First Nations on the changes to environmental oversight in the controversial omnibus budget implementation bills passed last year.

The documents the Star obtained through access-to-information legislation outlines federal objectives for the meeting that were much narrower in scope, committing to “meaningful consultation” while focusing on removing barriers to the development of natural resources and encouraging First Nations to co-operate and compromise.

One briefing memo describes what the Conservative government would need to achieve, in order to consider the meeting a success, as including an agreement to collaborate further on the treaty relationship, “particularly in the context of removing obstacles to major economic development opportunities”.

The federal government also wanted “a critical mass of First Nations leaders” to understand and acknowledge publicly that chiefs share a responsibility with Ottawa when it comes to progress on many aboriginal issues.

The Conservative government was also searching for “consensus” on what level of consultation with First Nations is expected when it comes to their treaty rights and proposed federal policies.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo said the economic focus did not surprise him, arguing the language in the documents is part of a long history of a unilateral, top-down approach to the relationship with First Nations.

“That one moment reflects decades and many government interactions and a pattern that has to be absolutely smashed,” Atleo said in an interview Friday.

Atleo had already expressed his disappointment in the lack of progress following the historic Crown-First Nations gathering in Ottawa in January 2012, describing the mounting frustration as early optimism was dashed in meetings with bureaucrats who had no mandate to deliver change.

The Assembly of First Nations wanted the outcome of this meeting to be different and Atleo said he managed to persuade the Conservative government to allow for the discussion to go beyond its prepared agenda as thousands of Idle No More protesters were voicing their opinions outside.

“I did completely bypass or push aside any proposed structure and to the government’s credit, they were prepared to listen and that is what is needed,” Atleo said.

“We need to really, truly be heard. That has not been our experience and it still feels like we have a tenuous grasp on the opportunity to rebuild the kind of trust that was suggested at the early time of treaty-making,” Atleo said.

The meeting resulted in Harper committing the government to high-level talks on treaty implementation and comprehensive claims, as well as providing “enhanced oversight” on aboriginal issues.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt was not available for an interview.

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“While at times our approaches to addressing these issues may differ, we share the goal of securing a future for First Nations in which they play a full and active role in Canada’s economy, particularly Aboriginal youth, who should have the same opportunities as all Canadians to achieve the prosperity they seek,” his spokesman Jason MacDonald said in an emailed statement.

MacDonald added Valcourt met First Nations leaders earlier this month and agreed to review the federal comprehensive claims policy, which has not been updated since 1993.

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