Indigenous Resource Network (IRN) executive director Robert Merasty said the comments social justice trainers at TD Bank made about indigenous people were misguided. .“We have too many people not having informed opinions,” said Merasty in a Monday interview. .“People just spewing their own personal views without having an informed opinion.” .Social justice trainers were caught telling a group of TD Bank workers not to vote for the Conservatives because they do not care about indigenous people. .The Western Standard has been trying for days to reach a TD spokesman with no luck..READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: TD diversity trainers caught telling employees to not vote Conservative.“From what I know, Conservatives go against a lot of what indigenous people are trying to do, because they advocate for pipelines,” said one trainer named Carol. .“They don’t want indigenous people to have a voice.” . TD caught on tapeTD caught on tape .Merasty said IRN has done polls showing indigenous people are tired of reserve poverty, so the status quo has to be changed. According to him, the only way to eliminate reserve poverty is through responsible economic resource development projects. .He went on to say indigenous communities can generate revenue, jobs, and training through responsible resource development. This revenue helps to address social and health problems in these communities. .Merasty continued by saying the Coastal GasLink Pipeline saw 16 indigenous communities sign onto the project because it would support them. He said projects such as the Coastal GasLink Pipeline help indigenous people by “contributing to the economic foundation of the future of Canada.” .The executive director said resource projects should require prior informed consent. He said resource companies need to sit down with the communities they want to work with and build relationships, which will allow all sides to win. .Merasty said he believes large city elites perceive indigenous people as hating resource development because of communication issues. This is why the IRN is dedicated to speaking the truth about how resource projects can enhance indigenous communities. .He added the Canadian government can further support resource development through a national indigenous guaranteed loan program. .The IRN unveiled a campaign to advocate for indigenous ownership in natural resources projects on Tuesday. .READ MORE: Canadian indigenous organization launches resource development awareness campaign.“The problems our communities are facing is that there are few mechanisms to access the necessary capital for investing in projects and having equity,” he said. .IRN said this loan program should guarantee loans at competitive rates for indigenous communities. It should support indigenous people by providing them with decision making powers. .Merasty said it is important indigenous people can set up resource projects because they deserve to have a say. .“Every person should be involved in the decision making into what a community decides it wants for its people.”
