AFN and National Association of Friendship Centres sign MOU to work together
from http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2006/11/c8434.html
Assembly of First Nations and National Association of Friendship Centres Sign Memorandum of Understanding
OTTAWA, April 11 /CNW Telbec/ - Last night, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine and Vera Pawis Tabobondung, the President of the National Association of Friendship Centres, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The MOU is designed as a first step in NAFC participation in AFN policy development on urban issues.
"The AFN represents the rights and interests of First Nations and we recognize the important service delivery function of the NAFC. For First Nations citizens in many urban areas, Friendship Centres are a major source for culturally appropriate services," stated Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine. "Our efforts to provide analysis that integrates the urban First Nations perspective will be further improved by working with the National Association of Friendship Centres."
The MOU between the AFN and NAFC commits the two organizations to developing an effective working relationship as a first step in the development of further protocol agreements. The MOU calls for:
- Inclusion of NAFC within the AFN policy processes, in particular, participation in AFN Policy Forums to provide urban analysis;
- Joint research projects aimed at building common evidenced-based policy positions in regards to urban First Nations peoples (e.g., citizenship);
- Enhanced communication networks between NAFC and AFN, including constituent members, through mutual notification (as appropriate) and joint efforts where it is deemed strategically advantageous; and
- Consideration of future relationships and inclusion within organizational structures;
"Working with the NAFC will allow us to reach First Nation citizens in urban centres in more directed ways, and will also allow us to develop policies and recommendations that reflect the urban reality, as well as the reserve reality, and which build on and respect the unique efforts to work with off reserve citizens in different regions," stated the National Chief.
"This memorandum is a first step in what I believe will be a mutually beneficial and highly productive relationship."
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
-30-
/For further information: Ian McLeod, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer, (613) 241-6789 ext. 336, cell (613) 859-4335/