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AFN Press Release

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Celebrates Action by First Nations for Positive Change, Encourages all Canadians to Learn More and Support Efforts

OTTAWA, June 21, 2013 /CNW/ - This National Aboriginal Day, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo draws attention to the contributions and accomplishments of First Nations driving change and encourages governments and all Canadians to support these efforts in the spirit of renewed relationships and reconciliation.

"June 21 marks a critical time for First Nations in this country - a time of growing momentum toward the transformative change required for our peoples today, not tomorrow," said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo, referencing recent and upcoming important anniversaries - five years since the historic Apology for residential schools and 250 years since the Royal Proclamation, which first affirmed Treaty relationships and obligations between First Nations and the Crown.

"This is a critical moment, where the needs and opportunities are far too great not to act. Now is the time for action to match words. First Nations cannot and will not wait, and we must see concrete action by governments to support our efforts," said National Chief Atleo. "First Nation leaders, citizens and Nations are driving change for the better from coast to coast to coast, addressing challenges head-on and based on priorities driven by the peoples and communities, and anchored in our Treaties and inherent rights. This means schools for our children, homes for our families, fair and equitable health and education systems and the ability to drive our own economies to achieve prosperity for all of us."

The notion of a national holiday celebrating the contributions of Indigenous peoples in Canada was called for by AFN in 1982, then known as the National Indian Brotherhood. A day already known by many as Solidarity Day was formally recognized by the federal government as National Aboriginal Day in 1996 - now a day celebrated every June 21 during National Aboriginal Awareness Month, also recognized by the federal government.

The term "Aboriginal" refers to the three distinct Indigenous groups in Canada - First Nations, Métis and Inuit. In connection with the summer solstice, special events and gatherings take place across the country celebrating First Nation, Métis and Inuit contributions and accomplishments, cultures, traditions and languages.

"Today and every day I encourage all Canadians to stand with First Nations, Métis and Inuit in this country to understand and celebrate the many important contributions and accomplishments of our peoples, and to support further progress in ways that respect Indigenous rights," said National Chief Atleo. "I commend all Indigenous peoples and all Canadians participating in events across the country, and congratulate the many cities, towns and communities collaborating and joining Indigenous nations and peoples in activities and celebrations today. Together we will draw much needed attention to the contributions and accomplishments of Indigenous peoples and move one step closer to renewed relationships and reconciliation."

AFN encourages all Canadians to learn more about the diverse Indigenous cultures of Canada by taking part in cultural events this June.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

For further information:
Jenna Young AFN Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 401; 613-314-8157 or jyoung@afn.ca
Alain Garon AFN Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 382; 613-292-0857 or agaron@afn.ca

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Minister Valcourt Chastises National Chief for being Unappreciative; First Nations Children in Poverty Hits 50%
an informative <e-note> by fourarrows@rogers.com 21 June 2013 Edition

Atleo: ‘There's Been No Real Change";
Valcourt: ‘You're Out of Touch with Reality

With special thanks to Tim Harper, National Affairs, The Toronto Star and CBC News whose articles are combined here

Ottawa, 15 June 2013 - And it all happened on Father's Day Weekend.

It was on national TV. There's been "no real change" in the federal government's approach to First Nations issues, said Shawn Atleo, national chief for the Assembly of First Nations, five years after the residential schools apology.

Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Indian Affairs, suggested Atleo should not be so impatient: "Of course there is impatience out there but there is also a lot of realization that progress is being made and accomplished."

It was appropriate the public exchange took place on the day before Father's Day. In an interview aired on CBC Radio's The House, Shawn Atleo described the Harper government's approach to decision-making as "top-down, unilateral, government-knows-best," saying that "in my personal reflection, since the apology, there has really been no real change in the approach."

Atleo warned of the potential for further confrontation, the like of which has not been seen since the crises of 1990s.

"Without a shift in the pattern of the relationship, we're going to continue to see a cycle of conflict that's not just more recent. It goes back to the days of the Oka crisis, of Gustafsen Lake, of Burnt Church, of a gap that seems to continue to deepen between First Nations and Canada," Atleo said.

Shawn Atleo spent much of last week marking the fifth anniversary of Stephen Harper's apology for the residential schools system that took such a physical and emotional toll on this country's aboriginals.

But he also was marking the five-month anniversary of a Langevin Block meeting with the prime minister, a meeting fuelled by an Idle No More movement, a chief fasting on nearby Victoria Island, tension on the streets of downtown Ottawa and a sense that treatment of aboriginals in this country had reached some type of tipping point.

At that meeting, Prime Minister Stephen Harper committed to "high-level" treaty talks following a working meeting with Atleo and a delegation of First Nations leaders last January 11 in the midst of hunger strikes and demonstrations.

In that meeting, Harper agreed with Atleo there was a need for political oversight.

Whatever. Instead, the advocates of parity in funding of First Nations child and family service agencies are challenging Ottawa at a human rights tribunal over the gap in child welfare funding between aboriginal and non-aboriginal youth, in Tobique Indian Affairs is defending itself over cuts in income assistance. Countless other legal challenges to Conservative policy and decisions are going on across the country.

Ottawa has allowed a visit this autumn by the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, James Anaya.

"A mirror has to be held up to this country,'' he says.

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