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Assembly of First Nations Bulletin A Communiqué from National Chief Phil Fontaine January 2007

The Assembly of First Nations issues regular updates on the National Chief’s activities and work underway at the national office.

More information can be found on the AFN’s website at www.afn.ca.

New Challenges for 2007

A new year is upon us and with it come new challenges and new opportunities. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments. Among these is the agreement reached for Residential School Survivors. The court ratification process is almost wrapped up, and the courts that have given decisions so far have been very supportive of the settlement. We will soon be in a 5 month court mandated review period allowing survivors the opportunity to assess the agreement. I, personally, and the AFN as a whole, continue to believe that this agreement is just and fair and is essential for survivors to begin the process of healing, recovery and wellness for the future.

First Nations were deeply disappointed about the federal Government’s decision last year to not support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. AFN is continuing to work internationally to advance First Nations interests. If you would like to send a letter to the UN to express your concerns about Canada’s stance on the Declaration, a template and contact information is available on our website (www.afn.ca).

The Government’s approach to changes to section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act and Matrimonial Real Property (MRP) also cause concern. The AFN supports changes in both of these areas, however, we are adamant that such changes must be pursued respectful of the duty to consult and in a manner that recognizes and supports the jurisdiction of First Nation governments to protect the collective and individual human rights of their citizens. The Government’s approach to these two issues may be characterized as an attempt to achieve a quick fix rather than working with First Nations to find substantial and enduring remedies.

In November, I co-chaired the National Aboriginal Health Summit with Premier Campbell where all governments reaffirmed their commitment to close the gap in health status between First Nations and other Canadians. Premier Gary Doer will host a second Health Summit later this year where further progress on First Nations health interests is expected to be made. To ensure that the federal government is fully engaged on advancing First Nations health priorities, I signed a joint health work plan with Health Minister Tony Clement at our December Special Chiefs Assembly. Our work with Minister Clement will improve access and the quality of health services, and ensure that essential changes are made in the federal system to provide greater control to First Nations.

First Nations scored a major victory in the Supreme Court of Canada late last year. The AFN intervened in two cases, Sappier-Polchies and Gray. These cases involved individuals charged with a forestry offence. The court decision established that Maliseet and Mi’ikmaq have an Aboriginal right to harvest wood for domestic purposes on their traditional territory. In this context, the AFN was able to raise several original arguments that were adopted by the court, including the scope of the Aboriginal right (“domestic use”) and the failure of the Crown to show that Colonial legislatures ever had the authority to extinguish Aboriginal rights. The AFN continues to monitor and be involved, where possible, in relevant Supreme Court of Canada business.

Prime Minister Harper recently shuffled his cabinet. Indian Affairs Minister, Jim Prentice, and the Minister of Health, Tony Clement, remain in their current positions -- AFN plans to continue to build on our relationships with them. We also anticipate working closely with the new Environment Minister, John Baird. As you know, environmental issues such as global warming, pollution, and contamination directly impact many First Nation communities. We cannot let another year, another season, pass without taking immediate steps to deal with these dire concerns. The AFN expects to become much more involved in this issue over the coming year.

At our Special Chiefs Assembly in December, we saw that many other important issues remain to be resolved, and a number of important events will take place over the next few months to address several of them:

• January 23-25 will see the National Aboriginal Economic Development Symposium take place in Saskatoon;
• On February 6-8 the National Housing & Water Policy Forum will take place in Toronto; and
• A National Aboriginal Women’s Summit will take place in June in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

AFN is also expecting to hold a special forum on Matrimonial Real Property in the very near future, as well as a national conference on Historic Treaties. Information on these and other events will be sent to communities as it becomes available and will be posted on our website. I should also note, as I had committed at our last Special Chiefs Assembly, you can expect to see significant changes in how our Assemblies are run in the future. We are working to establish more effective ways of conducting our Assemblies, including how we effectively deal with resolutions.

As I look to the coming year, there will continue to be a range of challenges and opportunities. There will most likely be another federal election sometime this year. First Nations’ voter participation increased by 8 percent in last year’s federal election. Last month, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Elections Canada to enter into the second phase of a voter education campaign for First Nations. The goal of this campaign is to create educational tools and opportunities for First Nation citizens to make a choice about participating in electoral processes. I feel strongly that First Nations can make a difference by exercising their right to vote.

Regardless of whether or not an election takes place, the AFN continues to advance a set of priorities with which ever government is in power. We launched the Make Poverty History for First Nations campaign last fall, and as a part of this we undertook a wide range of initiatives that continue to drive us in the New Year. Central to this is the First Nations Plan, which builds on the resolutions and the policy positions adopted by the Chiefs-in-Assembly. In the coming months we will turn our energies to Creating Opportunities for our communities, opportunities for hope and success.

We saw an example of the potential of First Nations youth early in this New Year when millions of hockey fans in Canada and around the world witnessed the incredible goaltending of Carey Price as he led Team Canada to its third consecutive championship at the World Junior Hockey Tournament. Carey’s mother is Chief Lynda Price of the Ulkatcho First Nation at Anahim Lake in northern British Columbia. Carey is now 19 and playing Junior hockey for the Tri-City Americans in Oregon, and has been drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. Most importantly, Carey is an inspiration and a role model for all First Nations youth. Congratulations are due to Carey and his family! We look forward to seeing him on the national and international stage for many years to come.

I want to take this opportunity to wish you the very best in this New Year and reaffirm my commitment to work on your behalf to the utmost of my abilities.

Meegwetch and Happy New Year!

Assembly of First Nations, 473 Albert Street, Suite 810, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5B4 Tel: (613) 241-6789 Toll-free: 1-866-869-6789 Fax: (613) 241-5808 www.afn.ca