Assembly of First Nations calling on all First Nations to get involved in election by voting
AFN Press Release
AFN National Chief and Youth Council launch National Day of Political Action
OTTAWA, Sept. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine and the AFN National Youth Council launched the National Day of Political Action as one of the initiatives of "Vote '08, Change Can't Wait!". This campaign aims to increase First Nations political participation, to encourage voting among First Nations voters and to increase the profile of Aboriginal issues in this election.
"During the June 11th Apology to residential school survivors, every federal party leader expressed a desire for collective reconciliation, fundamental change and a future based on respect and recognition of who we are as First Peoples. It is time to fulfill this promise. We are calling on all federal parties to put their words into action by laying out clear platforms aimed at effective and meaningful change," said National Chief Phil Fontaine.
"First Nations and all Canadians who witnessed the apology want to see an improved quality of life for First Nations children and citizens. Canadians know that when First Nations do well, we all do well as a country."
AFN National Youth Co-chair Ken Watts added that there are more than 115,000 First Nations youth (aged 18-30) of voting age, is a significant number of the total First Nations voting age population.
"I am encouraging all First Nations youth to become active in this campaign. Whether that means going to local all-candidates debates and asking questions on First Nations issues, writing to media with your concerns and questions, speaking with your candidates, or finally by voting for a party which sets First Nations issues as priority," said Ken Watts. "First Nations youth are wondering 'What are the next steps in reconciliation?' They want party leaders to answer the question 'Now what?'"
The AFN and AFN National Youth Council are also calling on youth and all First Nations citizens to write to the Broadcasting Consortium, who represent Canada's largest television networks, to demand that questions on First Nations issues be put to party leaders during the upcoming televised debates scheduled for October 1 and 2.
"The AFN National Youth Council has always encouraged youth to make an informed decision regarding participation in the federal election. Yet, in the last election, media did not ask a single question on First Nations, Inuit or Métis issues," said youth co-chair, Nicole Minde. "I also believe that a growing number of non-aboriginal Canadians are interested in social issues impacting First Nations youth such as safe drinking water, access to health care, building First Nations economies, fair funding in the education and child welfare systems, as well as hearing each party's vision on how reconciliation will address these issues."
The AFN named September 29 a National Day of Political Action in First Nation communities as part of its "Vote '08, Change Can't Wait!" On this day and each day leading up to the October 14 election,, First Nation communities are encouraged to participate in a variety of political activities such as engaging with their citizens and local candidates, hosting community meetings and town halls, discuss platforms with each other, and other political events so that First Nation citizens can make an informed choice in the federal election. This initiative is also aimed at soliciting a clear and robust First Nations platform from each political party.
Given the slim margin of victory in over 50 ridings in the last general election, the AFN believes First Nation citizens can influence the outcome of this election and the future of First Nations public policy. As there are more than 800,000 citizens, a significant number of whom are voting age, First Nations can make a difference in this election.
The Assembly of First Nations is the national political organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
The AFN Youth Council strives to influence the direction of the Assembly of First Nations through advocacy, equality and working with all levels of leadership, in creating opportunities for personal development and empowerment for the future of all generations.
Press Conference:
When: 10:00am Monday September 29, 2008
Where: Charles Lynch Room, Centre Block, Parliament Hill
Who: Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations
Nicole Watts, Co-Chair, National Youth Council, Assembly of First Nations
Denis Howlett, Make Poverty History
Gerry Barr, Canadian Council for International Cooperation
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/For further information: Gina Cosentino, Government Relations, National Chief Office, (613) 314-2661, gcosentino@afn.ca; Karyn Pugliese, Health and Social Communications, (613) 241-6789, ext. 210, cell: (613) 292-1877, kpugliese@afn.ca/
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Native leaders demand campaign attention
BILL CURRY - September 28, 2008
OTTAWA — In full native headdress on the floor of the House of Commons, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine had a historic seat last June to hear the Prime Minister's apology for Canada's Indian Residential Schools.
He also heard the three other party leaders make impassioned pledges to right the wrongs of the past.
Now, in the midst of a federal election campaign, Mr. Fontaine is wondering where all those words went.
“The current campaign [has] what seems to be a serious absence of any discussion on aboriginal issues,” said Mr. Fontaine in an interview at his Ottawa office.
The Conservative government has promised the June apology will be followed up with a five-year Truth and Reconciliation Commission. That body will research and document the decades-long federal policy that removed aboriginal children form their homes to attend far-away schools.
But Mr. Fontaine said there should be more follow-up than that.
“As far as we're concerned, reconciliation includes the issue of First Nation poverty and we are anxious to hear from each of the parties on their plans to eradicate First Nations poverty,” he said.
To that end, Mr. Fontaine and native leaders across the country are holding a “National Day of Political Action” Monday to encourage natives to vote. The day will feature local discussions with area candidates about party platforms and discussions about increasing voter participation among aboriginals. Native leaders will also call for their issues to be discussed by party leaders in the televised debates.
Mr. Fontaine said the day is not about marches and protests, as was the case with two previous AFN-sponsored National Days of Action.
He will be releasing a video Monday morning showing Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, NDP leader Jack Layton, Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe and Green Party leader Elizabeth May pledging to “make poverty history.” Conservative leader Stephen Harper has not made the same public pledge.
The AFN leader is hoping that through higher voter turnout, Canada's growing native population will come to be seen as a key constituency to be wooed by political parties.
“We want [the parties] to take notice as they do with the ethnic vote and the very serious attention that's placed to the ethnic vote,” he said. “We want the political parties to look to us in the same way.”
The AFN's campaign is called “Vote '08, Change Can't Wait.” Mr. Fontaine insists the slogan is not a veiled call to turf the Conservatives.
“We will not place ourselves in a position where we can be attacked by anyone that we're being partisan,” he said. “We are being partisan in favour of First Nations issues.”