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AFN press release 

AFN to Discuss the need for a First Nations Economic Stimulus Package to address economic crisis

     OTTAWA, Dec. 9 /CNW Telbec/ - At the opening of the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa today, AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine announced the details of an Economic Stimulus Package for First Nations that will be discussed by First Nations leadership during the three-day Assembly.

     "First Nations are tremendously concerned about the current economic downturn because we are the most vulnerable," said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine. "First Nations have suffered in good economic times, so we are very concerned about the bad times. We are setting out a proposal that is reasonable, practical and achievable. It is about taking immediate actions that will be guided by a long-term vision of a stable and strong Canada. Our proposal is good for First Nations, for all Canadians and must be part of any broader stimulus package."

     The economic stimulus package builds on the investments agreed to by all Canadian governments and Aboriginal leaders at the 2005 First Ministers Meeting in Kelowna, BC. The new approach is referred to as "Kelowna Plus". The stimulus investments would be accompanied by structural reform to address the need for reciprocal accountability with First Nations governments and the Government of Canada.

     "The AFN will be seeking meetings as soon as possible with all the federal political parties to discuss our proposals for a stronger Canada," the National Chief stated. "We know there is a federal budget and a First Ministers Meeting on the Economy coming up early in the new year. We don't want these discussions to be simply a starting point. We want to have met with the key players in advance so we can actually make decisions and get moving on an agenda for action."

     The plan calls for immediate action on three fronts:

• Addressing the current infrastructure crisis in First Nations communities, with a particular focus on housing and water systems;
• Ensuring First Nations citizens have the necessary education and skills to contribute effectively to economic opportunities in their traditional territories and across the country;
• And the need to facilitate First Nations participation as partners in projects to create sustainable, long-term economic benefits based on real consultation and accommodation.

     "Our approach is win-win. Strong First Nations make a strong Canada.
Investing now in education, training and healthy communities for First Nations will result in massive dividends for the entire nation and foster a greater spirit of unity and hope," said the National Chief.

     The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

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/For further information: Karyn Pugliese, Communications Officer, Assembly of First Nations, Cell: (613) 292-1877/

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Native leaders talk mobilization to spur action on poverty

By: Sue Bailey, THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA - Any federal economic aid package should include at least $5 billion and a national plan to ease poverty - and growing anger - on native reserves, say chiefs from across Canada.

Phil Fontaine, head of the Assembly of First Nations, wants to meet with federal and provincial leaders before next month's first ministers meeting to pitch what he's calling Kelowna Plus.

Fontaine and other native leaders are to join strategy talks with the prime minister and premiers on the steepening economic slide.

"They're going to have to fix the things that are wrong in our communities in order to fix the economy," Fontaine said Tuesday as about 200 chiefs and proxies started a three-day meeting here.

"People have to come to their senses: this is a desperate, desperate situation.

"Our people have fared poorly in good economic times. But we will be far worse off in economic tough times. We call on the prime minister - in fact, we call on the entire Parliament - to ensure this does not happen. We need action now."

Fontaine blames underfunded schools on reserves and overcrowded, rundown housing for high native drop-out rates that he says cost Canada billions of dollars a year in lost productivity.

He also cited a cap that holds yearly federal funding increases to First Nations at two per cent, not enough to keep up with inflation let alone native population growth.

"We fall further behind every year that this funding cap is in place. You simply cannot buy goods and services in 2008 at 1996 prices."

The Kelowna Accord was the hallmark policy of the former Liberal government's dying days before it fell in December 2005. It was negotiated over 18 months between native leaders, Ottawa and the premiers to provide just over $5 billion for native housing, education and economic development.

The Tories flatly dismissed it as a pre-election "press release" with no funds committed when they took power in 2006. They went on to gut related spending, offering comparatively scant new cash for native programs in successive federal budgets.

"Our Conservative government remains committed to, and is already working in partnership with aboriginal communities on many fronts," said Ted Yeomans, a spokesman for Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, in an email response.

These include "economic development, education and clean drinking water," he said.

"We are also committed to working with all the national aboriginal organizations ... as we prepare for the first ministers meeting in January, where there will be a session on economic development opportunities for aboriginal Canadians."

Some native leaders say the time for talk has already passed.

"We have to mobilize our communities ... to once again become a voice to be reckoned with in this country," said Stewart Phillip, head of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

National aboriginal days of action held in the last two years were "a good start," Phillip says. But he urged chiefs to "forge a national movement" to force governments to sit up and respond.

Ghislain Picard, the assembly's regional chief for Quebec and Labrador, says the last thing people need is more empty rhetoric.

"Our chiefs are demanding action because their people are demanding action.

"We have to raise our leverage. If negotiations, discussions and lobbying governments will not do that, then obviously we have to look at other avenues.

"But I think the key to any initiative that you undertake is, really, how far are your own people willing to go behind you? That's where we're at: we're really reflecting on ... how we need to gather our people, and how to make sure it's going to have some impact on governments."