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From the Anglican Journal ...

CANADA: Residential schools agreement approved - Former students have until August to opt out of accord

By Marites N. Sison - Sunday, March 11, 2007
 
[Anglican Journal]  All nine provincial and territorial courts approved on March 8 the revised Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA), a move that could mean that the agreement may be implemented by fall.

With the collective approval in place, the "opt-out period," which is a court requirement for class action, begins. This means that former students of native residential schools have until August 20 to declare if they want to opt out of the agreement. If 5,000 out of an estimated 80,000 residential schools students opt out of the agreement, it would be up to the federal government to decide whether to move ahead with the deal.

According to Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada, former students who require information about the opt-out process can call 1-866-879-4913.

The Council of General Synod (CoGS), the Anglican Church of Canada's governing body between meetings of General Synods, welcomed the announcement. "This is good news," Ellie Johnson, director of the national church's partnerships department, told CoGS in a briefing. Johnson represented the Anglican church in negotiations for the revised accord.

Yukon Supreme Court Justice Ron Veale called the approval a "historical" moment, reported the Whitehorse Star.

Once the agreement is implemented, government will begin accepting applications for the Common Experience Payment and the Individual Assessment Process. The former provides former students compensation of $10,000 for the first year of attendance in residential schools and $3,000 for each additional year. Negotiators estimate that the average stay of students in residential schools was five to six years, which means claimants will receive anywhere between $24,000 to $25,000 in Common Experience Payment. Acceptance of that payment releases the government and churches from any further action but allows students who have suffered sexual, physical and psychological abuse to follow the Individual Assessment Process to claim compensation.

The Anglican Church of Canada renegotiated its agreement last year with the federal government following an announcement in November 2005 of a new $1.9 billion compensation package that would be offered to tens of thousands of aboriginal Canadians who attended Indian residential schools. The Anglican church operated 26 of 80 boarding schools attended by aboriginals from the mid-19th century into the 1970s. In recent years, hundreds of natives sued the church and the federal government, which owned the schools, alleging physical and sexual abuse.

The revised accord will reduce the financial commitments of General Synod -- the church's national office -- and dioceses by almost 40 per cent, or a maximum of $15.7 million. The earlier agreement, signed in 2003, committed the church to a cap of $25 million in compensation.

-- Marites N. Sison is staff writer for the Anglican Journal.

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Press Release ...

Residential School Cases Take Historic Step

TORONTO, March 9 - A historic moment was reached yesterday when provincial and territorial judges involved in the settlement for residential school survivors approved court orders which will move the case forward.

Nine judges from across the country held a joint hearing in Calgary yesterday to hear submissions about the settlement. Eight of the judges approved the orders yesterday and the ninth approval is expected very shortly.

A class action brought by the former students of the Mohawk Institute Residential School (the "School"), a native residential school in Brantford, Ontario, and their families, was settled in November 2005 by way of a national Agreement in Principle between the Government of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations (the "AFN"), legal counsel for Indian Residential School survivors and various religious entities (the "Agreement").

Amongst other things, the Agreement provides for a compensatory Common Experience Payment, for loss of language and culture, to every former Mohawk student who attended a residential school in Canada alive as of October 5, 1996 (the "Payment"), consisting of a $10,000.00 lump sum and $3,000.00 extra for each school year or part thereof after their first year of attendance. At least $1.9 billion will be paid out under this part of the settlement.

Russell Raikes, the lawyer who commenced the class action on behalf of former Mohawk students, said, "This marks the end of an almost decade long battle to secure justice for survivors and their families."

As stated by Kirk Baert, co-counsel with Mr. Raikes, "This settlement means that survivors and their families will no longer have to struggle through complicated, lengthy and expensive court proceedings in order to obtain redress of this historical wrong."

Former Mohawk students commenced a claim in October 1998 against the Government of Canada, the Diocese of Huron and the New England Company. The students sought to recover damages for the harm inflicted on them as a result of them attending the School.

The School was located in Brantford, Ontario, near the Six Nations Reserve. The School was opened in 1828 as a residential school for First Nations' children. It was founded by the New England Company, a charitable organization, with the mission of teaching the Christian religion and the English language to the native peoples of North America.

The New England Company ran the School until 1922, when it leased the School to the Federal Government. Under the lease, Canada agreed to continue the School as an educational institution for native children and agreed to continue to train them in the teachings and doctrines of the Church of England. The School closed in 1969.

The Mohawk class action covers the years of 1922 to 1969. During that time, there were 150 to 180 students at the School each year, ranging in age from 4 to 18 and split roughly equally between boys and girls. All were native children, that is, Indians within the meaning of the Indian Act. In all, approximately 1,500 native children attended the Mohawk School during those years.

The plaintiffs claimed that the Mohawk School was run in a way that was designed to create an atmosphere of fear, intimidation and brutality. Physical discipline was frequent and excessive. Food, housing and clothing were inadequate. Staff members were unskilled and improperly supervised. Students were cut off from their families. They were forbidden to speak their native languages or to practice their native cultures.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Divisional Court of Ontario both refused to allow the case to proceed as a class action. In December 2004, the Ontario Court of Appeal, Ontario's highest court, decided that the courts below erred in refusing to allow the case to proceed, and ordered that it should be certified as a class action and permitted to proceed to trial. The court certified claims for breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and breach of aboriginal rights. The court found that dealing with all of the facts and issues raised in the case should be dealt with in one trial because it would result in a substantial saving of time and expense. The court also found that access to justice would be greatly enhanced by a class action. The evidence before the court was that many of the former students are aging, very poor, and in some cases, still extremely emotionally troubled by their experiences at the Mohawk School.

The Supreme Court of Canada denied the defendants' request for leave to appeal to the nation's highest court in May 2005. On May 30, 2005, the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, was appointed lead negotiator on behalf of the Government of Canada.

As a result of negotiations between the Government of Canada, the AFN, legal counsel for the survivors and various religious entities, the Agreement was reached on November 20, 2005. In addition to providing for the lump sum Payment, the Agreement also establishes an Individual Assessment Process ("IAP") whereby survivors of residential schools may apply for additional compensation, over and above the lump sum Payment to compensate individuals for sexual and physical assaults perpetrated upon them during their time at a residential school. The IAP will improve the current Dispute Resolution System instituted by the Government of Canada in 2004 which has been the subject of much criticism. It is estimated that another $1 billion will be paid out under this part of the settlement.

A final settlement agreement was reached on May 8, 2006. The federal cabinet approved the deal on May 10, 2006. Nine courts heard motions in the fall of 2006 regarding approval of the settlement. All nine courts approved the settlement and released in December 2006 and January 2007.

The Agreement also dedicates $60 million to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission designed to complete a historical record of the Indian residential school legacy and promote awareness and public education of Canadians concerning the residential schools system and its lasting impact on survivors and their families. The parties sought approval of the Agreement from the provincial Superior Courts across Canada in the fall of 2006.

The plaintiffs are represented by the law firms of Cohen Highley LLP and Koskie Minsky LLP. Both firms are widely acknowledged as leading Canadian class action law firms.

For further information: Russell M. Raikes, Cohen Highley LLP, (519) 672-9330, email: rraikes@cohenhighley.com;. or Kirk M. Baert, Koskie Minsky LLP, (416) 595-2117, email: kbaert@kmlaw.ca.

Chiefs and Health Directors met in Sioux Lookout on March 8 with the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth (KOTH) team to discuss the ongoing operation and development of telehealth services across the Sioux Lookout health zone.

Presentations by the KOTH team provided all the participants with an update of the status of the work that has taken place since 1998 when telehealth was first introduced in the region by the Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak.

The afternoon session provided an opportunity for the community leaders to discuss and share their needs and priority to support a successful community-based health care service that is able to effectively use the various telehealth resources (equipment, facilities, staffing, network, etc) that are now available in the First Nations.

COO press release ...

4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language

Thunder Bay, March 7, 2007: "Now is the time for our generation to learn and preserve our sacred gifts."

The Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council is holding its 4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language on the Wikemikong Unceded Indian Reserve located on Manitoulin Island on March 15, 16, 17 & 18th, 2007.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE March 8th, 2007. Depending on availability of space, late registrations may be accepted until March 13th, 2007.

The symposium is an exciting learning opportunity for youth to gain knowledge of our diverse cultures, traditions and languages from a wide variety of Elders and traditional knowledge practitioners. Events are currently being planned that will include informative and diverse workshops, prominent keynote speakers, outstanding storytellers, talented artists, live entertainment, and other motivating and interesting activities.

Registration is free. The Ontario First Nations Youth Peoples Council will cover the costs for meals, accommodations, entertainment, and shuttle services for two delegates, one male and one female, from each of the First Nation communities and organizations.

Youth participants are responsible to seek sponsorship and/or cover the costs of their travel to and from Wikemikong Unceded Reserve. We have a limited capacity of 300 participants.

Register now and get be eligible for early bird registration prize draws.

Bearskin Airlines is pleased to offer discounts to all attendees of the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council, 4th Annual Youth Symposium hosted in Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve!

All travellers must quote convention code "OFNYPC07" to receive this discount for travel. These discounts will apply to flights from all points in the Bearskin Airlines system to Sudbury and are valid on any Bearskin Airlines fare type. Travel is valid between March 5 -March 25, 2007. These dates provide for early and/or late departures to enjoy all that Sudbury has to offer!

Click here to view map

Click here to view a short video about Wiky

View the documents below for more details. For more information, please contact Laura Calmwind, Youth Coordinator 1-807-626-9339 or by email at laura@coo.org.

• 4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language - Registration Form (REGISTRATION DEADLINE March 8th, 2007 - UPDATED) - WORD document
• 4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language - UPDATED AGENDA - WORD document
• Bearskin Air Information - WORD document

NAN press release ...

NAN Film Premiere First Step in Youth Empowering Initiative

THUNDER BAY, March 7, 2007: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief RoseAnne Archibald together with NAN Youth Council members Catherine Cheechoo and Serene Spence debuted the short film The Four Directions Project to kick off a youth empowering initiative based on story-telling through film during a news conference today.

“Young people have valid real stories that the world needs to hear,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief RoseAnne Archibald who developed the initiative to bridge the arts and youth portfolios at NAN – both of which she’s responsible. “Story-telling through film gives young people the opportunity to tell their stories and heal through that process – it’s empowering to them.”

The short film entitled The Four Directions Project explores cultural rebirth, healing, and hope against the backdrop of the four sacred directions and themes of song, dance, prayer, and dreams. Catherine Cheechoo, Serene Spence, Brent Wesley, and Jocelyn Formsma’s stories and poems are featured in the six minute film which was shot mainly in Thunder Bay and Moose Factory (one of NAN’s 49 First Nation communities).

“The draw to this project for me was the opportunity for a different kind of expression”, said Catherine Cheechoo who’s poem is featured in the short film. “The experiences relayed in my poem I’m sure are experienced by many other young women – it’s just another way young people can relate.”

The Four Directions Project is the first phase in a NAN initiative to empower youth through film. Phase 2 will involve researching options to secure funding for film training for young people. Archibald is hopeful Phase 3 will mean a First Nations Film School available to young people throughout the North.

The Four Directions Project’s official premiere will take place at the Weeneebeg Film Festival in Moose Factory Saturday March 10, 2007.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is an Aboriginal political organization representing 49 First Nation communities within James Bay Treaty 9 and Ontario First Nations part of Treaty 5 – an area spanning two-thirds of Ontario with a total approximate population of 45,000 members on and off reserve.

***

For more information please contact: Jenna Young, NAN Director of Communications at (807) 625 4952 (807) 628 3953 (cellular).

SLARC (http://www.slarc.ca) press release ...

Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee hosts Race Relations Week 2007 (March 16 to 25) with many events planned

Sioux Lookout - March 3, 2007 - Race Relations Week 2007: Our community. Our Family. Our Future is filling up with exciting opportunities for celebrating the diversity of Sioux Lookout.

The invitation is out to nominate someone you know who has contributed to positive race relations in Sioux Lookout for the People Making Changes - Mary Carpenter Award. You can pick up a nomination form from the Sunset Suites, the Anti-Racism Committee office, or by calling Laurel Wood (737-2174). Click here to get a PDF copy of the nomination form.

The first event of the week is for youth – a dance at the Recreation Centre, Friday, March 16.

Saturday the 17th, Cedar Bay will be the centre of activities all day. A festival at the stables and lakeside will have activities for all members of the family – pond hockey, sleigh rides, games and refreshments. See the poster below or CLICK HERE for a PDF copy of the POSTER.

CLICK HERE for a copy of the POND HOCKEY Registration and Rules

Saturday evening, while the Northern Bands Hockey Tournament continues in the arena, there will be square dancing in the recreation centre gym. This event, sponsored by Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre, is open to all. See the poster below or CLICK HERE for a copy of the poster

Student art, reflecting the theme of Our community. Our Family. Our Future., will be on display all week at local schools, Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre, Best Western and Johnny’s.

Everyday Light, a collection of family photos selected by contemporary First Nations Artists will open Sunday 18th at 56 Front Street and be on display all week. The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has generously loaned this art show to our community. Local residents are invited to submit work to a companion Art Display of family heirlooms and other art at St. Andrews United Church.

Watch for details of the week’s events – films by Cree filmmaker Shirley Cheechoo (see poster below or CLICK HERE for a copy of the POSTER)and local filmmaker, Nadia McLaren, workshops, presentations, drumming at the Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre, lacrosse for youth at the Recreation Centre and the Out of the Cold fishing derby at Airport Lake will fill out the week. The ever-popular Multicultural Pot Luck Feast, with the presentation of the People Making Changes – Mary Carpenter Award, will wrap things up at the Legion Sunday, March 25th.

Outdoors enthusiasts, artists, film buffs, horsey folks, gourmets and hockey fans – children, youth, adults and elders – there’s something for everyone in Race Relations Week 2007. Come celebrate with your family and community.

AFN Health Directorate is requesting that all First Nations provide them with an update about local health needs and priorities BEFORE MARCH 15!

Communiqué to First Nations Communities - Sustainability of First Nations Health Resources - Information Request

March 2007

TO: All First Nations Chiefs of Canada
RE: Sustainability of First Nations Health Resources - Information Request

National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and federal Minister of Health Tony Clement signed a joint work plan on December 7, 2006, at the AFN Special Chiefs Assembly. This joint work plan is not about a new process, but rather is intended to achieve deliverables within a six-month timeframe that targets five key priorities:

1. Cross-Jurisdictional Agreements;
2. Sustainability;
3. Management and Accountability;
4. Performance Measurement; and,
5. Legislative Base for Public Health.

The joint work plan has received support from the AFN Chiefs Committee on Health with the caveat that it must build on the existing work – work completed by First Nations regions, Tribal Councils, Treaty areas and communities during the development of the national and regional contributions to the First Nations Framework in the Blueprint on Aboriginal Health endorsed by First Ministers and First Nations leaders in 2005. As well, the joint work plan is not intended to replace or delay negotiations undertaken by specific First Nations in funding, policies or programming pertaining to their health care delivery systems and their health care needs.

The AFN’s involvement in the joint work plan will be conducted under the oversight of the AFN Chiefs Committee on Health and the AFN Executive, guided by recommendations from the National First Nations Health Technicians Network. Through this process, First Nations regions have the opportunity to participate in, and review, the work plan’s activities and outcomes. For more information, and to review the entire document, please visit the AFN website at www.afn.ca and, under policy areas, click on Health and Social.

Sustainability of Health Funding

The main priority at this stage of the joint work plan is the lead taken by AFN in completing an analysis into the sustainability of health funding. This work will provide options for allocating resources based on the workload in a community. This contrasts with more abstract funding formulae approaches that federal departments use based on per capita figures, or based on modified formulae that consider some other cost drivers, such as geographic location.

Workload can mean, for example, the number of clients who are seen every day in the health clinic, the number of home care visits during the week, and/or the number of pregnant women or births in the community. Measuring workload accurately is a way to make sure that enough resources are provided each year to meet the health service needs of the community.

We Need Your Input

Currently, there is very little national information on what communities have really determined to be their funding needs. Community funding proposals submitted to Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) are not compiled either regionally or nationally in the negotiating of contribution or transfer agreements. For this reason, the AFN is asking for your assistance in sharing information on how you have assessed what health resources are needed in your community. We have attached a survey questionnaire for communities to complete. This information will help us to create a more accurate picture of need, and the preferred methods of communities for measuring this need, including workload, salaries and infrastructure. Timelines for completing the sustainability analysis is March 31, 2007, so any information you can share by March 15, 2007, is much appreciated.

Please be assured that we will NOT identify your community in any of our reports and this information will not be shared outside of the AFN Health Secretariat and its contractor, FAV COM.

If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, please contact Gina Doxtator, Assistant Director of Health, 1-866-869-6789, extension 413, or gdoxtator@afn.ca..

Please visit here to access survey.

Vancouver 2010 press release ...
 
Meet Aqpik, Marek and Chelsie: Vancouver 2010 Showcases Aboriginal Athletes Through Poster Series and Invites Aboriginal Youth to "Find Your Passion in Sport"
 
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - March 5, 2007) - Aboriginal youth across Canada are being invited to find inspiration in Aboriginal athlete role models with Vancouver 2010's "Find Your Passion in Sport" poster series. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) unveiled the series today as part of its commitment to increase awareness of, and participation in, Olympic and Paralympic winter sport by Canada's Aboriginal people.

"At Vancouver 2010, we have set a goal of unprecedented Aboriginal participation," said VANOC Chief Executive Officer John Furlong. "These three athletes have dreamed bigger, reached higher and celebrated what's possible when you try. We are very proud of their accomplishments and are excited to have them on our team, encouraging Aboriginal participation in sport across the country."

The athletes featured in the series reflect all three Aboriginal groups from across Canada, First Nations, Inuit and Metis. The three inspirational athletes were chosen from a final shortlist of a dozen candidates:

• Chelsie Mitchell (Snowboard) - a First Nations youth from British Columbia
• Aqpik Peter (Speed Skating) - an Inuit youth from Nunavut
• Mareck Beaudoin (Biathlon) - a Metis youth from Quebec

Posters Available On-Line: A version of each poster can be accessed directly via vancouver2010.com at (for the purposes of the media only):

• http://www.vancouver2010.com/resources/PDFs/Poster_Mareck.pdf
• http://www.vancouver2010.com/resources/PDFs/Poster_Aqpik.pdf
• http://www.vancouver2010.com/resources/PDFs/Poster_Chelsie.pdf

Each of the three posters in the series features a compelling image of the athlete in the natural landscape where he or she lives and trains. The posters are trilingual, and include text in English, French and the Aboriginal language of each athlete's respective ancestry. In conjunction with the unveiling of the poster series, the Aboriginal Participation section of the vancouver2010.com website is being re-launched with new content. The "Find Your Passion in Sport" poster series images can be downloaded free as wallpaper from vancouver2010.com.

More than 20,000 posters will be distributed to Aboriginal communities and organizations, Aboriginal youth organizations, Friendship Centres and Aboriginal schools across Canada. The campaign is designed to inspire Aboriginal youth to explore their dreams and become more actively engaged in winter sport at all levels.

"To be featured in this poster campaign is an honour and something I would never have imagined possible," said Team Quebec biathlete Mareck Beaudoin. "Now that I see the final result of this project, I am reminded that sport is not only important for me as an individual athlete, but that sport and sport role models are important for all Aboriginal people in Canada."

"The Olympic and Paralympic Games are not only about athletic excellence but also about community engagement and building a sport legacy to benefit everyone", said the Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Sport. "The young athletes featured on these posters are a symbol of the role that Aboriginal Peoples are playing to help reach these goals of the 2010 Winter Games and we are confident that they will make their communities and Canada proud."

VANOC is the first Organizing Committee to integrate Indigenous Peoples as official partners in the planning and hosting of a Games. Aboriginal people were asked to participate in a meaningful way to formally acknowledge the partnership with VANOC, which has set a goal of achieving, with its partners, unprecedented Aboriginal participation in the planning and hosting of the 2010 Winter Games.

Background on the Campaign

In 2005, VANOC and the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC), Canada's national voice for Aboriginal sport, signed a Statement of Cooperation. This Statement declares the intention to work together to take advantage of the opportunity the 2010 Winter Games provide to inspire and encourage more Aboriginal people to participate in sport across the country. In cooperation with the Aboriginal Sport Circle, the selection of the athletes to be featured in the posters was a process that took much of summer 2006. Over 60 nomination submissions were received from across Canada.

The Aboriginal athlete poster design highlights the athletes as role models in a style comparable to famous iconic athletes who are showcased as strong, confident and intense in their disciplines. The photography style, lighting and profile of the athlete is given a similar treatment to that found in top sport magazines featuring star athletes. The background highlights the association between each athlete's training ground and the important connection to nature which continues to develop, challenge, motivate and inspire.

VANOC is proud to be working with the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations - known as the Four Host First Nations - on whose traditional lands the Games will take place - as well as other First Nations, Inuit and Me'tis groups throughout Canada in the planning and hosting of the Games.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

CONTACT INFORMATION for Vancouver 2010
Mary Fraser, Media Contact, (778) 328-3667

Health Council of Canada press release ...

Health Council of Canada Releases Inaugural Health Outcomes Report on March 5th in London, Ontario

TORONTO, March 4 - The Health Council of Canada will release a report on health outcomes on March 5 entitled Why Health Care Renewal Matters: Lessons from Diabetes. The report will be released in London, Ontario and the event will be webcast live at www.healthcouncilcanada.ca.

The report examines the way chronic health conditions - specifically diabetes - are diagnosed, managed and treated in this country and explores changes in lifestyle and care that can have profound, practical and positive effects on the health and quality of life of Canadians with chronic health conditions. One in three Canadian adults has a chronic health condition and one in 20 has diabetes.

Through a synthesis of data and research evidence from Canada and abroad, the report sheds light on why renewal matters in very human terms.

The report, the first in a series on health outcomes, will be released at the London InterCommunity Health Centre. Dr. Ian Bowmer, Vice Chair of the Health Council of Canada and Dr. Stanley Vollant, Councillor, Health Council of Canada will present the report. Michelle Hurtubise, Executive Director of the London InterCommunity Health Centre and one of the centre's clients will also be on hand to comment.

WHAT: Health Council of Canada releases inaugural health outcomes report, Why Healthcare Renewal Matters: Lessons from Diabetes

WHO: Dr. Ian Bowmer, Vice Chair, Health Council of Canada
Dr. Stanley Vollant, Councillor, Health Council of Canada
Michelle Hurtubise, Executive Director, London InterCommunity Health Centre

WHERE: London InterCommunity Health Centre
659 Dundas Street East
London ON

The report release will also be simultaneously webcast on the Council's site, www.healthcouncilcanada.ca. For media to participate, dial 1-800 732 0232 or 416 644 3420 at least 10 minutes prior to 10:00 a.m. ET.

WHEN: Monday, March 5, 2007 (all times EST)
10:00 am Speakers highlight key findings of report
10:45 am Floor opens for questions
11:00 am Opportunity for one-on-one media interviews

On the day of the release, copies of the report will be made available at the event and can also be downloaded at www.healthcouncilcanada.ca at 10 a.m.

The Health Council of Canada, created by the 2003 First Ministers' Accord on Health Care Renewal following the recommendations of the Romanow and Kirby reports, is mandated to monitor and report on the progress of health care renewal in Canada. The 26 Councillors were appointed by the participating provinces, territories, and the Government of Canada and have expertise and broad experience in community care, Aboriginal health, nursing, health education and administration, finance, medicine and pharmacy.

For further information: on the Health Council of Canada, contact: Paul Cantin, Media Relations, W: (416) 480-7085, C: (416) 526-1593, pcantin@healthcouncilcanada.ca;. Nazia Khan, Media Relations, W: (416) 360-6183 ext. 229, Nazia@tsa.ca

National Post article ...

Charest calls on Harper to honour Kelowna aboriginal accord

Elizabeth Thompson, CanWest News Service; Montreal Gazette - Sunday, March 04, 2007

PIKOGAN, Que. - Quebec Premier Jean Charest called Saturday on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to honour the Kelowna accord, saying the money the federal government had pledged would make a big difference in the lives of Quebec's First Nations.

"I thought the Kelowna meeting was significant and that we should pursue what was done in Kelowna," Charest told reporters. "I would like them to honour it."

Saturday's comment marks one of the few times Charest has openly criticized a decision taken by Harper, a man who has become a political ally for his government over the past year.

The Kelowna Accord was hammered out between aboriginal leaders and Canada's first ministers in November 2005 in the dying days of Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin's government. The deal called for $5 billion to be spent over five years to improve education, housing, skills training, economic development and health care for Canada's aboriginals.

However, Harper's government has refused to recognize the agreement, dismissing it as little more than a press release. Harper says the Liberal government announced something it had never provided for financially, however, the Liberals maintain that the money promised had been earmarked for Canada's first nations before they were defeated.

Charest, who participated in the meeting that led to the accord, said Ottawa should work to accomplish what the agreement set out to do - even if it decides to do it differently.

"I would like to see them pursue Kelowna... If they choose not to do it exactly the same way, (then) to do essentially what we all committed to doing in Kelowna."

One area where the Kelowna agreement would be changing the lives of Quebec's aboriginals, if it were being implemented, is in housing, Charest said.

Charest's comments came shortly before he visited the Algonquin Indian reserve of Pikogan near Alma, Que., home to the Abitibiwinni First Nation.

Band Councillor Bruno Kistabish agrees the Conservatives should honour the agreement, saying there are a lot of areas in which the federal government could be doing a lot more to help his reserve.

Pikogan, like many first nations communities, has been going through a baby boom - 50 per cent of the community's population is under the age of 18. In some cases, two families have to share a house. The northern community has around 140 homes but desperately needs 75-80 more to house its rapidly growing population.

"We build six houses and there is no more space. The situation is getting urgent."

The community also needs more money for education and for health care, said Kistabish.

"A lot of people have diabetes. It is a scourge in native communities."

Ghislain Picard, Chief of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, said he boycotted the Kelowna talks because what was proposed was not enough to meet the needs of Canada's first nations.

Refusing to honour what little there was is even worse, he said.

The handful of announcements made by Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice when he attended last fall's socio-economic summit pale in comparison to what was called for in the Kelowna deal, he said.

AFN update ...

A Communiqué from National Chief Phil Fontaine - A Call to Action on First Nations Poverty

March 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.

The second phase of our campaign -- Make Poverty History: The First Nations Plan for Creating Opportunity – was launched Friday, February, 23, on Parliament Hill. A Call to Action Against First Nations Poverty was attended by Members of Parliament, Senators, and representatives from national and international humanitarian organizations. Buzz Hargrove, President of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) was our special guest speaker and announced the support of the entire Canadian labour movement for the campaign.

We gathered in solidarity to show Canadians, and the global community, that we will no longer tolerate the abject levels of poverty facing too many of our First Nations people. The AFN also launched a new report, The $9 Billion Myth Exposed: Why First Nations Poverty Endures. It can be found on our main website at www.afn.ca.

Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, AFN Executive Portfolio holder for Eliminating Poverty, told the gathering that First Nations have been subject to decades of Canadian government policies aimed at creating dependence, instead of supporting empowerment. Poverty endures because First Nations are not treated fairly in Canada’s fiscal framework.

Canadians have been told that $9.1 billion is spent every year on First Nations. In fact, a maximum of $5.4 billion is spent on First Nations – that is, only 60% of the amount reported by Minister Prentice. His department spends up to $600 million or 11% on overhead alone. Even more revealing is that the total budget of Indian and Northern Affairs represents only 0.004% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.

Human Rights Complaint on Child Welfare

That same day, February 23rd, the AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (FNCFCS) filed a complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission in regard to discriminatory treatment against First Nations child welfare agencies. I was joined by Cindy Blackstock, FNCFCS executive director, and FSIN Vice Chief Guy Lonechild, since the human rights complaint originated from the Ocean Man First Nation in Saskatchewan.

During our press conference, I declared that it is a national disgrace for the Canadian government to be aware of more than 27,000 First Nations children in state care without taking the action needed to address prevention and capacity of existing First Nations agencies. Rational appeals to successive federal governments have been ignored. After years of research that confirm the growing numbers of our children in care, as well as the potential solutions to this crisis, we had no choice but to appeal to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The federal government is fully aware that I would rather negotiate than litigate. But we have the right to determine what is best for the future of our children. Our children must have an equal opportunity to grow-up with their families, in their communities, and in their culture. No First Nation child should have to forgo this opportunity as a result of poverty or an inability to access basic services.

2007 Federal Budget

The 2007 federal budget will be tabled in the House of Commons on Monday, March 19th. The AFN presented its Pre-Budget Submission to the Finance Committee back on September 19th. Entitled “Securing Our Future”, we highlighted the need for sustainable funding solutions and structural change in order to eliminate poverty. I publicly stated in September that the growing number of First Nations children being placed in child welfare systems is the single most deplorable example of the increasing gap in poverty: “We face the prospect of losing yet another generation of children as they are taken away from their families, who are too poor to take care of them ... This is a tragedy that is shocking and shameful for all Canadians.”

Our pre-budget submission is posted on the AFN website, along with my recent speeches to the International Congress on Ethics; the AFN Water and Housing Forum; and the Economic Club of Toronto, where I highlighted the growing success of the AFN’s Corporate Challenge.

My next communiqué will include reaction to the 2007 Budget.

Meegwetch!

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