Month: May 2018

(Ottawa, ON) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde today responded to the Auditor General of Canada’s report, calling on Canada to change its approach and make better use of data it is collecting to make more informed decisions to close the gap in the quality of life between First Nations people […]

(Ottawa, ON) –Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde released the below statement following today’s announcement by the Government of Canada to purchase the Trans Mountain pipeline. National Chief Perry Bellegarde: “Canada committed to honouring the UN Declaration and the right to free, prior and informed consent. First Nations have different positions on […]

(Ottawa, ON) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde said today that all governments and emergency service providers must work with First Nations leadership in Manitoba to ensure the safety and security of all those affected by the wildfire situation in the province. “Our first thoughts are for the safety and well-being […]

May 22, 2018 (Ottawa, ON) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde says the move now underway towards ten-year funding grants for First Nations is an important step in building a new, more effective and efficient fiscal relationship between First Nations and Canada and is a significant result of the Canada-First Nations […]

May 21, 2018 (Ottawa, ON) – First Nations leaders from across Canada marked May 21 this year as the first ever National Day of First Nations Fishing Rights. The day was established through AFN resolution 75/2017, dedicating the first Monday preceding May 25, or “Victoria Day”, to be recognized to honour First Nations’ rights to fish. […]

NATIONAL DAY OF FIRST NATIONS FISHING RIGHTS – MAY 21, 2018 Fishing is part of First Nations culture and identity. It sustains First Nations peoples and economies and is a constitutionally protected inherent and Treaty right. In the spirit of reconciliation and raising awareness of our shared history and future, the Assembly of First Nations […]

First Nations Control of First Nations Education The work and progress in the area of education is guided by direction from Chiefs-in-Assembly and the long-standing goal of achieving First Nations control of First Nations Education.  First Nations control of First Nations Education means respecting, protecting and enforcing First Nations inherent rights and Treaty rights, title and jurisdiction. […]

May 1, 2018 Tawaw kahkiyaw, okimâwak, nâpewak, iskwewak, kêhtêak, oskâyak. Okimaw piyisiw awasis nitisihkason. Miyo kisikaw anoch. Chief Whiteduck, thank you for welcoming us to the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin peoples. To the Elders, Bear Babin and all the pipe carriers who led the pipe ceremony, and Josie Whiteduck for that beautiful water […]