Ottawa, ON – The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse attended the Council of the Federation and National Indigenous Organizations Leaders meeting on July 10, 2023. The meeting occurred in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the Premiers and National Indigenous Organization Leaders in attendance. These meetings happen at least once annually.
“First Nations are indispensable to intergovernmental cooperation,” said Regional Chief Woodhouse. “Our participation in intergovernmental meetings is compelled by our international status as peoples, our Treaty rights and our Inherent rights, title and jurisdiction.”
Regional Chief Woodhouse raised several key action areas where intergovernmental cooperation is urgently needed, including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), First Nations policing services as an essential service, the TRC Calls to Action and MMIWG National Inquiry Calls to Justice, economic reconciliation, child welfare, and protecting First Nations inherent and Treaty rights. The Regional Chief also called on Premiers “to acknowledge that the climate crisis is a human security issue of the first order requiring effective action and collaboration by all peoples and governments.”
“All of these issues impact our safety and our dignity as individuals and our collective rights as Nations,” said Regional Chief Woodhouse. “Federal, provincial, territorial, and First Nations governments must intensify action, collaboration, public education, and partnerships to address these issues. First Nations are ready to work with all governments to improve the security and well-being of their people.”
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates.
For more information please contact:
Kelly Reid
Senior Communications Officer
Assembly of First Nations
[email protected]
613-292-0857 (mobile)