AFN General Assembly ready to begin

Leaders also to focus on languages, implementing UN-sanctioned rights

Over the next three days, First Nations chiefs, elders, mothers, grandmothers and youth from all over the country will come together in Regina to discuss the most important issues affecting Indigenous people in Canada today.

The discussions are part of the Assembly of First Nations 38th annual general assembly, and will set the AFN’s priorities for the coming year.

Perry Bellegarde, chief of AFN, said there are two major focuses this week — the revitalization of Indigenous languages and the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

According to Bellegarde, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to work with the AFN to establish a national Indigenous Revitalization Act as well as legally implement UNDRIP, at the last general assembly in December.

“I think government is saying the right things about nation-to-nation and focusing on reconciliation,” said Bellegarde. “We just need the bureaucracy and the bureaucrats and privy council and all the deputy minsters to keep up with that vision and find new innovative ways to implement that vision.”

This week, the AFN will host four federal government ministers — giving Indigenous leaders a chance to foster relationships and work toward real change.

Jody Wilson-Raybould, minister of justice and attorney general, will be speaking about 10 principles adopted this month that are meant to guide the way the federal government partners with Indigenous peoples.

Catherine McKenna, minister of environment and climate change, will discuss changes to the Fisheries Act and Waters Act, both of which impact First Nations, treaty and Aboriginal rights. She will also talk about taking real action to combat climate change.

Ralph Goodale, minister of public safety and Carolyn Bennett, minister of Indigenous and northern affairs Canada, will also be in attendance.

“We’re putting the political pressure on the legislative and policymakers,” said Bellegarde.

Despite two major areas of focus, there are numerous other issues that chiefs in the assembly will discuss and give feedback on how to address them.

The youth suicide crisis, overcrowded housing, access to potable water, investment in education and training, health care, resource revenue sharing and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls are just a few of the things Bellegarde said are on the agenda.

Victoria Tauli Corpuz, UN special rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, will also be part of the meetings — the first time a UN expert on Indigenous rights will address the assembly. Bellegarde said the AFN will work with Corpuz to put pressure on nation states like Canada to respect inherent and treaty rights and end discrimination against children.

“The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal made three binding decisions on Canada — that (it’s) still discriminating against First Nations children,” said Bellegarde. “Children only get one chance for a childhood. So they should be making the proper investments to end discrimination that’s there now.”

Bellegarde said the biggest challenge for the AFN when trying to address such a diverse set of issues is the equally diverse populations the issues impact.

“To continually respect the diversity that’s there across Canada and to always know that one size and one approach doesn’t fit all,” said Bellegarde. He said with 643 different First Nations across the country, flexibility is key.

Stripped down to its core, Bellegarde said this week’s assembly is about creating the same quality of life for Indigenous people that everybody else in Canada already has.

Over 1,200 people pre-registered for the assembly, which is taking place from July 25 to 27 at Evraz Place.

I think government is saying the right things about nation-to-nation and focusing on reconciliation.