UNITY URGED
Three candidates for the AFN chief urged aboriginal leaders to stay united.
WINNIPEG — Canada’s aboriginal leaders were urged Tuesday by three contenders vying to be top First Nations chief to stay united in a renewed battle of wills against the federal government.
The message came from the three men who participated in an all-candidates forum organized by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), which will elect a new national chief on Wednesday.
Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) is seen as the front-runner. He ran second in the 2009 election for national chief.
The other major candidate is Ghislain Picard, regional AFN chief of Quebec and Labrador. He was appointed interim national chief by the AFN executive after the sudden resignation in May of then-national chief Shawn Atelo.
The long-shot contender is Leon Jourdain, former Grand Chief of Treaty 3, which constitutes northwest Ontario and eastern Manitoba.
As hundreds of chiefs gathered in a convention hall here, each of the contenders made his pitch.
“We need to be united as we do this work,” Bellegarde told the chiefs.
“Divided we will fall. Tomorrow, I urge you all: Let’s walk together and move forward in unity and in strength.”
Earlier this year, the AFN was thrown into disarray when Atleo quit because of internal complaints over his actions on a controversial federal bill to reform First Nations education.
Relations between First Nations and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government are now in a deep chill on issues ranging from education to violence against indigenous women to natural resource development.
As well, within indigenous communities, there are complaints the AFN chiefs no longer reflect the First Nations “grassroots”.
Bellegarde also said it is unacceptable that Canada ranks sixth in an international ranking on quality of life, while this country’s aboriginals rank 63rd.
“That is not acceptable in this rich country here. There is no need to be poor. We were not meant to be poor in our own homelands.”
Picard said he worries there is still a sentiment in Canada that reflects a quote he heard years ago from a Canadian aboriginal musician.
“He said being born an aboriginal in Canada is being born to fail.”
Picard said the current Conservative government has been a “total failure” on its relations with First Nations.
Jourdain proposed a hardline agenda for First Nations that doesn’t require the AFN leader to go “begging” to Ottawa.
He said the government is continuing a long tradition in which Canada has assimilated and “robbed” First Nations people.
“Turn our backs on Mr. Harper. Tell Mr. Harper to go take a hike. Because he is absolutely useless to the indigenous peoples, to the Indians across this country.
“He has continued the assault on us and believes that we are powerless. Let us show that we are not.”