AFN Bulletin – December 2015
AFN Bulletin – December 2015
AFN Special Chiefs Assembly December 8-10, Gatineau,Quebec
More than 1200 Chiefs and delegates attended the AFN Special Chiefs Assembly (SCA) in Gatineau, Quebec December 8 through 10. The three day Assembly, focused on the theme “Shaping Our Future and Closing the Gap: Inherent and Treaty Rights, Reconciliation, Relationships”, showcased a new era of hope and opportunity.
Prime Minister Trudeau spoke at the start of the SCA – the first time a sitting Prime Minister has addressed an AFN Assembly – and Chiefs and delegates were encouraged by has commitments to a total renewal of the nation-to-nation relationship between First Nations and Canada. The Assembly honoured Truth and Reconciliation Chair Justice Murray Sinclair and Commissioners Chief Wilton Littlechild and Dr. Marie Wilson, along with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Executive Director Cindy Blackstock – each for their efforts to close the gap in quality of life between First Nations and the rest of Canada. Chiefs-in-Assembly welcomed the N’we Jinan Artists, students from Pierre Elliot Trudeau Elementary School, for a live performance of their song “Important to Us”.
Special guests included Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Hunter Tootoo, the Right Honourable Paul Martin, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Native Women’s Association of Canada President Dawn Harvard. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould also attended and met with delegates.
The Assembly included discussion and decision-making in priority areas, including addressing and ending violence against Indigenous women and girls; implementing the TRC Calls to Action; health; housing, infrastructure and water; child welfare; education; revitalizing Indigenous languages; day scholars class action; the environment; AFN restructuring and nation building; and the launch of applications for education programs by the National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund. 37 resolutions were passed by Chiefs-in-Assembly, with three put to the AFN Executive for decision and direction. Resolutions are available at www.afn.ca.
COP 21 UN Conference on Climate Change FinalAgreement
The final agreement from the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was announced on December 12. The agreement sets the goal of limiting average global temperature rise to 2° C, with an additional aspirational target of getting to 1.5° C; a five-year review cycle starting in 2018 to evaluate and strengthen national action plans towards the goal of zero emissions; financing to help developing and vulnerable nations to deal with the impacts of climate change; and linking climate adaptation goals to mitigation.
The AFN sees the agreement as a floor rather than a ceiling. States must act to exceed the minimum standards. There is concern that the agreement only acknowledges Indigenous rights and traditional knowledge and urges states to recognize them. First Nations and many Indigenous peoples wanted stronger language to ensure respect and implementation of Indigenous rights. The AFN is calling on states to ensure that all efforts resulting from the agreement involve Indigenous peoples and respect Indigenous rights. These rights are not optional in fighting climate change.
National Chief Bellegarde participated in COP 21 as part of Canada’s official delegation and was one of Canada’s representatives at the opening plenary. The AFN NWT Regional Chief Bill Erasmus was at COP 21 for most of the discussions, along with AFN officials. The AFN commends the Canadian delegation and Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna for championing Indigenous rights at COP 21. First Nations and Canada can together lead by example and demonstrate that implementing the rights of Indigenous peoples is the best way to address climate change.
Here at home, First Nations expect to participate in the follow-up gathering of federal and provincial leaders that the Prime Minister says he will call within 90 days, and also expect to be part of the development of any national energy strategy consistent with our rights and responsibilities to our traditional territories. First Nations traditional knowledge and approaches to sustainable, responsible development have much to offer these discussions.
Truth and Reconciliation & Meeting with PrimeMinister
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its final report in Ottawa December 15. National Chief Bellegarde, together with portfolio lead Regional Chief Morley Googoo and Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, attended the event to receive the report on behalf of the AFN, a party to the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) of 2007.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed former students and their families, Commissioners and representatives of the parties to the IRSSA. He apologized for the country’s failings and recommitted to working together with Indigenous peoples to implement the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, noting that reconciliation will go beyond the scope of the Calls to Action. Prime Minister Trudeau announced plans to work with First Nations, Indigenous leaders, provinces and territories and all key parties to design a national engagement strategy for developing and implementing a national reconciliation framework, informed by the TRC’s recommendations. This was the focus a meeting of the leaders of National Aboriginal Organizations and the Prime Minister December 16, 2015.
Happy Holidays!
Thank you to all those who attended the AFN Winter Celebration in Ottawa December 10. The AFN offers best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to continuing to serve and advocate for First Nation priorities in the new year!
