National Chief Perry Bellegarde – Update on AFN Actions this Summer – Net Newsledger
28 July 2015
OTTAWA – The Assembly of First Nations 36th Annual General Assembly (AGA) took place July 7-9, 2015 in Montréal, Québec. More than 1,000 delegates and observers gathered in Haudenosaunee (Mohawk) territory to discuss key issues and plan strategies and a path forward to advance First Nations priorities. Hundreds more followed the proceedings online through the AGA webcast.
The Assembly heard from federal party leaders Thomas Mulcair (New Democratic Party) Justin Trudeau (Liberal) and Elizabeth May (Green Party). The leaders made important public commitments to Close the Gap and to eliminate the 2% cap, which we have long known is really a cap on prosperity and opportunity for First Nations and Canada. It is a failed policy that holds all of us back. All three leaders also agreed to support many of the ideas First Nations are putting forward, including a high level Cabinet table to deal with any laws or initiatives that affect our people; a mandatory review of any new or existing laws or policies to ensure they are consistent with our rights and Treaties; and commitments to honouring the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Each party leader put forward approaches for working in partnership with First Nations. The key for all of us is to hold the parties and their leaders to the commitments made to First Nations.
