New coalition wants to repair Canada’s relationship with Aboriginal peoples – Nunatsiaq News
“There’s a real need to educate each other on the huge challenges we face”
A new coalition made up of prominent politicians and Aboriginal leaders launched Sept. 4 with the goal of rebuilding the country’s relationship with indigenous peoples.
Canadians for a New Partnership launched in Ottawa with the signing of a declaration calling for restored trust and respect for Aboriginal and treaty rights.
The group’s membership hopes this will achieve better living conditions, better education and more economic opportunities for Aboriginal groups across the country.
Inuit leader and activist Mary Simon is co-chair of the group’s board of directors and one of three Inuit members.
She said she was approached by former Northwest Territories premier Stephen Kakfwi last year, as the Idle No More movement gathered momentum, to help create a forum for indigenous issues.
“It was a compelling invitation,” Simon said. “As a national Inuit leader, while I was on speaking tours, I just found that Canadians in general didn’t know much about Inuit or First Nations and the situation we find ourselves in.
