Chiefs from First Nations across Ontario gathered in Ottawa this week to meet with federal opposition leader Thomas Mulcair and members of his caucus, as well as Liberal critic for Aboriginal Affairs Carolyn Bennett. Chiefs pushed both parties to consider critical First Nations priorities in their upcoming election platforms including...
Pushing forward: a reflection on 2014
As 2014 winds down and comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the incredible amount of progress Indigenous peoples have made this year in several high-impact areas. From education, to child welfare, to treaty work, our communities have spent this year exercising their jurisdiction in more and more...
Critical dialogue needed with respect to a First Nation Education Act
The proposed First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act falls far short of the five conditions set out by the National Chiefs Assembly. We had hoped that, based on the massive rejection of the First Nations Education Act, the federal government would have collaborated with First Nations in a...
Letter to Minister Valcourt – First Nations Education
Honourable Bernard Valcourt Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H4 Minister Valcourt, Your refusal to meet with First Nations leadership to discuss Bill C-33,First Nations Control of First Nation Education Actis inconsistent with the honour of the Crown. On May 15th, 2014, the...
An open letter to the Prime Minister on Bill C-33
he Right Honourable Stephen Harper Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington St. Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Subject: Open Letter to the Prime Minister on Bill C-33 (to be published) Dear Prime Minister, Since 1867, the Government of Canada has been paternalistic and adversarial in denying our inherent rights that...