Assembly of First Nations

The 633 chiefs in the assembly had three days to hear out the promises and platforms of the eight candidates for leadership of the Assembly of First Nations.  There was the opportunity to re-elect the incumbent, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, and then there were the seven candidates who opposed Chief Atleo's re-election. 

They all spoke of sovereignty and the vital importance of land rights.  They spoke of the plight of many of their constituents living in isolated communities, but in all likelihood forebore to mention the band councils and the chiefs of those bands whose administration of band affairs have been rather less than sterling.

Each candidate was given a specific length of time to state their position.  All of them mentioned how critical the situation was for too many First Nations.  They don't represent the interests of Metis and Inuit.  All of them resist the abolition of the Indian Act, and the integration of aboriginal Canadians into the greater society of the Canadian population.

They reject assimilation because they have no interest in being viewed as merely yet another ethnic group.  They are the first inhabitants of the land now called Canada, the inheritors of the land.  All those who arrived much later, the Europeans, were 'immigrants', people who had the effrontery to consider themselves superior in their intellectual and practical endowments.

People who felt it to be fair and just to lay claim to land that the First Nations people shared among themselves.

A great issue is resource extraction on land that First Nations consider to be theirs.  They insist on having input into whatever decisions are made with respect to resource extraction.  And with that shared decision-making would come also a share in the proceeds to be had through that same resource extraction on land to which First Nations lay claim.

The AFN Regional Chief of Alberta spoke of the need surrounding resource-revenue sharing.  Another competitor spoke of the importance of traditional languages and the federal government's duty to consult with First Nations before even thinking of resource extraction development.  A five-term former chief of Manitoba's Roseau River First Nation spoke of his solution to issues of poverty.

He would sell resources from indigenous lands directly to the United States, bypassing the Government of Canada entirely.  Another, a Mi'kmaw lawyer and Ryerson University professor informed the assembly that, if elected, she would be a strong advocate, work to educate the public on Canada's history.  She would be prepared to counter "the right-wing agenda" of the government.

Prevention of the "ongoing colonization against our people", was front and centre.  Dene Leader, AFN Regional Chief in the North would continue to battle resource extraction that was not inclusive of propserity for First Nations.  Principally the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. 

As for Shawn Atleo, he pledged his ongoing attention to the vital work on "resetting" the relationship between First Nations and Canada.  His emphasis as well was on furthering the quality of education for young aboriginals.  He asked the voting chiefs for a second mandate to continue and complete the trajectory of his work.

And he got it.