Background Content:
Exploring Theme: "Assembly of First Nations"
Updates on this page: 33
October 30, 2024
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak Welcomes Release of the Final Report and the Indigenous-led Reparations Framework for Missing and Disappeared Children and Unmarked Burials
NationTalk: Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario — Today, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak issued the following statement welcoming the release of the Final Report and the Indigenous-Led Reparations Framework for Missing and Disappeared Children and Unmarked Burials, developed by Kimberly R. Murray, the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and...
October 24, 2024
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Parliamentary Wrap-Up – September 2023 – June 2024
NationTalk: The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is sharing the Parliamentary Wrap-Up Report, highlighting its parliamentary advocacy over the past year. In addition to parliamentary written submissions and committee appearances by representatives of the AFN, the AFN developed reports including the National Climate Strategy, the Position Paper on Bill S-13, An Act to amend the Interpretation Act...
September 23, 2024
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak Urges All Parties to Use the Fall Session of Parliament to Advance Reconciliation, Starting with Supporting First Nation Policing, Child Welfare Reform, and Clean Drinking Water
NationTalk: Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario – With the 10th Anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Final Report approaching in 2025, Assembly of First Nation (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak urged all Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators to use the fall House of Commons session to advance the TRC Calls to Action....
September 7, 2024
Cathy Merrick to lie in state at Manitoba legislature: premier
The AMC chief died suddenly Friday in Winnipeg. Cathy Merrick receives a star blanket after her historic election as the first female grand chief of AMC in 2022. Photo: Sav Jonsa/APTN. APTN News: A funeral reserved for top leaders in Manitoba has been announced for Cathy Merrick, the grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba...
September 6, 2024
Grand chief fought for others until her last breath
Winnipeg Free Press: In Indigenous communities, one of the primary ways an ogimaa — a chief or leader of the people — is evaluated is by asking the question: who eats last? A strong, effective leader ensures the less strong — especially elders, children, and those who cannot feed themselves — are fed before everyone...
September 6, 2024
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick remembered as ‘a force of strength’ as tributes pour in
1st woman to lead AMC died suddenly after collapsing outside Winnipeg court on Friday CBC News: Cathy Merrick, the first woman to become grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, is being remembered as a “remarkable leader” and a “true matriarch,” as tributes poured in from leaders across Canada after her sudden death on Friday. Merrick...
July 25, 2024
AMC Welcomes Back Sioux Valley Dakota Nation; Officially Advocates for Sixty-Three First Nations in Manitoba
NationTalk: Waywayseecappo, Treaty Four Territory – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is pleased to announce the return of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to the AMC member-Nations. The inclusion of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to the Chiefs-in-Assembly, means that the AMC now advocates for all 63 First Nations in Manitoba. AMC Grand Chief Cathy...
July 16, 2024
Assembly of First Nations Concludes 45th Annual General Assembly
NationTalk: Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak released the following statement at the conclusion of the AFN 45th Annual General Assembly (AGA) on the unceded territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation in Montreal, Québec: “We are grateful to all Chiefs, Proxies, Elders, youth, delegates, and others...
July 10, 2024
Probe of Assembly of First Nations finances finds no policy breaches, says confidential report
Accounting firm did preliminary assessment of specific allegations of improprieties CBC Indigenous: A preliminary probe into Assembly of First Nations finances found no apparent policy breaches but did see instances where internal control policies may not provide staff with enough clarity or guidance, says a confidential report obtained by CBC Indigenous. The review, done by accounting...
July 9, 2024
AFN national chief relays a message of positivity to open general assembly
“The message is if you want to win in this country, you have to start (listening) to First Nations… You have to start embracing this national movement to reconciliation and not oppose it.” Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak addresses the general assembly July 9. Windspeaker.com: The 45th annual general assembly of...
July 9, 2024
First Nations leaders from across Canada gather in Montreal for AFN annual general assembly
Assembly’s theme is ‘Strengthening our Relations’ CBC News: Delegates from hundreds of First Nations are meeting on Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) territory this week to discuss priorities. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN), a national advocacy organization for more than 630 First Nations, kicks off its 45th annual general assembly at Montreal’s Palais des congrès on Tuesday under the theme of...
June 14, 2024
Some assembly required: First Nations governance from the Haudenosaunee to the AFN
APTN News: Russ Diabo, a veteran policy analyst, has seen a lot. He joined Ovide Mercredi in the famous protest-burning of the Chretien Liberal campaign document known as the “Red Book” in 1996; he was at Wounded Knee in 1973 and has worked at the Assembly of First Nations and watched it develop over the years. Diabo,...
December 11, 2023
AFN receives strong message to stay out of treaty business
“You are not allowed to discuss treaties on my behalf. You are not allowed to discuss it on behalf of my children.” — Chief Ramona Horseman of Horse Lake First Nation, Alta., Treaty 8 Chief Lynn Acoose of Sakimay First Nation, Treaty 4. Photo by Ted Whitecalf. Correction made at Dec. 12 at 10 a.m...
December 8, 2023
Assembly of First Nations elects a new chief. Here’s her take on the climate file
Cindy Woodhouse, the new national chief of the AFN, addresses the assembly after her victory. Photo by Matteo Cimellaro / Canada’s National Observer CLIMATE JOURNALISM IS URGENT. HELP US RAISE $125,000 BY DECEMBER’S END. Goal: $125k $16,885 Donate Canada’s National Observer: Cindy Woodhouse was elected the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations...
December 7, 2023
‘Canada, we’re coming for you’: Cindy Woodhouse elected national chief of the Assembly of First Nations
Runner-up David Pratt throws his support behind Woodhouse and pleads for unity. National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Cindy Woodhouse, centre, is seen following a swearing-in ceremony during the third day of the special chiefs assembly in Ottawa. Photo: Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press. APTN News: Cindy Woodhouse is now at the helm of...
December 7, 2023
Cindy Woodhouse wins election for Assembly of First Nations national chief
Runner-up David Pratt conceded Thursday after 6 rounds of voting Wednesday night CBC News: Cindy Woodhouse was elected national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in Ottawa on Thursday, securing victory as runner-up David Pratt conceded. Following Pratt’s announcement, Woodhouse, 40, took the stage at the Shaw Centre, where she read the assembly’s...
December 6, 2023
AFN candidates pitch solutions to ‘bannock and tea issues’ facing First Nations people
Voting starts at special chiefs assembly in Ottawa. Candidates in the AFN national chief election wait for the debate to begin Tuesday in Ottawa. Photo: Mark Blackburn/APTN. APTN News: Sitting in the very back row of a conference centre in downtown Ottawa, Jakob Copenace listens intently to each of the candidates vying to become the...
December 5, 2023
Complex climate file faces new Assembly of First Nations chief
RoseAnne Archibald at a commemorative ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Canada’s National Observer: First Nations leadership from across the country will be descending on Ottawa to elect a new national chief, with questions remaining about how the new Assembly of First Nations leader will balance...
July 14, 2023
ONWA amplifying Indigenous women’s voices at Women Deliver 2023 Conference
NationTalk: Kigali, Rwanda – The Ontario Native Women’s Organization (ONWA) is participating in the highly anticipated Women Deliver 2023 Conference (WD2023), taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from July 16-20. ONWA’s delegates are eager to join the global conversation on gender equality and amplify the voices and advocacy of Indigenous women and youth on the global stage....
July 13, 2023
Assembly of First Nations Advance First Nations Priorities at Annual General Assembly
NationTalk: Halifax, Nova Scotia – The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) successfully concluded its three-day Annual General Assembly (AGA) in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw people. The AGA brought together more than 1500 First Nations leaders, citizens, and observers to set out the strategic direction for advancing First...
November 9, 2022
AFN – Canada Bilateral Meetings
https://www.afn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/06-MOU-on-Joint-Priorities.pdf...
May 1, 2020
AFN – Canada Bilateral Meetings
Implementation of initiatives begun during the previous mandate Fully implement Child and Family Services and Indigenous Languages legislation Develop a National Action Plan following Inquiry into MMIWG Continue to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action Continue support for nation re-building Address critical infrastructure needs Pan Indigenous Advance co-development of legislation to implement...
December 10, 2019
2019 Indigenous Economic Reconciliation Report
Launch of 2019 Indigenous Economic Reconciliation Report Recommendations on Reconciliation and Inclusive Economic Growth for Indigenous Peoples and Canada. The report was a result of a three-part series, in 2017 and 2018, on economic reconciliation and inclusive growth in Canada called “Expanding the Circle: What Reconciliation and Inclusive Economic Growth Can Mean for Indigenous Peoples...
September 19, 2019
New Fiscal Relationship: “Honouring Our Ancestors by Trailblazing a Path to the Future”
Joint Advisory Committee on Fiscal Relations (JACFR) presented their interim report,”Honouring Our Ancestors by Trailblazing a Path to the Future“, to the National Chief and Minister of Indigenous Services Canada in June 2019. Consistent with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) resolution 24/2019, the JACFR, the AFN and ISC will engage extensively with First Nations...
January 14, 2019
AFN – Canada Bilateral Meetings
The National Chief opened by speaking about the RCMP action on Wet’suwet’en lands the previous week. He stated that reconciliation requires that First Nations laws must be recognized, respected and upheld, and there must be room in Canada for not only common law and civil law, but recognition of First Nation law and jurisdiction too....
October 30, 2018
New Fiscal Relationship: First Nations Fiscal Management Act
The First Nations Fiscal Management Act has established a strong, framework that enables the 239 First Nations that have opted in to the Act to implement taxation and fiscal management, and access long-term financing to support economic and infrastructure development in their communities. Amendments to the First Nations Fiscal Management Act have been developed with...
March 26, 2018
AFN – Canada Bilateral Meetings
The purpose of this meeting was to discuss progress to date, as well as determine the way forward on co-developed initiatives including: Closing the socio-economic gap and ensuring that investments are continually made and are needed each and every year to close the gap. Working towards a new fiscal relationship that provides sufficient, predictable, and...
January 23, 2018
New Fiscal Relationship: Backgrounder
A New Fiscal Relationship Backgrounder: Ministry of Indigenous Services Current Challenges Government funding is often short-term, proposal and program-based, and prevents planning and flexibility to respond to local needs Reporting burden; a former Auditor General has reported that communities can be required to file more than 100 reports annually to fulfill funding obligations The Default...
October 3, 2017
AFN – Canada Bilateral Meetings
Items discussed in pre-meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau: Forgiving B.C. Treaty loans and advances as part of reconciliation; The need for the assumed sovereignty of the Crown to acknowledge, make space for, and respect First Nations inherent rights, title and jurisdiction; The need for the participation of all relevant Ministers in our next meeting under...
July 25, 2017
New Fiscal Relationship
Canada – First Nations New Fiscal Relations Working Group under the MOU put forward the following for official signature by AFN and INAC: The first change allows First Nations to carry over funding from year to year. Often, First Nations had to return funds not because they weren’t needed but because there was not enough...
June 12, 2017
AFN/Canada MOU on Joint Principles
AFN – Canada Priorities: Priority Response Policing and community safety issues affecting First Nations; See “Justice Call to Action # 42 “Aboriginal Justice Systems” Co-development of an Indigenous Languages Act to support the preservation, revitalization and strengthening of Indigenous Languages; Language and Culture. See Call to Action # 14: Aboriginal Languages Act Work in partnership...
June 12, 2017
AFN/Canada MOU on Joint Principles
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) calls for three meetings a year to assess progress on our shared priorities and confirm directions forward. These meetings provide an important opportunity to engage with the most senior federal ministers for open and constructive dialogue and to assess progress, identify obstacles and seek ways to advance our priorities. The...
July 12, 2016
New Fiscal Relationship
The Government of Canada is committed to lifting the 2 percent funding cap for First Nations programs and working to establish a new fiscal relationship that gives First Nations communities sufficient, predictable and sustained funding to ensure the overall wellbeing of First Nations. Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, and...