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Youth Plea to Chiefs at AFN Assembly

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An emotional plea to Chiefs attending the Assembly of First Nations general assembly in Vancouver from members of its youth council.

They’re asking Chiefs to refocus their attention on matters that impact youth.

The Council’s co-chair Rosalie LaBillois says they feel forgotten amidst the political squabbling.

“For every Chief who has gotten away with capturing the attention of this assembly while our children are once again put aside to seek political ambitions that have taken the attention away from the matters which we proclaim to matter most to us and our children,” says LaBillois.

LaBillois also expressed disappointment with Chiefs leaving Tuesday’s meeting during a blanket dance for the family of a missing five-year-old in Saskatchewan.

“Each and everyone of you have the opportunity to support the family of a child that has gone missing. And when our Youth Council has seen a room of empty chairs to support him, our hearts were broken.”

Youth council members say it’s important that their leaders are listening to their voices.

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Suspension of National Chief Rejected at AFN Assembly

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A vote to suspend Assembly of First Nations National Chief Roseanne Archibald has been rejected by Chiefs at their general assembly in Vancouver.

The emergency resolution was brought forward after the AFN’s Executive Committee, last month, suspended Archibald over complaints.

Archibald told Chiefs the real reason was her failure to authorize a million dollars in staff payouts.

“I refused. I knew it was wrong. Funding that I am entrusted with is meant to help you,” Archibald said before the vote.

Archibald also said her suspension by the Executive Committee, which is made up of regional chiefs, was illegal because it didn’t have the power to do so.

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Chief Rosanne Casimir had moved the motion at the assembly.

“It’s just about a confidential investigation, and that’s something that we all want. We want that not only at the AFN level but within our own communities. And when we’re looking at policies, it’s about building stronger communities. To me, this is embarrassing,” says Casimir.

Chiefs are still to vote on a non-confidence motion this morning.

They will also consider another that calls for a forensic audit of the organization.

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Feds Reach Agreement On Indigenous Child Welfare

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The federal government is providing a 40 billion dollar settlement for indigenous child welfare.

Cindy Woodhouse is with the Assembly of First Nations and says the agreement will be worked out over the next few months.

“The final settlement agreement will contain provisions on eligibility for compensation and the application process,” states Woodhouse.

“Work towards long-term reform will include AFN facilitated engagement sessions with all regions.”

Woodhouse adds almost half of the $40 billion settlement will go towards reparations.

“All of our children and communities going forward will benefit from the $19.8 billion in new investments and first nation-designed program and services to deal with the root causes of family breakdown. Like substandard housing, poverty, substance abuse, and multi-generational trauma.”

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says poverty can not be a reason children are taken away from their families and part of the agreement will pay for new housing in first nations.

Hajdu says while this is an agreement in principle, work now begins on finalizing the settlement agreements.

Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishinawbe Aski Nation, Bobby Narcisse says part of the settlement will include remote first nations in the far north.

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First Nations Launch Federal Lawsuit

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The Assembly of First Nations has filed a federal class action lawsuit to seek damages and justice for First Nations children who it says have been discriminated against by the government’s child welfare system.

The suit alleges that Canada’s funding was “discriminatory” because the federal system created an incentive to remove First Nations children from their families and put them in out-of-home care.

It states the government failed to account for different needs among First Nations in different locations and funding for First Nations children on-reserve fell far short of what was allotted to children off-reserve.

AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde says “year after year, generation after generation, Canada systemically discriminated against First Nations children and families simply because they were First Nations.”

Bellegarde adds “Canada breached its responsibility to our children and families, infringed on their Charter rights, and caused them real harm and suffering.”