Native Leaders Anxious To See Election Platforms

Native Leaders Anxious To See Election Platforms

Monday, March 28, 2011 at 14:31

 

 

The chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says he isn’t going to tell First Nations people how to vote in the upcoming federal election.

 

However, Chief Guy Lonechild hopes they get out there and cast their ballots.

 

Lonechild also hopes that the leaders of the country’s major political parties include First Nations issues in their platforms.

 

He says education, healing, health programs and housing are likely the most important issues for First Nations.

 

Meanwhile, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says health and infrastructure are two of the top issues he’ll be looking to see covered in this spring’s election.

 

Shawn Atleo says the poverty gap between on-reserve residents and the rest of Canada has to be reduced.

 

Atleo says he was largely disappointed by what he saw in the federal budget last week for First Nations issues.

 

However, on the topic of education, he says the Conservative government has given some signs it is listening to his group’s concerns.

 

He says the AFN was able to secure a commitment from the Tories to establish a joint process in which a report on education would be ready for the country’s First Nations chiefs by July.

 

Atleo says the task now is to see what the other parties are thinking.

 

The chief says before the election writ came down, there was also a call to renew the treaty relationship.

 

He says he will also be watching to see what all the parties say when it comes to the question of sharing resources.