On Wednesday, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde told a crowd of aboriginal youths they will play a key role in helping to “close the gap” in the quality of life between aboriginals and non-aboriginals.
Bellegarde spoke to the FSIN Youth Assembly in Saskatoon about the AFN’s “Closing the Gap” document, which outlines its election priorities.
He encouraged the youths to get out and vote on October 19.
“Our vote matters, our people matter, our priorities matter and our issues matter,” says Bellegarde. “We want to get that message out to any potential Member of Parliament or Prime Minister that essentially First Nations issues are Canada’s issues.”
The National Chief stated that closing the gap could add $400 billion to the country’s economy, and that young First Nations people are important in that goal.
“They are future leaders, they will be policy makers and decision makers…so that’s how they can close the gap,” says the National Chief.
Chief Bellegarde also encouraged the youth to be leaders in their communities and said that not all leaders are elected.
The youth assembly will wrap up Wednesday afternoon with elections of the youth delegates to the FSIN and AFN.