The Assembly of First Nations heads into its annual general assembly next week during one of the most contentious times in Indigenous politics in recent memory.
Earlier in the year, the grassroots movement Idle No More erupted in opposition to the Harper government’s Bill C-45 and some First Nations leaders have begun to question the AFN’s ability to stand up to the federal government and move important issues forward.
Rather than attend the assembly, a group of Indigenous leaders have also decided instead to host their own national meeting on the Onion Lake Cree Nation as an alternative to the AFN in advancing these issues — but the organization’s leader, National Chief Shawn Atleo, says he takes it all in stride.
“At times, meetings will happen concurrently and I think the call for treaty implementation and for the honouring of treaties is something where there’s a broad sense of unity and consensus that’s required,” he says. “It is, I think, also a reflection of the great challenge all of us feel getting, especially government, to meaningfully come to the table.”
Atleo also stresses it is the role of his organization to facilitate issues of importance, but up to the individual First Nations to implement treaties with the federal government.
Some of the issues that will be discussed at the assembly include displacing the Indian Act with other solutions, First Nations sustainability and growth, driving an economic future and treaty implementation of education rights.
The AFN annual general assembly takes place in Whitehorse, Yukon, from July 16-18.
The national treaty gathering in Onion Lake runs from July 14-18.