AFN Eager To Improve Ties With Friendship Centres

AFN Eager To Improve Ties With Friendship Centres

Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 13:24

An official with the Assembly of First Nations admits protests outside the Kelowna Accord meetings last fall highlighted a need for better communication with Canada’s Indian and Metis friendship centres.

Jennifer Brennan says that’s part of the reason why the AFN has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Association of Friendship Centres.

Brennan says her organization also wants to see more involvement from the frienship centres as the AFN develops its policy on urban issues.

She says the friendship centres incorrectly assumed urban Aboriginal issues were being ignored when the Kelowna Accord was being signed by the AFN and other Native groups.

Brennan feels the protests outside those meetings were the result of a misunderstanding and a lack of communication that she hopes this new agreement will put to rest.

AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine says the MOU with the friendship centres is the first step to what he believes will be a mutually-beneficial relationship.