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AFN Annual General Assembly heads to Treaty 4 territory

Jul 24, 2017 | 12:00 PM

Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders from across Canada will be gathering in Regina this week for the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) 38th annual general assembly.

This year’s theme will be Our Priority: Our Children Our Future, and will focus on closing the funding gap and building relationships between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community.

“The meetings that take place over the course of the next week will set the tone for the coming year as we continue our fight for our Inherent and Treaty rights as First Nations people,” Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Chief Bobby Cameron said.

AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said he looks forward to working with Chiefs, Elders mothers, grandmothers and youth as the organization lays out its priorities for the next year. It’s a homecoming of sorts for the National Chief; he calls Little Black Bear First Nation, in Treaty 4 territory, home. 

The gathering will take place at Evraz Place. A networking event at the capital’s Delta hotel kicks things off, while an official grand entry takes place on July 25 at 9 a.m.

Following the lunch break on July 25, a group of federal ministers are set to address the gathering. Ministers Carolyn Bennett, Ralph Goodale, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Catherine McKenna are confirmed to speak.

Ethan Bear, a member of the Ochapowace Nation and Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman who won the WHL’s defenceman of the year in 2017 will be honoured at the gathering.

Among topics to be discussed during the assembly are education, environment and climate change, gaming, early childhood care and learning, water, housing and infrastructure and economic development.

Marion Buller, the commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is listed on the assembly’s schedule as “to be confirmed.” She’s slated to speak on July 26 after lunch according to the schedule issued on July 7.

The AFN’s and National Indian Brotherhood’s audited financial statements will also be released during the assembly.

The gathering concludes with the FSIN’s annual Spirit of Our Nation’s Powwow, which is being hosted early this year. The powwow will take place at Saulteaux Crossing, at the Dewdney Avenue and Pinkie Road junction. Grand Entries are at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

 

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas