New funding agreement should be dictated by chiefs: FSIN Chief
A recently announced funding agreement between the federal government and Indigenous communities should be constructed with the guidance of local chiefs according to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN).
At the Assembly of First Nation’s winter meetings in December, Indigenous Services Minster Jane Philpott announced a new funding agreement for Indigenous communities in good financial standing.
Currently, Indigenous communities are funded on a yearly basis; the proposed agreement would see the length increased to 10 years. Although the agreement is still in the very early stages, FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron is already relaying messages to the government on behalf of Indigenous communities.
“What we did relay to Minister Philpott is, the solutions are in our First Nation chief and councils and their communities,” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said. “You’re not going to find any better answers or any better results; you have to deal directly with these First Nations.”