Assembly of First Nations

Assembly of First Nations
Name	Assembly of First Nations
Native name	Assemblée des Premières Nations
Formation	1982
Type	First Nations advocacy organization
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Leader title	National Chief
Leader name	Cindy Woodhouse

Assembly of First Nations. The Assembly of First Nations is a national advocacy organization representing over 900,000 First Nations citizens in Canada. It emerged from the former National Indian Brotherhood and was formally established in 1982 following the patriation of the Constitution Act, 1982. The organization serves as a collective voice for First Nations chiefs across the country, advocating for the implementation of treaty rights, Aboriginal title, and self-determination.

History

The organization's origins trace back to the dissolution of the National Indian Brotherhood in the early 1980s. This transition was catalyzed by the political mobilization of First Nations leaders during the constitutional debates surrounding the Patriation of the Canadian Constitution. Key figures like National Chief Delbert Riley of the National Indian Brotherhood and later, first National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations David Ahenakew, were instrumental in its founding. A pivotal moment in its early history was its involvement in the First Ministers' Conferences on Aboriginal Constitutional Matters during the 1980s, which sought to enshrine Aboriginal rights in the constitution. The Assembly of First Nations has been a central participant in numerous historic events, including the Oka Crisis in 1990, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in the 1990s, and the Idle No More movement.

Structure and governance

The governing body is the Chiefs-in-Assembly, which consists of First Nations chiefs from each province and territory. This assembly convenes at least twice annually, including an annual General Assembly. The executive is led by an elected National Chief, supported by an Executive Committee that includes regional representatives from areas like British Columbia, Alberta, and the Atlantic region. Key administrative functions are managed through a secretariat located in Ottawa. The organization's structure is designed to reflect the diversity of First Nations, with caucuses for groups such as the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.

Political advocacy and issues

Its core advocacy focuses on the recognition and implementation of inherent and treaty rights. Central issues include securing adequate funding for First Nations education and healthcare, addressing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and advancing claims related to land rights and resource development. The organization played a significant role in the opposition to the White Paper, 1969 and has been a persistent critic of the Indian Act. It actively engages in international forums, such as the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, to highlight issues facing Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Relationship with the Canadian government

The relationship is complex, characterized by both negotiation and contention. The Assembly of First Nations engages in high-level discussions with the Prime Minister of Canada and federal departments like Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. It was a key party to the Kelowna Accord in 2005 and has been involved in numerous modern treaty and self-government negotiations. However, the relationship has often been strained, evidenced by disputes over federal legislation, such as the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, and responses to national inquiries like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Member First Nations and representation

Membership is composed of over 600 First Nations communities from coast to coast to coast. Representation is organized through provincial and territorial organizations, including the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, and the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs. These regional bodies channel local concerns to the national assembly. The diverse membership encompasses nations from the Dene in the Northwest Territories to the Mi'kmaq in the Maritimes, and the Anishinaabe in Ontario.

Leadership and notable figures

Leadership is vested in the elected National Chief. Notable past leaders include founding National Chief David Ahenakew, followed by influential figures such as Georges Erasmus, Ovide Mercredi, Phil Fontaine, and Shawn A-in-chut Atleo. Each has shaped the organization's direction, from the constitutional battles of the 1980s led by Mercredi to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement advocacy under Fontaine. The current National Chief is Cindy Woodhouse, who succeeded RoseAnne Archibald. Other prominent figures associated with the organization include Perry Bellegarde and regional chiefs like Ghislain Picard of Quebec and Labrador.

Category:First Nations organizations Category:Indigenous rights in Canada Category:Political advocacy groups in Canada