Scotiabank Convention Centre
2016 Annual General Assembly Objectives Consistent with the AFN Charter, Assemblies provide First Nations Chiefs or their designated representatives a forum at which they can: Develop consensus on fundamental issues and common interests affecting First Nations. Discuss political strategy and policy issues on key topics such as health and wellness, land rights and claims, education, residential schools, governance, environment, economic partnerships, community safety and social development. ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DAY ONE Tuesday, July 12, 2016 6:30 a.m. PIPE CEREMONY Ralph Johnson Scotiabank Convention Centre, Hall B 7:30 a.m. REGISTRATION Scotiabank Convention Centre, Hall B, Foyer 9:00 a.m. TRADE SHOW Scotiabank Convention Centre, Hall A 5:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. GRAND ENTRY Scotiabank Convention Centre, Hall B 9:00 a.m. OPENING PRAYER VETERANS WELCOME Elder Dave Williams Bob Johnson 9:20 a.m. WELCOMING Chief Ava Hill, Six Nations Regional Chief Isadore Day, Ontario Niagara Falls Mayor David Diodati Member of Provincial Parliament Wayne Gates Minister David Zimmer, Ontario Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation 10:00 a.m. PROCEDURE Adoption of Rules and Agenda 10:15 a.m. KEYNOTE National Chief Perry Bellegarde 10:35 a.m. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Honourable Jody Wilson Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada 11:05 a.m. NEW FISCAL RELATIONSHIP MOU SIGNING 11:30 a.m. RCMP RELATIONSHIP PROTOCOL SIGNING 12:00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK Minister Carolyn Bennett, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada National Chief Perry Bellegarde Commissioner Bob Paulson National Chief Perry Bellegarde 2
ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DAY ONE Tuesday, July 12, 2016 1:00 p.m. TRI-COUNCIL REPORTS National Elders Council National Women s Council National Youth Council 1:30 p.m. REPORT AFN Management Committee Audited Financial Statements 1:50 p.m. HONOURINGS Chief Marie Anne Day Walker-Pelletier, Okanese First Nation, SK Grand Chief Edward John, First Nations Summit, BC Elder Billy Two Rivers, Kahnawake, QC 2:10 p.m. FEDERAL LAW AND POLICY REVIEW One of the key commitments of the Government of Canada is to undertake a review of laws, policies and operational practices to ensure they are consistent with Canada s constitutional and international human rights obligations. In accordance with the Prime Minister s mandate letters review will be undertaken in full partnership with First Nations. 3:00 p.m. MOVING BEYOND THE INDIAN ACT There is a broad consensus that the Indian Act is an obstacle. There must be alternatives to claims and self-government policies that seek to terminate rights. First Nations and Canada need to move beyond the Indian Act and re-establish nation-to-nation relationships between First Nations and the Crown. The purpose of this session will be to provide a forum to discuss strategies for moving beyond the Indian Act. 3:50 p.m. YOUNG VOICES Young people gathered in Niagara to share their concerns as well as articulate a vision for their futures. This plenary session will be an opportunity for them to speak directly to the Chiefs in Assembly about what conditions are necessary for them to have hope and reach their full potential. 4:30 p.m. PROTOCOL Chiefs of Ontario 6:00 p.m. IndigenACTION: Annual 5 KM Run/Walk in Honour of Tom Longboat Hilton Lobby 5:30-7:30 p.m. Side Session: Gaming SCC PELLER ESTATES B 6:00-7:00 p.m. Side Session: Nechi Institute SCC PELLER ESTATES A 7:00-8:30 p.m. Survivors Rowe Film and Presentation SCC FALLSVIEW THEATRE A 3
ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DAY TWO Wednesday, July 13, 2016 6:30 a.m. IndigenACTION: Rise n Shine Yoga HILTON HOTEL 6:30 a.m. PIPE CEREMONY SCC HALL B 7:30 a.m. REGIONAL CAUCUS SESSIONS Scotiabank Convention Centre Alberta Peller Estates B Atlantic Room 204 Ontario Peller Estates C Quebec Peller Estates D Manitoba Room 201/202 Saskatchewan Port Colboure Lounge Territories Room 205 British Columbia Peller Estates A 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. TRADE SHOW Scotiabank Convention Centre, Hall A 9:00 a.m. 1 ST CONCURRENT DIALOGUE AND STRATEGY SESSIONS Hall B Peller Estates D Peller Estates A Education This session will focus on an update from CCOE and NIEC on the path forward for First Nations K-12 education, following from resolution #35/2014 which calls for the engagement in an honourable process with the Government of Canada as outlined in the draft Framework for a Federal Act for First Nation Education adopted by Chiefs in Assembly. CCOE and NIEC will outline a suggested engagement process and next steps to address the ongoing chronic underfunding of First Nation education. The session will also include a review of education related resolutions. Land Rights and Claims Land Rights and Claims encompass several distinct areas, most notably comprehensive and specific claims as well as additions to reserves (ATR). With the recent change in governments, and the commitment to work with First Nations to fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a critical opportunity may exist to advance these issues. The session will begin with an update on each policy area, and then provide participants the opportunity to engage in a dialogue regarding possible ways to advance each issue. Fisheries AFN Fisheries will provide an overview on national fisheries priorities that includes a new proposed interdepartmental process to address federal legislative reforms, policy reviews and opportunities that will advance and support the collective interests of First Nation fisheries in co-management and governance regimes. This interactive session will provide opportunities for discussions and elicit input on a proposed multi-agency process, the National Aquaculture Working Group, National Indigenous Fisheries Forum, implementation of Supreme Court Decisions and the endpoint cabinet directive that impacts fish allocations. 4
Peller Estates B Peller Estates C 10:35 a.m. ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DAY TWO Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Water/Housing/Infrastructure Budget 2016 offers an unprecedented opportunity to address the infrastructure needs for First Nations. The majority of the $4.6 billion available is targeted for First Nation projects in the areas of housing, water and wastewater, waste management, shelters and community infrastructure. The session will start by providing an overview of the budget and a discussion of the time constraints imposed on spending during the first two fiscal years. A facilitated dialogue session will follow, providing participants with summary of discussions to date and seeking input on the way forward from the audience. The session will close with a presentation from Office of Native American Programs, U.S. Department of Housing Development, explaining how the housing program for US Tribes is managed. Economic Development This strategic session will offer information on the key dialogue outcomes from the First Nations Energy Forum held in Vancouver, BC in February 2016. This session will include two additional and distinct updates on First Nations labour market and federal strategy renewal, as well as an overview on work toward a First Nations gaming and lottery scoping paper. The session is an opportunity to provide advice to the Chiefs Committees on Economic Development and the Chiefs Committee on Human Resources Development. 2 ND CONCURRENT DIALOGUE AND STRATEGY SESSIONS Peller Estates A Hall B Peller Estates B Peller Estates C 12:00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK Life Promotion for Youth This session will be youth led and focused on initiatives that seek to improve outcomes for First Nations youth through various sectors that include health and social development, economic development, education and environment. Young people will share their expectations of leadership to create the necessary conditions for them to be nurtured and thrive in their families and communities. Emergency Management The four pillars of emergency management are mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and forest fire suppression activities. Emergency events are becoming more severe and frequent due to climate change and First Nations are impacted more acutely. This session will provide an update on emergency management issues affecting First Nations and an opportunity for two supportive partners, the Red Cross and Transport Canada, to share their comments on their roles. Child Protection (solutions and authorities) The intent of this session is to explore the possibility and potential of First Nation s (Indigenous) Child Protection jurisdictional mechanisms. Key leaders who have successfully achieved jurisdictional control and consequently improved safety, security and stability for First Nations children will share how other First Nations can do the same. In addition, suggested strategies to ensure the full and proper implementation of the historic Human Rights Tribunal s decisions in the provision of child welfare services and Jordan s Principle will also be offered. Economic Development Continued from morning session 5
ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DAY TWO Wednesday, July 13, 2016 1:00 p.m. CLIMATE ACTION & ENVIRONMENT HALL B Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment & Climate Change 1:20 p.m. DIRECTION FORWARD/RESOLUTIONS Education Land Rights and Claims - HALL B Fisheries Water/Housing/Infrastructure Futures for Youth Emergency Management Child Protection Economic Development 4:00 p.m. OTHER RESOLUTIONS 5:00-7:00 p.m. Side Session: Food Security/Chronic Waste SCC Peller Estates A 5:00 p.m. Our Sisters in Spirit Film Screening Fallsview Theatre A A Celebration of Six Nations: The Artists All Star Talent Showcase Scotiabank Convention Centre, Hall C 6:00 P.M. ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DAY THREE Thursday, July 14, 2016 6:00 a.m. IndigenACTION: Wake up! Shake Up! Zumba! HILTON HOTEL 6:30 a.m. PIPE CEREMONY SCC-HALL B 7:30-8:45 a.m. REGIONAL CAUCUS SESSIONS SCC HALL B Alberta Peller Estates B Atlantic Room 204 Ontario Peller Estates C Quebec Peller Estates D Manitoba- Room 201/202 Saskatchewan Port Colbourne Lounge Territories Room 205 British Columbia Peller Estates A 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. TRADE SHOW Scotiabank Convention Centre, Hall A 6
9:00 a.m. 10:25 a.m. Peller Estates A Hall B Peller Estates B 10:35 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Peller Estates A Peller Estates C Hall B ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DAY THREE Thursday, July 14, 2016 1 st CONCURRENT STRATEGY AND DIALOGUE SESSIONS Climate Action The Assembly of First Nations seeks to support First Nations as leaders with respect to the environment by helping to ensure access to information needed for sound decision-making and the exercise of First Nations responsibilities. This includes the establishment of a newly created AFN Advisory Committee on Climate Action and the Environment. This session will focus on work that is underway in preparation for the next Conference of the Parties (COP 22) on climate change that takes place in Morocco in November 2016. Safety and Security for Indigenous Women and Girls In 2015, the Prime Minister s mandate letter to Minister of Indigenous Northern Affairs, Status of Women and Justice and Attorney General of Canada states: develop in collaboration, an approach to, and a mandate for, an inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in Canada. An update on the inquiry process will be shared together with key actions federal and provincial/territorial partners from the National Roundtable on MMIWG can take immediately to create conditions that keep Indigenous women and girls safe and secure. Languages In 2015, the Prime Minister s mandate letter to the newly appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage states: Work in collaboration with the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs to provide new funding to promote, preserve and enhance Indigenous languages and cultures. Recognition, respect, co-operation and partnership are the principles by which the newly elected government has promised to work. During this session, panelists will update the Chiefs-in-Assembly on the progress to date and plans going forward. 2 nd CONCURRENT STRATEGY AND DIALOGE SESSIONS Climate Action Continued from morning session First Nations Health Governance and Implementing Jurisdiction This strategy session will provide information on the work of the Chiefs Committee on Health (CCOH) and the AFN Health team, health priorities and important upcoming activities, including work related to the Health Accord. For the first time, First Nations, Inuit and Metis will be included in the Health Accord discussions that set broad priorities for the provincial and territorial health systems across the country. This session will outline the work of identifying First Nations health priorities to date and the plan moving forward. In addition, updates will be provided on the NIHB Joint Review and 2016 AGA Health-related resolutions. Policing and Public Safety This session will examine and advance solutions related to the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission s calls to action related to justice and safety. Dialogue will be focused upon bridging gaps in services within the justice system, supporting community safety plans and protocols, important roles and responsibilities of urban police forces as well as the essential nature and sustainability of First Nations police services. 7
ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DAY THREE Thursday, July 14, 2016 Treaty Implementation and Enforcement Canada was built on Treaty. Canada s history reflects a long commitment to treaty-making. Within this long history, Treaty holders have expressed concerns about the Crown s Peller Estates B commitment to Treaty enforcement and implementation. This dialogue session will bring together both Crown and First Nation speakers to discuss the current state of the Treaty relationship in Canada. 12:00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK 1:00 p.m. IN MEMORIUM HALL B 1:15 p.m. RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL UPDATES NIB Trust Fund / Audit and Finance Committee Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars Class Action AIP 1:40 p.m. AFOA Canada 1:45 p.m. DIRECTION FORWARD/ RESOLUTIONS Climate Action Safety and Security for Indigenous Women and Girls Languages Health Priorities Policing and Public Safety Treaty Implementation and Enforcement 4:00 p.m. RESOLUTIONS/DECISION MAKING LATE RESOLUTIONS 4:30 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS CLOSING CEREMONIES 8