Three Years of Progress
Combining leadership experience—as Little Black Bear First Nation Chief, TFHQ Tribal Council and Treaty Four Representative, as FSIN Chief—with a clear focus on outcomes has led to significant progress during Perry Bellegarde’s first term as National Chief. The Assembly of First Nations has reconnected with First Nations across our territories. And National Chief Bellegarde advanced a vision for progress that reflects the collective wisdom and priorities of First Nations and peoples.
The result of his advocacy and vision is three years of progress in fiscal matters, social and economic development as well as the rights agenda.
$17 Billion to Indigenous people's priorities
Almost $17 Billion, to take effect over 7 fiscal years has been invested or committed to Indigenous peoples' priorities in the last three federal budgets. This is unprecedented in AFN history. It far surpasses the terms of the Kelowna Accord which had contemplated $5 Billion over 10 years. The funding is now flowing .
$2.6 Billion committed to on-reserve education
$2.6 Billion was committed to on-reserve education in the 2016 Federal Budget. Later, $.7 Billion was allocated for direct transfers to First Nations governments for education purposes. That moves First Nations closer to controlling and transforming First Nations education. There remains more room for improvement in the funding of First Nations education, but this is a very large step in the right direction.
Fiscal RelationshipMakes
First Nations can now carry forward funding from one year to the next, which is of real significance, as that enables First Nations to undertake long-term planning as well as enhanced project and service management. Further, as a result of recent policy changes, an estimated 100 First Nations will qualify for ten year transfers.
First Nations Languages
First Nations languages are fundamental to who we are as peoples. AFN is co-developing a federal law for the revitalization, reclamation and maintenance of First Nations languages as supported by the Chiefs-in-Assembly.
$1.4 Billion committed to child welfare
A $1.4 Billion (over 6 years) federal commitment to child welfare is now reaching First Nations following the hard won 2016 court case against Canada and numerous compliance orders. That means significantly increased resources are finally available to First Nations children and families in need. We will not stop fighting until we end federal policies that discriminate against First Nations children and young people.
UN Declaration Implementation
Under National Chief Perry Bellegarde’s leadership, the AFN urged the current government and all federal parties to support Private Members Bill C-262, which has been passed by the House of Commons and is in the Senate. The Bill will require the federal government to work with First Nations to develop a national action plan to support implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration). This Bill is a means of implementing key Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Chiefs-in-Assembly have expressed their support for this Bill..
Effective Advocacy
Overall, the AFN has, in the past three years, held the federal government accountable for commitments it made in 2015 – investments in First Nations education, revitalizing our languages, removing the 2% funding cap, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry, and the Federal Law & Policy Review.