The blitz begins on Tuesday, when Trudeau delivers a speech in Gatineau to a special meeting of chiefs from the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the country’s largest aboriginal group.
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Trudeau told the crowd this is not about change, but rather a renewal of the relationship with First Nations. Soon after, it was announced that the government would launch the first phase of a long awaited inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
Trudeau spoke at the beginning of an annual three-day gathering organized by the Assembly of First Nations.
Bennett said the government is committed to creating the best possible design for the inquiry, and eventually finding “concrete action” that will stop “this national tragedy”.
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde, together with AFN BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson, welcome today’s announcement by the Government of Canada to launch a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.
That includes: establishing an inquiry on missing women, implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and eliminating the education “funding gap” that discriminates against aboriginal children taught on reserves.
The government is hopeful phase two, the inquiry itself, will be announced by Spring 2016.
“It is time for a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations peoples: one that is based on the understanding that the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of First Nations are a sacred obligation that we carry forward. The victims deserve justice, their families an opportunity to heal, and to be heard”, said Trudeau. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Chiefs-in-Assembly and more than 1000 total delegates.
“But we also have much work to do”.
The Assembly of First Nations had been asking for its removal for years. It is time for a new fiscal relationship with First Nations that gives these communities sufficient, predictable, and sustained funding.
He said that cap on federal spending hasn’t kept up with “demographic realities” in First Nations communities, nor the actual cost of program delivery.
The prime minister has also vowed to move on implementing all 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which explored the dark legacy of Canada’s residential school system.
“I think initially what it brings is validation, that the fact that someone is actually listening and that someone does care about the issue”.
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“Finally, we will conduct a full review of the legislation unilaterally imposed on Indigenous peoples by earlier governments. So, for us, it is making sure that everybody has a chance to shape this”. “Let’s get to work”, Bellegarde said.
