First Nations chiefs and delegates from across the country are gathering in Winnipeg for the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) annual general assembly starting Wednesday.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said she’s looking forward to welcoming leaders to Treaty 1 territory for the three-day event at the RBC Convention Centre, with a theme of “prosperity for all.”
Originally scheduled for July, the gathering was postponed as wildfires forced thousands of residents in Manitoba to evacuate and hotel space was prioritized for those displaced families.
The AFN is a national advocacy organization representing over 600 First Nations. At the assembly, hundreds of First Nations chiefs and delegates debate and pass resolutions to set the organization’s direction on issues including health, education, the environment, human rights, and language and culture.
This year’s agenda includes discussions on First Nations policing, child welfare reform, substance use harm reduction strategies, and the repatriation of artifacts.
On Wednesday, chiefs are scheduled to discuss Bill C-5 and the First Nations infrastructure gap.
Bill C-5’s Building Canada Act gives the federal government the power to fast track major economic development projects that are deemed to be of national interest.
While the federal government says the changes will boost economic growth, many First Nations leaders warn the streamlined process may bypass the Crown’s duty to consult, potentially infringing on Indigenous rights.
On Friday, the federal government announced the creation of a Major Projects Office to serve as a single point of contact in fast tracking the approval processes for such projects. The office will include an Indigenous advisory council, which federal officials said will be launched in the coming weeks.
There is a proposed resolution that would call on the Government of Canada to consult First Nations on the implementation of the legislation and include closing the First Nations infrastructure gap as a priority nation-building project.
“Canadians will see First Nations strongly support economic growth and prosperity for all, but not at the expense of our rights or of the Crown’s legal obligations,” said Woodhouse Nepinak.
In 2024, the AFN released a report saying it would cost an estimated $350 million to close the infrastructure gap in First Nations communities by 2030.
She said the chiefs will also discuss their priorities for the upcoming federal budget, expected in October.
