Voting is underway in Vancouver for national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
A First Nations’ activist is questioning the cost of electing a new national chief in Vancouver.
Pam Palmater, who is also a lawyer and educator in Toronto, says it now costs several million dollars to pick a leader for the Assembly of First Nations for the next three years.
“It literally costs thousands of dollars if you want to attend,” she said of the three-day annual general assembly at the waterfront convention centre.
“The majority of our people are nowhere able to afford that.”
About 2,620 people were registered at the event so far, the AFN said Wednesday morning.
When they each pay the $350 entry fee, hotel rooms, flights – and receive per diems for attending – it adds up to seven figures.
Quite the jump in funding from the Trudeau government compared to Harper government. From $13 million to $32 million. pic.twitter.com/pRrYYFzzP0
— Kenneth Jackson () July 24, 2018
Palmater says it’s not the “old school” way of doing things.
“We used to volunteer at these things,” she told host Dennis Ward during a special AFN election edition of InFocus. “We would literally live on baloney and bannock.”
But it meant families and children could be there, she added, something that doesn’t happen today.
Palmater says she’s able to attend because her employer, Ryerson University, supports her advocacy and picks up the costs.
AFN’s revenue jumped by about $9 million the last fiscal year from $23 million to $32 million. pic.twitter.com/OocFh5fuxv
— Kenneth Jackson () July 24, 2018
As part of calls to reform the AFN, which is a national lobby group for chiefs, critics want to see non-chiefs eligible to vote.
But Palmater says calls for change often die down after the election.
AFN is a COLONIAL PUPPET Machine. The Colonial way is to Ply the organization with monies, so they can Manipulate everything and at the end of the day The Commonwealth and the Queen still owns us all Legally under the “Indian Act “ We are the Property of the Queen that’s what the “Indian Act” means!!! The whole intention of the Colonial Government is to take all our vast resources and segregated us on Reserves away from our Rich resources. GOOGLE: “Canada and her Resources” essay by Alexander Morris 1855. It’s about Laying out the plans for the takeover of Canada.
I DON’T WANT SELF GOVERNANCE FOR MYSELF ID RATHER MANAGE MY OWN FUNDING ….
OUR PEOPLE SUFFER
LOOK AT THE HIGH ROLLERS , COMPUTER PUSHERS ,PENCIL PUSHERS .
WHILE POVERTY, POOR DRINKING WATER ,HOUSING , JOBS ,ROADS ARE NOT BEING MET .
IF THERE IS ROYALTIES IN THE LAND TRUST THEN PROVIDE BETTER LIVES FOR THE FIRST NATION !!!!!!!
A REAL JOKE ..
AFN is a COLONIAL PUPPET Machine. The Colonial way is to Ply the organization with monies, so they can Manipulate everything and at the end of the day The Commonwealth and the Queen still owns us all Legally under the “Indian Act ” We are the Property of the Queen that’s what the “Indian Act” means!!! The whole intention of the Colonial Government is to take all our vast resources and segregated us on Reserves away from our Rich resources. GOOGLE: “Canada and her Resources” essay by Alexander Morris 1855. It’s about Laying out the plans for the takeover of Canada.
I DON’T WANT SELF GOVERNANCE FOR MYSELF ID RATHER MANAGE MY OWN FUNDING ….
OUR PEOPLE SUFFER
LOOK AT THE HIGH ROLLERS , COMPUTER PUSHERS ,PENCIL PUSHERS .
WHILE POVERTY, POOR DRINKING WATER ,HOUSING , JOBS ,ROADS ARE NOT BEING MET .
IF THERE IS ROYALTIES IN THE LAND TRUST THEN PROVIDE BETTER LIVES FOR THE FIRST NATION !!!!!!!
A REAL JOKE ..
WOW just WOW. An incredible waste of money. And hell must have just frozen over because this is the first time in my 60 years I have ever agreed with anything Pam Palmater had to say.
AFN is a showcase of nothing being done for the people.
Where are they when government decreases or cuts out coverages for health, education and especially housing?
The $ spent for this show could have paid for clean water for some reserves, tar sacks becoming real homes.
Only places that are remembered are alberta on, bc is seldom talked about, we dont exist. Need a serious review and revamping or dissolve it, its costing money for nothing to show.
Work for all the first nations or not, no selectiveness. We divide ourselves and governments enjoy and feast on it and work with it. Time to stand together and seek a working group with focus on the people now and future generations.
WOW just WOW. An incredible waste of money. And hell must have just frozen over because this is the first time in my 60 years I have ever agreed with anything Pam Palmater had to say.
AFN is a showcase of nothing being done for the people.
Where are they when government decreases or cuts out coverages for health, education and especially housing?
The $ spent for this show could have paid for clean water for some reserves, tar sacks becoming real homes.
Only places that are remembered are alberta on, bc is seldom talked about, we dont exist. Need a serious review and revamping or dissolve it, its costing money for nothing to show.
Work for all the first nations or not, no selectiveness. We divide ourselves and governments enjoy and feast on it and work with it. Time to stand together and seek a working group with focus on the people now and future generations.
Think of how many houses that $28 million could build. The AFN and the Chiefs of Ontario and the other 4-5 First Nations organizationa takes money for health, education, environment etc. that could be coming to the communities. Need to get rid of COO and cut the AFN to a small advocacy group.
Think of how many houses that $28 million could build. The AFN and the Chiefs of Ontario and the other 4-5 First Nations organizationa takes money for health, education, environment etc. that could be coming to the communities. Need to get rid of COO and cut the AFN to a small advocacy group.
AFN is a farce. They never will be a political party nor support First Nations people whether that may be non status, metis, status, or status aboriginals people of Canada. Gov’t of Canada funds First Nations. Can’t bite the hand that feeds you. So they dictate to what we can and can’t say or do to improve the life chances and opportunities of our people. The AFN speaks for itself and not for all Aboriginal Peoples of Canada.
What hand . Who is feeding who ?? They have out trust fund . That funded this country since maritime provinces came into play . Held in trust . Most of that trust fund went to building the rail road an other federal infrastructure. If there was no trust fund what so ever, do you think the local government would give a s@#t for indigenous people . No they won’t, as long as that trust is in the hands of the government. Which by the way funds them as a government. Will always play a role in indigenous affairs.
JUSTICE FOR COLTON !!!
ekosi .
AFN is a farce. They never will be a political party nor support First Nations people whether that may be non status, metis, status, or status aboriginals people of Canada. Gov’t of Canada funds First Nations. Can’t bite the hand that feeds you. So they dictate to what we can and can’t say or do to improve the life chances and opportunities of our people. The AFN speaks for itself and not for all Aboriginal Peoples of Canada.
What hand . Who is feeding who ?? They have out trust fund . That funded this country since maritime provinces came into play . Held in trust . Most of that trust fund went to building the rail road an other federal infrastructure. If there was no trust fund what so ever, do you think the local government would give a s@#t for indigenous people . No they won’t, as long as that trust is in the hands of the government. Which by the way funds them as a government. Will always play a role in indigenous affairs.
JUSTICE FOR COLTON !!!
ekosi .