On December 6, 2023, chiefs across Canada will gather in Ottawa to elect the next national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
It’s been a turbulent year for the AFN. In June 2023, chiefs and proxies voted to remove RoseAnne Archibald as national chief of the organization, which represents more than 600 First Nations across the country. The following month, chiefs were presented with a report on bullying and sexual harassment within the AFN.
So, where does the AFN go from here once the new national chief has been elected?
APTN News spoke with each of the six candidates to learn more about what their priorities are and what they think needs to be done to get the AFN back on track.
Reginald Bellerose
APTN: It’s been a tumultuous year for the Assembly of First Nations with the former national chief’s removal this summer and claims of bullying and harassment within the organization. What do you think needs to be done for AFN to move forward from here?
Bellerose: The first thing I believe we need is we need the chiefs of Canada to come back to assembly and the next role, the key role for the AFN and national chief will be to go out and meet chiefs and encourage them to come back to assembly.
The second area is to focus on Resolution 13, the committee that was struck to study and then come out with some findings and a lot of it is damaging to how the women are being treated in the workplace. So that’s the component of a large part of the staff. And this is a good place to start this rebuilding with Resolution 13.
They’ve examined the work environment and it’s not good. United Nations Declaration 22.2 calls to ensure that women and children can enjoy the protection and safety against discrimination. So, that’s where I want to focus on. It’s important that we do this as a collective.
APTN: There are a number of First Nations people who say they feel the AFN no longer has the best interests of the people at heart. What would you say to those people and how would you improve relationships between the AFN and the nations it represents?
Bellerose: Well, I prefaced earlier that chiefs are important, they’re the most important leaders in the country, and they need to be a part of the process. A good rebuild also is to look at the agenda that the AFN goes through when the chiefs meet.
It’s not enough time to discuss the real issues. Chiefs get three minutes at the mic, presenters get 30 minutes. We need to reverse that. The prime minister comes, he does his spiel and he walks out after one question.
So, we need to control the agenda. It’s our agenda. The chiefs need to bring forward what they’re dealing with. And that’s really what I’m promoting, is that if we do get back in touch with the objectives of the First Nations and the country, it should be a good agenda that the chiefs leave feeling we’ve accomplished something.
And the main thing we need to accomplish is standing together and uniting.
APTN: If elected as the next national chief, what would be your highest priorities for the AFN?
Bellerose: Well, it’s to bring stability. I was elected chief for nearly 17 years and it’s stable.
But you need stability, you need credibility, you need to ensure that you are conducting yourself in a good manner, you’re professional, you’ve got the vision, you’re bringing forward the mandate of the chiefs through resolution each and every day.
What I have done is I’ve dedicated this campaign to the children, the future. We’ve got children, First Nation children who were denied their status number because of bureaucracy. So, grandmothers and caregivers are paying for prescriptions.
We got to think of the children, they’re our future right now. We talk about economic development, environmental sovereignty. Those need to be done with the best interest of the children and the future in mind.
APTN: What would you like to see the Assembly of First Nations accomplish in the coming year?
Bellerose: We’ve got to get rebuilding first year. I mean, that’s really you know, right now the funding has been cut or frozen or I’m not sure exactly where, but the funding is not going the way it should.
So, that’s really where you get a focus on. Where is the funding, what do we need to do to get that funding?
Because there’s much demand and there’s a really a whole lot of work that needs to happen. Capacity needs to be there, your experts, you need all of the traditional knowledge keepers, the youth, LGBTQ+ community, all of these different important factions, not factions, but important rights holders across the country. They need to come together and buy in, like the hearing impaired, now we have translators there for them.
The French, a lot of the chiefs in Quebec don’t feel included in the process. So, I’ve been reaching out to Quebec chiefs, we need you here. You have addictions problems, you have social crisis, plus you also have economic opportunity.
So, we got to find that place, that platform where it’s inclusion for all.
Craig Makinaw
APTN: It’s been a tumultuous year for the Assembly of First Nations with the former national chief’s removal this past summer, claims of bullying and harassment within the organization as well. What do you think needs to be done for the AFN to move forward?
Makinaw: Well, there needs to be a series of meetings with the staff, the executive and the chiefs.
So, it’s going to take a little while to get these meetings in order. But once you get them in order and start dealing with what were the issues at that time and, you know, to move ahead and make the necessary changes that need to be made so that the AFN office working with the staff and the chiefs will work together again, as it should be.
APTN: There are a number of First Nations people, of course, who say that they feel the AFN no longer has their best interests at heart. What would you say to those people and how would you improve relations between the AFN in the nations it represents?
Makinaw: Yeah, that’s been a common hurt over the years and that needs to be worked on because I know with how relations between chiefs and the AFN national office is, we need to work on that.
So, to make the AFN more of an advocacy group and working in conjunction with the chiefs so that when we do work with the government, it’s the chiefs that are going to be leading the way, not AFN. So that’s one thing I’d like to change is how the national office works with the chiefs and the federal government.
So, I think if we could start working on that process, things will improve as we go along.
APTN: If you were elected as the next national chief whip, what would be your highest priority for the AFN?
Makinaw: Well, there’s so many issues that are on the table. But I think right now would be to get the office in order and then working with the chiefs and then working on wellness issues, because I know there’s so many issues out there, especially under wellness, that needs to be dealt with our members across the country.
APTN: What would you like to see the Assembly of First Nations accomplish in the coming year?
Makinaw: Well, just to get that stability back in place and start moving ahead, because there’s a lot of issues that are on the table right now and a lot of legislation that we need to keep track of and work on together because these legislations will affect us in the future.
So we have to be prepared as we get to the table and discuss these issues with the federal government, because we need to work on protecting our treaty inherent rights as we move forward in these discussions with the federal government.
Sheila North
APTN: It’s been a tumultuous year for the Assembly of First Nations with the former national chief’s removal this summer and claims of bullying and harassment within the organization. What do you think needs to be done for AFN to move forward from here?
North: One of the biggest things is to rebuild relationships within ourselves, in the organization, with our leadership. So, I think there is a lot of work to do on that front and meaningful work.
We have to find a way to come together and move forward in a good way with our people and with the rest of the country because there are many dire issues that are at stake and many lives that are at stake.
So, I think we have to take time and do careful rebuilding of our relationships and start to move past some of the issues that have come up in the last few years.
APTN: There are a number of First Nations people who say they feel the AFN no longer has the best interests of the people at heart. What would you say to those people and how would you improve relationships between the AFN and the nations it represents?
North: Well, first of all, I feel terrible that that has happened and for me as a candidate, I apologize for that.
But I believe, again, that we are in a rebuilding relationship phase. Again, we need to come together. And there is a lot of value in our relationships with our grassroots, of course. I know chiefs know that, and the rest of us know that. So, we have to do everything we can to repair some of these discrepancies and work together because there are, again, lives at stake.
And it’s very important for an organization to be inclusive and to be responsive to the people that it represents. The chiefs, first of all, but also the communities at the community level. And I’m hearing a lot from the community level that there is a disconnect and that there is people, even some leaders that are disillusioned with the AFN, so we have to rebuild that relationship and look at the structures again at AFN and start to be more responsive and inclusive to people.
But of course, more importantly to the chiefs, we need an organization that works for the chiefs and works for the people, not the other way around.
APTN: If elected as the next national chief, what would be your highest priorities for the AFN?
North: I think we need to figure out our bannock and tea issues, also known as bread and butter issues. I’m talking to chiefs across the country and I’m hearing over and over again at least half of the calls that I have been making, that there are serious issues facing people and one of the biggest one has never really gone away. And that’s untimely deaths due to suicides to sicknesses and addictions.
We need to start tackling the critical issues by understanding what they are and understanding what we’re facing. And by doing that, we have to build relationships to be able to get information. But enough that we can share information on what the needs are.
So, I think we need to form a base to see where we’re at at this point. What happened to our people after the pandemic, for example. And now as this global economic crisis, where do we stand and then what can we do to go forward?
And a lot of it will be based on what our inherent and treaty and title rights are and start to build new mechanisms that are also old mechanisms for our people.
APTN: What would you like to see the Assembly of First Nations accomplish in the coming year?
Unity. I think that is the biggest challenge right now, is to find common ground. There is going to be diversity, no doubt, across the country, and there is. And that will be valued and that will be respected. But we need to find a way to unify so we can speak together on the critical issues that are facing our people.
There are so many opportunities and so many good things among our people and for our people. We need to find a way to come together, to strengthen each other, to celebrate each other, but also to help each other as we go forward in the next few generations.
I’m a kookum now, I’m a grandma now, and that makes me have a longer view. And I want to be able to say in the longer view that my grandchildren and your grandchildren and our grandchildren have a better future than we have.
And I believe that’s possible. I know that this is a moment in time. If we look back 150 years ago, where were we? And 150 years later, here we are. We’re in every facet of society. And if we go forward together, where will we be in the next few generations? And I have great hope in that, in our future.
David Pratt
APTN: It’s been a tumultuous year for the Assembly of First Nations with the former national chief’s removal this summer and claims of bullying and harassment within the organization. What do you think needs to be done for AFN to move forward from here?
Pratt: I think what we require is a lot of healing at the national organization.
I know that the National Indian Brotherhood and the Assembly of First Nations was formed to bring a collective voice to our First Nations here in Canada and to strengthen our position across the issues from coast to coast. And somewhere along the way, you know, because of some of the challenges we’ve had the last few years and even prior to that, we haven’t always functioned effectively the way we should for our chiefs.
So, I think that a lot of healing needs to happen. I think we need to look at some of the internal practices that have been taking place at the organization, as well as hearing directly from the secretariat and the staff internally, as well as our chiefs and our executive members as to how we move forward and fix some of the issues that have been outstanding this last little while.
APTN: There are a number of First Nations people who say they feel the AFN no longer has the best interests of the people at heart. What would you say to those people and how would you improve relationships between the AFN and the nations it represents?
Pratt: Well, I think, you know, I know that there have been some issues with our organization.
I know that for myself included, I’ve had some issues with the AFN as well in terms of communication, in terms of the mandates and in terms of keeping us in the loop, so to speak. For the last five out of the last six years, I’ve been the portfolio holder for the health and social files here at the FSIN within Saskatchewan and co-chair of the chiefs committee on health at the Assembly of First Nations.
I think a lot of times that lack of communication hurts the organization and hurts the mandate. You know, when we’re not communicating effectively with our chiefs, when we’re not controlling the narrative, you know, and reassuring our people that we’re working on their behalf and that our mandates are being advanced and their concerns and issues are being addressed around our tables.
I think those are some of the challenges and some of the things where the disconnect happens between the organization and not just the people at the grassroot levels, but even the chiefs themselves.
And my hope is to increase that communication, you know, streamline, let our people know more of what’s going on and give our chiefs and our people a greater voice at the at the organization as we’re moving forward on the mandates collectively.
APTN: If elected as the next national chief, what would be your highest priorities for the AFN?
Pratt: Well, I think we need to conduct a thorough internal review. You know, I’d like to see exactly where we are at in terms of some of the complaints that have gone forward internally. I’d like to make sure that those are adequately and properly addressed. A number of the reports and files that have been stagnant, so to speak, over the course of the last few years.
I’d like to get a thorough review and see where they’re at in terms of the implementation around MMIW, you know, UNDRIP, the TRC report to get a report card, so to speak, and a status on each of where those files are at.
But also, in terms of the report from the harassment that has been presented at the last chiefs assembly, you know, ensuring that the implementation of that takes place and working closely with our women’s council as well as our Elders and youth council to ensure that those reports are implemented and that the organization is a safe place for our staff and for our people as we work forward collectively on the mandate.
So, those are some of the immediate things. I think that also getting an update on those mandates, of course, ensuring that the chiefs are reassured that there is good governance in place, that we’re doing our due diligence with those files and those mandates and implementing them thoroughly.
APTN: What would you like to see the Assembly of First Nations accomplish in the coming year?
Pratt: Well, I think we’ve got a number of key issues we’ve got to focus on. And I think housing is one of the biggest ones that we need to work on right now. You know that the prime minister has made a number of announcements, making major municipal housing investments to deal with the housing crisis within the cities, towns and municipalities across the country from one end to the other.
What we’d like to see is a major capital and infrastructure investment in housing too for First Nations, because there’s an infrastructure gap that’s been taking place and First Nations are far behind. So, number one, improving housing outcomes. I think if we can fix housing, we can fix a number of the social issues that we’re dealing with right now in many of our First Nations communities across the nation.
Of course, you know, lands and resources are tied specifically to economic development will be another priority area that we need to focus on too as well. It’s not that First Nations are opposed to resource development extraction. What First Nations want is a free, prior and informed consent. We want a say when resource companies are trying to develop in our backyards and extract resources, because it’s not that our people are against it.
We want to make sure that the water is going to be there for future generations and that the land is protected. So, a number of things have to be focused on and I think those will be the priorities moving forward. My platform is out now. I believe we released it to the chiefs today as well as my 90-day transition plan.
So, that’s been given out to the leadership too, as well as leaders and media. So, I’m looking forward to engaging in those conversations. I believe we start our first regional forum tomorrow with the Atlantic region. I’m looking forward to talking with them about their key issues and priorities and the success of regions over the course of the next few weeks and ultimately meeting our chiefs December 5, 6 and 7.
And should things work out, taking the reins at the national chief’s office and bringing back stability, good governance, and getting refocused on the mandates of the national organization.
Dean Sayers
APTN: It’s been a tumultuous year for the Assembly of First Nations with the former national chief’s removal this summer and claims of bullying and harassment within the organization. What do you think needs to be done for AFN to move forward from here?
Sayers: As I go across the country and I talk to the Chiefs in the different regions, I’m hearing the need that’s being recognized to invest in a reconciliation approach within the AFN and talking about its instruments that we’ve created over time, including the Secretariat, the political office, the regional chiefs of the Executive, along with the National Chiefs Office, along with the Chiefs.
There needs to be a path of reconciliation that we need to embark on, we need to invest in. We need to look after our staff. We need to look after those relationships that are integral for us to be productive. And in my work over time, I’ve come across a lot of incredible people that are focused on and provide that in our communities, the healing, the reconciliation processes.
We have the answers within our community to be able to fix this internal issue amongst ourselves and we need to do this healing amongst ourselves and do the work amongst ourselves and in preparation for the big jobs that we need to really be prepared for in the next few years in regards to relationships that we might have not only amongst ourselves, but with other governments like Canada and the provinces.
APTN: What do you say to those within the grassroots who feel that the AFN no longer has their best interests at heart?
Sayers: Well, historically, and I’ve been involved representing the 133 chiefs in Ontario for a number of years now on the Charter Renewal Committee, which is an AFN committee that was struck by the chiefs of the assembly and our role was to take a look at the existing foundational document referred to as the charter.
And the charter outlines the mandates, how we’re going to operate, what our roles are at the AFN and it’s fairly archaic. It’s decades old and it needs to be renewed. We’ve been working on making changes to that so that it is truly evolved with society and with our communities and with our leadership. It was initially a chiefs organization that was set up to advocate and lobby on behalf of the chiefs.
But we’re hearing that the mandate needs to be broadened, needs to be brought up to speed, needs to be modernized. We only hear some just minimal expressions of the, I guess, the overall renewal of the AFN, because we have not taken the time in the last short while to get a real deep sense of the perspective of everybody from coast to coast to coast, whether they be communities, First Nations leadership, chiefs, councils, youth.
We need to get that insight. We need to get feedback. We need to engage people and actually start to work through a process of making those changes that modernize the AFN. So yeah, I agree. We need to take a look at the charter, take a look at the role of the AFN and I’ve been a part of the process and I hope that I can continue to be a part of that process from my role as national chief, making sure that all theses, not only this committee but other committees that have been struck by the chiefs over time can be continuing in their role that the collective of the chiefs across the country have in mind.
APTN: If you were elected as the next national chiefs, what would be your top priority, something you’d like to accomplish in the coming year?
Sayers: Well, I really look forward to while I was the chief in Batchewana, the chiefs assemblies at the AFN, I’ve noticed that in my attendance that we can tweak how we conduct those assemblies so that they are more aligned with the wishes of the chiefs. In particular, I think about how resolutions are brought forward, how reports are brought forward, when they’re brought forward.
We really need to utilize the chiefs that are in the room earlier on in the agenda to make the decisions. And that’s what I’m hearing across the country from the chiefs as well, is that they want to see how we conduct our meetings as a focus at the onset of the term. But we also are recognizing, as I go across the country, the variants and the types of expectations that Indigenous people have from coast to coast to coast.
And I’m talking about in particular, there are pre-confederation, are pre-existing treaty relationships that a lot of First Nations have. There are also First Nations that are developing their own modern treaties and then there are the First Nations in areas of Canada where they’re not interested in treaties and continue to assert their 100 per cent of their unextinguished jurisdictions. There needs to be tables set from coast to coast that reflect that. There is a diversity and we can’t have a one size fits all approach.
And I would really encourage and let Canada know that when we come back to the table after Christmas, when we embark on these discussions and set these tables, that there needs to be a heck of a lot more of these tables that are truly reflective of the diversity of that room. So, I’m hearing that as a big focus for the chiefs as well.
Cindy Woodhouse
APTN: It’s been a tumultuous year for the Assembly of First Nations with the former national chief’s removal this summer and claims of bullying and harassment within the organization. What do you think needs to be done for AFN to move forward from here?
Woodhouse: Well, it’s you know, it’s no secret. You know, we’ve heard a lot through the media. We’ve heard a lot through First Nations communities that it has been a tough year for First Nations at the Assembly of First Nations.
But you know, I just think, you know, as a leader, you kind of bear down, you get the work done and you work hard on the issues such as, you know, child welfare and making sure that that we focus on getting out, you know, $23 billion to our First Nations communities. And I think that that’s what First Nations expect of us and First Nations expect of their leaders, is to work on the issues and to get results for our people.
APTN: There are a number of First Nations people who say they feel the AFN no longer has the best interests of the people at heart. What would you say to those people and how would you improve relationships between the AFN and the nations it represents?
Woodhouse: I think focusing on the issues. I think teamwork across the country, chiefs across the country work together. You know, at one point there was five resolutions during last year’s December assembly that called for different ways of trying to settle the child welfare settlement for $23 billion.
And chiefs came together in a good way to make sure that, you know, that they tried to work together for our kids. And I think that, you know, when we focus on our children, when we help each other as First Nations from coast to coast to coast, that these are the results that we got, you know, better results for our people.
And our people expect that of us. And they’re waiting for us.
APTN: If elected as the next national chief, what would be your highest priorities for the AFN?
Woodhouse: Well, of course, you know, we still have $19.8 billion on the table when it comes to reforming the child welfare systems across this country. Our communities are starting to take the lead and bring their families home.
But I think also policing and justice issues. I know that, you know, we need long-term, sustainable, predictable funding for our communities across the country. And of course, housing is always an issue. There’s just, you know, and respecting our treaty, inherent rights. You know, we see some bills before Parliament now, you know, talking to some members of Parliament that the past week has been, you know, a little bit tough when, you know, when they question, say, the membership of our of our people and other people are not questioned.
And I think that that’s disheartening. And, you know, we always seem to have to have these discussions as First Nations people. They’re not going to be easy discussions with all levels of government and with industries. But we have to have them.
APTN: What would you like to see the Assembly of First Nations accomplish in the coming year?
Woodhouse: We need investments into First Nations communities. When it comes to, like I said, policing, you know, better long term, you know, there’s a we need to try and close the gaps to 2030. There’s huge housing investments that are needed, infrastructure investments that are needed. And, you know, our chiefs expect that of us. And because they’re there, community members, First Nations, people in their communities are expecting them to deliver results.
And that’s what the Assembly of First Nations should be working on.
