APTN National News
OTTAWA--Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said he met with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt on Wednesday and discussed the deadly fire on a Saskatchewan First Nation that left two children dead.
The two met as a result of last week’s deadly fire on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation.
“Any death in communities is tragic, we acknowledged that and we acknowledged that we have to collectively work together to work on solutions,” said Bellegarde.
Bellegarde said he met with Valcourt on the fourth floor of Centre Block on Parliament Hill.
Valcourt’s office did not return a request for comment on the meeting as of this article’s posting.
Valcourt has blamed Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation for not having the ability to fight the fire .
Bellegarde said in an interview Thursday he wanted to continue to pushing Ottawa on several fronts.
“Not only the crisis with fires, but the crisis in housing, the crisis in education,” said Bellegarde. “Basically, we need to start working out our own strategies and solutions to deal with the fiscal imbalance that is there and ensure there is a proper fiscal relationship with the Crown.”
@APTNNews
