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• History
• Mission and objectives
• Chiefs strategic commitee
• AFNQL 26 fundamental principles

Mission, Realities and Solutions

• Affirmation and respect of our rights
• Recognition of First Nations’ Governments
• Increased financial autonomy for First Nations’ Governments
• Development and creation of our public administration for First Nations’ Governments
• Coordinate the mechanism for the First Nations decision-making process
• Represent positions and interests in of various forums
• Define the strategies to advance common positions
• Have our cultures and languages recognized

The Chief of the AFNQL represents the Chiefs of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador communities and implements this mission.

Political Environment

Demography

• Approximately 1 million Aboriginals in Canada, 11 Nations (13% of all Aboriginals in Canada live in Quebec)
• 69,749 First Nations members in Quebec and 10,423 Inuits, representing approximately 0.9% of the population of the Province of Quebec
• 30.3% of the First Nations in Quebec are under 18 years of age (approximately 20,000 individuals)

Background

In 30 years, progress has been made:

• Treaties in the 70’s
• 1985 Resolution
• Jurisprudence
• Development Fund
• Peace of the Braves
• Realities may differ
• The mission is to put an end to the statu quo
• First Nations desired committments at the Socio-Economic Forum
• Gaps still exist
• Our situation is not to be used for the purpose of a political party

Stakes to Highlight

• Lack of housing
• Health status of our members
• Psychosocial issues
• Dropping out of high school
• Unemployment and social assistance
• Cultural losses
• Language losses
• Limited economic development

Today, our political platform outline our vision and solutions

Our Political Platform

Because…

• Being among the first peoples of the Americas, we have seen our most basic rights systematically trampled on in the past.
• We want to be done with the colonial relations that exist because of the Indian Act.
• The current Canadian government maintains a policy of preserving the status quo, which leads to dispossession, the maintenance of a state of dependency, and assimilation.
• We have pressing needs to advance our socio-economic conditions.
• We know our problems and we know the solutions.
• Our future depends inevitably on a change, from the ground up, of our relations with the federal and provincial governments
• We want to see our most cherished dream coms true some day: a strong future and healthy development for our children, our families and our communities
  

In concrete, Our Political Platform


• Must meet the most urgent needs of First Nations communities living on and off the communities
• Must alleviate the critical needs facing the communities: economic development, health, education and culture, etc.
• Must give us the means to strengthen First Nations governments.
• Must create the base for a permanent and authentic peaceful co-existence between the governments of First Nations and the governments of Canada and Quebec.
• Must call upon all stakeholders in civil society involved and make them aware of the governments’ negation of Aboriginal rights, and to obtain more support from public opinion
• Must call on international authorities.

Working Together on the Basis of 4 Essential Conditions

1. Recognition of the First Nations’ governments by the governments of Canada and Quebec.
2. The signing of territorial, fiscal and financial agreements based on a government-to-government relationship.
3. Replacement of the Indian Act through a government-to-government relationship.
4. Implementation of the First Nations’Action Plan.

Our Action Plan

Within 10 years: 10,000 jobs created, 10,000 more housing units, 10,000 new young graduates

While keeping in mind that

• The solution to our social and economical problems requires giving new impetus to global negotiations on
• Recognition of self-government.
• Jurisdiction over and access to lands and resources
• The creation of new partnerships.
• We must therefore focus on an integrated strategy at all times; doing so is the only way we can free ourselves from the current status quo.
• Each element of the action plan must be read as intersecting with the specific needs experienced by First Nations of Quebec and Labrador youth who account for over 50% of all members.