This is a new blog started by the Assembly of First Nations to provide you with the latest news, opinions and insider info about the goings on at the AFN as well as in the wider world of First Nations and Aboriginal issues. Blogs are a (relatively) new and (mostly) fun way to communicate with each other and, as we all know, First Nations people have always been “early adapters” to new technology!
Check back often as we’ll be updating the blog on a regular basis. Of course, if you want the “official” word on various AFN initiatives and events you can still check the AFN website at www.afn.ca (and it’s bilingual to boot!).
Thanks for logging onto the blog! Let us know what you think!
About the AFN
- AFN Blogger
- The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is the national representative organization of the First Nations in Canada.
6 comments:
Hello AFN,
I am Todd DeVries [Gannyaa designate] from Haida Gwaii.
Howaa! For starting this Blogspot for the AFN! This is an awesome opportunity to communicate and express views. Howaa!
And of course a Happy New Years. All the best wishes, health, happiness and success in the year 2008.
I look forward to reading future blog posts.
Hello AFN,
My Name is Todd DeVries (aka Gannyaa my Haida designate name). I am registered with Indian Northern Affairs and hold a Status Card.
Just recently I have heard, that a compensation package was announced Nov 23, 2005 for people affected by Residential Schools and the 60's grab of the Children's Aid Societies.
Today, the Deadline for making an application for the common experience fund was Dec. 31, 2008.
After filling out my application, there was no space or reference to which Children's Aid Societies I had attended to fill in.
Abuse by the Residential School and Children's Aid Society foster care were similiar. I find it hard that the "Stolen Generation" of Canada has forgotten those of CAS.
I am attempting to find more information from the CAS and they have referred me to the Criminal Compensation Injuries Board.
Any suggestions?
I remember this past summer when Rueben (the Dragon) of Sagkeeng interviewed Phil Fontaine on the local radio station. One of the questions asked about AFN's plans to address our loss of language. Mr. Fontaine's reply was "We're hoping to get some money as part of the residential school package (or something like that)." Money is all fine and well, but what are the specifics of their plan. Will they be paying us to learn? I hope that the AFN website or this blog will start putting forth specifics on how the problems we face will be addressed. When we know the specifics, when we are made aware of the plans, then maybe some of us will use this knowledge to take positive action on our own.
The greatest challenge facing the people is not poverty, it is the culture of dependency, self loathing, and self destrution. The people are too dependent on the chiefs for every little thing. This can sometimes prevent the chiefs from addressing other important issues.
I am asking the AFN and the Indian Chiefs to do more to make us aware of exactly what is going on. Perhaps in the future, a process could be developed to allow individuals to share their input on how issues affecting us should be addressed. This Blog is a good start. Help those of us who are not in favor with our chiefs to have a greater sense of involvement in the future of our nations.
No Indian Chief will ever liberate the people from their oppression, the people must liberate themselves. All they need are the tools and knowledge.
Cherokee chief Chad Smith came to the Assembly of First Nations to drum up support for his illegal activities.
The newspapers here are onto him just like the Cherokee people inside Cherokee Nation. Did you know he has a mistress? Did you know he was overhead at the casino in Catoosa saying "Every Cherokee should own a freedmen? Did you know he lied about hiring lobbyist Jack Abramoff?
FROM THE MUSKOGEE PHOENIX NEWSPAPER
Cherokee chief tells newspaper he has mistress
Cherokee attorney will run for Chief again:
By Donna Hales Phoenix staff writer.
Smith also may face an uphill hurtle in the court of public opinion. In addition to his wife and three Children, ages 5, 11, and 18, Smith confirmed Wednesday he has a second family of three children, ages 6, 10 and 11. He said he loves all his children and financially supports all of them.
'I’ve made every body aware and visited with a number of Cherokee elders,' Smith said. He said most of the elders told him they are interested in what he could do for the tribe rather than in "this personal situation.' Smith said he would not give any more details because he doesn't want to bring embarrassment to any of his children. He added if the tribe wasn't in such disarray, he
wouldn't be opening himself up to criticism over his personal life by becoming a candidate. He said, he had hoped the subject wouldn’t come up until later in his campaign.
For more information:
dhales at muskgoeephoenix.com
From the Native American Times Newspaper
Cherokee Chief denies working with Abramoff
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
The Cherokee Nation never hired disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a spokesperson told The Native American Times.
Spokesperson Mike Miller said Abramoff solicited the tribe as a client. "You get sales pitches all the time," he told The Times.
Documents filed with the Senate indicate someone in Tahlequah liked the pitch. In January 2003, Abramoff and his associates registered to lobby on behalf of Cherokee Nation Enterprises on appropriations and sovereignty issues [Registration].
Later that year, Abramoff filed a report indicating that he charged Cherokee Nation Enterprises $60,000 for his services. The document stated he and two associates lobbied the House and Senate on tribal issues [Mid-Year Report].
The relationship ended later that year, with Abramoff charging Cherokee Nation Enterprises another $60,000, according to another document [Year-End Termination].
Story from Indianz.com and NativeTimes.com See photocopies of documents there.
Not only were the Cherokee freedmen adopted by treaty, the Delaware tribe (first to sign a treaty with the U.S.), the Shawnee tribe, and the Natchez Creeks were also adopted in the same way. Cherokee Nation has already left the Shawnees who wanted to seperate landless and will not let them have any type of gaming revenue within the state of Oklahoma. Cherokee chief Chad Smith plans to do the same to the Delaware tribe in their attempt to seperate from Cherokee Nation, but Lenape edlers (Delaware elders) have taken a stand and said "No!" to Cherokee Chief Smith's one-sided Memorandum of Agreement to strip them of all their rights one more time. Smith already succeeded in stripping the Delaware tribe of their federal recognition in the 10th Circuit Court in Denver, where one of the three judges hearing the case, Stephanie Seymore, is married to a Tulsa attorney who has contracts with Cherokee Nation. Seymore refused to remove herself from the case and site "personal conflict" as the reason.
I would like to see the leaders of the first nations do something for the native americans that are not on any rolls through,no fault of their own, be recognized as native americans and placed on the rolls.
Hi, I am just wondering when someone will notice the injustice that has been done to native americans that left canada to protect their familys and to find work so they could support their familys. I have been trying to no avail to be recoganized as a native american but I am told that if you dont have relatives on the rolls that this isn't possible.So I guess I will die under white mans law because they say so and no one seams to care. It's probably too late for me anyway because mostly all my ancestors and family have passed on. As far as I am concerned I will always be a native american even if I'm not recognized as one. I think it's just too bad that the powerfull leaders of the first nations don't do anything for all of us in this position. Thanks for reading, Mike
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