National Chief Phil Fontaine encouraged chiefs at the Confederacy of Nations gathering to seek balance in the messages they give to their people, especially youth. They should be told about a brighter future despite the obvious impediments. He said, "We’ve been blessed many times over. We’ve met many challenges. We’ve overcome many obstacles. We have faced many impediments. And in spite of all of the incredible odds that we have faced over time, we are here today, stronger than ever. And this is a credit to our wonderful traditions and teaching."

His words also provided a sobering reality check,"It is true that our people continue to live in the most desperate of situations in the country. It is true that we face a housing crisis, that we need now, immediately, at a minimum 25,000 units just to catch up. It is true that we face a health crisis. Epidemically the diabetes, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis... a disease that we thought had been eradicated, but one that continues to plague our community...high unemployment that ranges anywhere from 40 to 90 percent, but as a general average is 68 percent in First Nation communities.We note that very recently the way that unemployment statistics were released, I think they were at 7.2 percent, and the governments of the land were excited because this is the lowest unemployment rate in a number of years, and it’s dropped even further. Ours continues to remain at extremely high levels. There are generations now... generations in our communities that have yet to experience a job. We have two and three generations of families in our communities that have been forced to rely on Social Assistance as their only source of income. We are all aware of this. In one region of the country 91 percent of the entire First Nations population in that province is dependent on Social Assistance... 91 percent.

Suicide rates are five and six times the national average. Suicide that affects most often the young men in our community. Between the ages of 16 and 24, suicide rates are six time the national average. We all read with great alarm a recent tragic story from the east Membertou where a group of young children between the ages of nine to 13 attempted suicide, something completely unheard of in the general population, nine to 13. One statistic that is not commonly known is that while the highest suicide rates in our community are among the men, young men, there is a much higher percentage, significantly higher, of attempted suicide by young women.

And we struggle with this issue. We don’t know what to do. At least, we didn’t know what to do until we spoke to the elders two nights ago, when I asked them for their advice on how we ought to deal with this tragic situation in our community. And clearly the answer is within our communities and, quite clearly, based on the wise counsel that we received, that we need to go back to our traditions and we need to rely on our teaching, and that those traditions and teachings are most often and best expressed by our elders.

We are all aware of the high incarceration rates. In some provincial jails the higher inmate population is aboriginal, 100 percent. In some federal penal institutions, while we are only four percent of the Canadian population, the inmate population is 50 to 60 percent, completely unacceptable and intolerable. The United Nations for the second year in a row has found Canada to be the number one country in the world to live in... number one. But if you isolate social conditions of First Nations people we rank 63rd. And what that tells us is that we live in Third World conditions. The challenge we face as a community is what to do about this situation." As he challenged the chiefs to continue tackling these problems, he said they can only be successful if they are "to move ahead with force together".

Fontaine feels good about what's been accomplished over the last two and a half years, as he led the AFN chiefs in the championing of the recognition of rights on behalf of Indians across the country. "The strength and continued belief that First Nations can bring about change and prosperity through collective action has attributed to our successes", said Fontaine in his Christmas Message.

In his opening address to the last assembly of its kind before the new millenium, Fontaine made a point of raising the issue of gender equality as an example of progress they have made. "There are 80 women chiefs across the country, and there are 700 women councilors", he reminded them.

Also of fundamental importance, is a new comprehensive process for better inter-governmental relations with the federal and provincial governments. One of the driving forces for the need of such an over-arching process is the series of key legal decisions in the latter part of the century affecting Aboriginal rights in Canada. The AFN national chief pointed out the three Supreme Court rulings over the past two years Delgamuukw, Corbiere and Marshall, will have an impact on what kind of access natives have to land and resources, and that's why the decisions, "... should be dealt with as a package".

Echoing the national chief's call for solidarity --- Ontario Region Vice Chief Tom Bressette focused on the historic court victories and the work still to be done, "As we move forward, into the new millenium, it is more important that we build on our collectiveness, to do everything possible to ensure that our rights are recognized by the highest courts of this land and are upheld, implemented and supported by all levels of government, including our own."

Bressette proposed a strategic approach to prepare for the next round of the inevitable legal happenings that will come in 2000, "We must be prepared, armed with aboriginal developed policies, legislation, guidelines or other laws, to take control and show good governance and planning leading up to every major Supreme Court ruling."

I believe poverty and all its' ugliness will be the key issue that will continue to throw cold water on the smugness of the Canadians who may try to turn a blind eye to the plight of Aboriginal Peoples. The solutions are familiar to us all --- honouring treaties, supporting self-determination, restoration of culture, healing and wellness to create strong communities, families, children, future generations.

Vice Chief Ghislain Picard in his Quebec regional report focused on education. Both the need for ongoing improvements in relations between First Nations and education institutions, as well as better public education about First Nations perspectives.

Picard called for a strategic approach to how First Nations relate to the rest of Canada and to Canadians generally. "It is by creating a climate for dialogue and trust with the public that we will have more hope in countering elements that aim at curbing our development", he said.

British Columbia Region Vice Chief Satsan Herb George will continue to work on providing ways for First Nations to access important legal research and perspectives related to Aboriginal Rights, especially focusing on Delgamuukw and how First Nations can use it to their best advantage.

When asked about the apparent unravelling of the BC Treaty Process and his advice to First Nation leaders in British Columbia he said, "I'm telling them to walk away from it!" George said other governments have walked away from negotiations when it served their purposes, so turn around is fair play, especially if the process isn't meeting First Nation needs.

No doubt there will be new issues and new challenges in the new millenium. But in practice, the AFN chiefs will have to continue the many fights started in the last two decades of the 20th Century, and more recently geographically. As Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Vice Chief Rick Simon pointed out in his message, treaty rights will be in the forefront of the challenges ahead, " ... the federal and provincial governments have a duty to negotiate with the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy Nations in relation to the implementation of our treaty rights. This process will be ongoing for years to come."

The work plans of the AFN chiefs outlined in their Confederacy of Nations report, clearly illustrate the monumental issues ahead of us in the new millenium. They are too numerous to enumerate here, but they include the fight to gain more support for special education needs, force Canada to keep its promise of an independent claims commission to deal with the hundreds of outstanding grievances across Canada, raise the awareness of youth at risk, the plight of Aboriginal children in foster care and adoptions both in the last century and the new one, access to training, jobs and economic development opportunities. The list grows!

When the challenges are so daunting, it helps to have someone provide proper perspective, especially as we say goodbye to the old and prepare for the new. Chief Fontaine's theme of support and collective action included a message of encouragment to look forward while acknowledging the past, " As we enter the 21st century, I reflect back on the successes and achievements of the past and the great strength of our people in the last hundred years, despite the hardships First Nations people have faced. I know that together we can greet the dawning of a new era and reclaim our rightful place in Canadian society."

LOOK BACK AT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGES!