In advance of the Council of the Federation meeting today (Mon) in Victoria, National Indigenous leaders met with the premiers, but the AFN would like it to go further than that. The Assembly of First Nations BC Regional Chief Terry Teegee says the AFN ontinues to push for full inclusion and participation at the Council of the Federation, so First Nations priorities are addressed along with all the other priorities.

The AFN is also calling for a First Ministers meeting in the next year to focus on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Teegee says the Declaration contains the standards and principles that are the foundation of an ethical and predictable relationship. That includes delegated First Nations representatives being equal partners in all decisions affecting their communities.