Assembly of First Nations: First Nations Leaders Gather to Advance Priorities at Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, Ontario

First Nations Leaders Gather to Advance Priorities at Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, Ontario

(December 1, 2024 – Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario) – The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will hold its Special Chiefs Assembly (SCA) from December 3-5, 2024, on the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation in Ottawa, Ontario. Hundreds of Chiefs, Knowledge Keepers, Elders, youth, women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals, and other First Nations leaders will gather to discuss and advance First Nations priorities.

Key topics for discussion include economic reconciliation, policing reform, with plenary sessions on the Indigenous Justice Strategy and the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program. The SCA will welcome several guest speakers, including Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party; Yves-François Blanchet, Leader of the Bloc Québécois; Arif Virani, Minister of Justice; Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services; Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; Paul Brandt, country music artist and advocate; Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society; Sharon McIvor, LLB, LLM; and Senator Paul (PJ) Prosper.

Date:   December 3-5, 2024
Location: Hybrid (in-person and online)
Rogers Centre Ottawa
55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 9J2.

Media accreditation is required. Media are encouraged to pre-register online at meetings.afn.ca. Please note that media access will not be available during the dialogue sessions on December 2, 2024. For more information, please visit: https://afn.ca/events/sca-december2024/.

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The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern. Follow AFN on X at @AFN_Updates. 

For more information, please contact:

Genna Benson
Director of Communications
Assembly of First Nations
604-340-3117 (mobile)
gbenson@afn.ca

Jamie Monastyrski
Press Secretary
Office of the National Chief
(613) 612-7229 (mobile)
jamiem@afn.ca

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