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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Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Calls on Canada for New Mandate to Advance Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program

(December 1, 2024 – Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario) — Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is urging Canada to return to the table with a new mandate to advance long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program.

"Chiefs have given us clear direction. We've told Canada that they need to come back with a new mandate, one that aligns with what our Chiefs are asking for, as outlined in AFN Resolution #60/2024, Addressing Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and Jordan's Principle, and AFN Resolution #61/2024, Meaningful Consultation on Long-Term Reform of First Nations Child and Family Services," said AFN National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak.

Following the new mandate provided by First Nations-in-Assembly at the Special Chiefs Assembly in October 2024, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak informed the Government of Canada of the mandate and called on Canada to return to the negotiating table with a revised mandate aligned with Chiefs' direction. The Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, Patty Hajdu, has been invited to speak at this week's AFN Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, Ontario. The AFN Executive Committee continues to meet regularly to review the status of this critical file.

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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. 

For more information, please contact:

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

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

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