AMC Grand Chief Kyra Wilson Calls on Federal Party Leaders to Engage with First Nations in Manitoba.

Press Release

Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg – With 30 days remaining until the federal election, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is calling on all federal party leaders to uphold the Treaty relationship by meeting with First Nations leadership in Manitoba.

To date, not one party leader has reached out.

“First Nations are reminding Canada that we built this table together through Treaty,” said AMC Grand Chief Kyra Wilson. “The future of this country includes First Nations as full partners in governance. We represent a powerful and growing population on and off reserve. Our voice and votes are strong. We have reached out to both the Conservative and Liberal leadership and they have indicated their schedules don’t allow for a meeting at this time.If party leaders are not making time for First Nations then it would appear that First Nations partnerships are not important to them.” Said Grand Chief Wilson.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs represents 63 First Nations in Manitoba and remind all federal parties that Treaty rights and First Nations jurisdiction are fundamental to the governance of this country. If party leaders are serious about reconciliation, they need to demonstrate it through direct and meaningful dialogue with our leadership.

“If federal leaders are truly committed to reconciliation, they must show it by building relationships with First Nations leadership,” said Grand Chief Wilson. “We are not just voting constituents, we are Treaty partners and sovereign Nations with jurisdiction, vision and solutions.”

Delays in action have real consequences. First Nations have seen this clearly in the long and difficult path to begin the search of the Prairie Green Landfill. When governments fail to act, it’s First Nations families who are left waiting. Leadership means showing up. On time, with intention and ready to move forward.

The AMC reminds federal leaders that the future of Canada must continue to be built in partnership with First Nations and that partnership starts now.

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For more information, please contact:

Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email:  media@manitobachiefs.com

About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of all 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe, Nehetho / Ininew, Anisininew, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate peoples.

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