Stewart comes west

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Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Jane Stewart was in Edmonton on Aug. 6, for a "meet and greet" reception with some Alberta First Nation chiefs.

Sworn into office on June 11, the visit was part of Stewart's first national tour of First Nations and their chiefs. She said the tour is informal.

"It is a 'meet the chiefs.' I am not announcing anything new with the chiefs," she said. "It's to get a sense of what the issues are region by region. Economic development has been a top issue.

Stewart is committed to getting communities off the welfare system and into meaningful economic roles within society. For that, more bi-lateral relationships with business, government (provincial and federal) and Native people need to be made.

"We need to reach out and bring in more allies.," she said.

The minister hopes that new Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Grand Chief Phil Fontaine will be one of those allies.

Stewart has already met Fontaine and will work closely with him in the future.

"I'm hopeful that we will have a strong relationship," she said.