Saskatchewan chiefs continue to criticize AFN action

Morley Watson won’t go as far as to say there is a “rift” between the chiefs of Saskatchewan and National Chief Shawn Atleo and the organization he heads, the Assembly of First Nations.

But disapproval with recent actions taken by Atleo became apparent during the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nation’s winter legislative assembly in mid-February.

Atleo addressed the gathering and then, during a question and answer period, was hit with some hard questions, most of which centred around the First Nations-Crown gathering in January and the action plan that resulted.

“The chiefs of Saskatchewan really let the national chief know … the whole releasing, the authoring of the plan, really didn’t meet … what we needed here in Saskatchewan,” said Watson, who serves as interim chief for the FSIN.

Atleo was criticized for not spending enough time in the consultation process with chiefs in putting together the plan, The 2012 First Nations Plan: Honouring our Past, Affirming our Rights and Seizing our Future.

“We take the consultation very, very seriously. If we expect governments and agencies to consult with us, we also have to consult with ourselves,” said Watson.

Despite the fact the plan is based on resolutions passed in previous AFN assemblies, Saskatchewan chiefs are displeased that the final draft of the plan wasn’t presented to them for endorsement or strengthening before it was released.

“(Saskatchewan chiefs have) asked us to notify the government of Saskatchewan and the AFN to really cease and desist of the implementation on any parts of the action plan,” said Watson.

This doesn’t mean that the chiefs are by-passing the AFN in taking action on behalf of Saskatchewan, he said. Instead, chiefs are serving notice, reminding the AFN that they work for chiefs across the country.

“The chiefs want to have their final stamp on documents like the action plan. They want to go through it, they want to make sure that’s the message they’re sending,” said Watson. “What they’re saying to the FSIN and AFN, anything further you’re going to present on our behalf, we want to sit down and make sure that’s the message we want to go forward to the different governments.”

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has come forward supporting FSIN’s stand and Alberta Chiefs are meeting soon and Watson expects a similar endorsement.

The day after FSIN’s assembly, Atleo issued an open letter to chiefs, recapping the steps that were taken in developing the action plan and stating in part, “…We insisted on a principled approach based on First Nations rights and including clear commitment on advancing Treaty implementation….”

FSIN’s disapproval of the action plan came on the heels of a news release issued by FSIN criticizing the recommendations made by the National Education Panel.  The panel was a joint effort of the federal government and the AFN. FSIN did not endorse the panel nor did it participate in the handful of Saskatchewan stops.

Both the panel’s report and the action plan resulting from the First Nations-Crown gathering are light on addressing treaty rights, said Watson.

“In any document that goes out, we always have to ensure that it’s strongly treaty-based. We feel our treaty right to education isn’t being presented in one form or another, that’s our job to ensure that we have the governments to stand up and notice it,” he said.

Watson holds that the dissension between Saskatchewan chiefs and the AFN is a matter of “differing opinions” and not a personality issue. Watson said a close race for leadership between Atleo and Little Black Bear First Nation Chief Perry Bellegarde in 2009 and the possibility of former FSIN Chief Blaine Favel challenging Atleo this July are not the cause of criticism from Saskatchewan chiefs.  Watson said he has been working closely with Atleo since September and has had no issue bringing Saskatchewan chiefs concerns forwards. He also noted that the national chief has a “tremendous challenge” in dealing with over 630 First Nations chiefs.

“I think at the end of the day, organizations go through these little rough spots. I think at the end of the day when we listen to our bosses, that being the chiefs, more often than not we come forward with a good game plan and good consensus on the issues we have to prioritize and move forward on,” said Watson.

Photo caption: Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo (middle) is presented with a blanket by Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations executive (from left) Fourth Vice Chief Simon Bird, Third Vice Chief E. Dutch Lerat, Second Vice Chief Bobby Cameron, and Interim Chief Morley Watson.

Photo: FSIN Legislative Assembly