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Assembly of First Nations
Assemblée des Premières Nations  (French)
Assembly of First Nations (emblem).png
AFN Logo
Abbreviation AFN
Formation Developed from the NIB beginning in 1978, eventually holding its first meeting in April 1982 in Penticton, British Columbia.
Headquarters Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Region served
 Canada
Official language
 English, French
National Chief
 Cindy Woodhouse

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a group that brings together First Nations leaders from across Canada. It's like a big meeting where chiefs from different First Nations communities come together. The AFN works to protect and advance the rights and interests of First Nations people in Canada. This includes important areas like health, education, culture, and language.

The AFN was created in 1982. It was inspired by how the United Nations General Assembly works. Before the AFN, there was another group called the National Indian Brotherhood.

Understanding First Nations Rights

First Nations are the original peoples of Canada. They have special rights because they were here first. These are called aboriginal and treaty rights. Treaties are agreements made between First Nations and the Canadian government. The AFN helps make sure these rights are respected.

Other Indigenous groups, like the Métis and Inuit, have their own organizations. The AFN mainly represents First Nations people who are officially recognized by the government.

How the AFN Started

Indigenous peoples in North America have a long history of forming groups to work together. Long ago, before Europeans arrived, there were powerful groups like the Iroquois Confederacy. These groups helped different nations live together and make decisions.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, more regional Indigenous groups formed in Canada. After World War II, even more groups started. They wanted to protect their land and cultures.

From National Indian Council to Brotherhood

In 1961, a group called the National Indian Council (NIC) was formed. It aimed to represent all Indigenous peoples in Canada, except the Inuit. However, this group faced challenges and broke apart in 1967.

Then, in 1970, the National Indian Brotherhood (NIB) was created. This group brought together different provincial and territorial organizations for First Nations. It was a big step towards a united voice.

Standing Up for Rights

The NIB quickly became important. In 1969, the Canadian government suggested a plan called the "White Paper." This plan would have ended special rights for First Nations. It would have treated them like any other group of people in Canada.

The NIB strongly disagreed with this plan. They worked with churches and other groups to oppose it. In 1970, NIB leaders presented their own plan, called "Citizens Plus" or "The Red Paper." They told the Prime Minister that the White Paper was not what First Nations wanted. Because of this strong opposition, the government decided not to go ahead with the White Paper.

In 1972, the NIB presented another important idea: "Indian Control of Indian Education." This meant that First Nations communities should be in charge of their own schools. The government agreed to this. This was a big step towards First Nations having more control over their own lives. It also helped end the Canadian Residential School System, which had caused a lot of harm to Indigenous children.

In 1973, a major court decision called the Calder case happened. This case showed that First Nations had more rights than many people thought. The Prime Minister at the time even said, "You have more rights than I thought you did."

The NIB also started working with the United Nations. This helped bring attention to Indigenous rights on a global scale.

The Chiefs Take the Lead

Over time, individual First Nations chiefs wanted to have a more direct say in national discussions. They felt their voices were not always heard through the existing structure.

In 1978, the NIB organized an "All Chiefs Conference." This was a meeting where chiefs from across Canada could come together. The chiefs loved this idea. They decided that this "All Chief Conference" should be the main voice for First Nations people in Canada.

Around the same time, Canada was making changes to its own constitution. First Nations leaders worried about what this would mean for their treaty rights. They felt it was important for chiefs to have strong national leadership.

So, the chiefs decided to create a new organization. They used the United Nations General Assembly as a model for how it would work. In April 1982, the chiefs held their first meeting as the "Assembly of First Nations" (AFN) in Penticton, British Columbia. This new structure allowed individual chiefs to be members and vote directly.

How the AFN Works

The AFN works to represent First Nations interests to the Canadian government and the public. It helps discuss important issues and find solutions.

Sometimes, people have different ideas about how the AFN should work. The AFN gets most of its money from the government. Some people wonder if this makes it too close to the government. But many First Nations people also support the AFN and its work.

In 2013, some news reports talked about how the AFN and police groups had discussions about managing large protests related to First Nations rights. These discussions aimed to find ways to handle situations peacefully.

AFN Leadership and Structure

The AFN has several important parts that help it run:

  • National Chief: This person is the main leader of the AFN. They are elected for a three-year term.
  • First Nations-in-Assembly: This is the main meeting where all the chiefs come together to make decisions.
  • The Executive Committee: This group includes the National Chief and regional chiefs from each province and territory.
  • Secretariat: This is the staff that helps with the daily work of the AFN.
  • Advisory Councils: These groups give advice on specific topics. They include:

* Council of Elders (wise older members) * Women's Council * Youth Council * Veterans' Council * 2SLGBTQQIA+ Council

Past Leaders

Presidents of the National Indian Brotherhood

National Chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations

Related Topics

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Asamblea de las Naciones Originarias para niños

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