Politics and disagreements over leadership at the Assembly of First Nations annual meeting stand in the way of indigenous issues that matter most, the co-chair of the group’s youth council said Wednesday.
Fighting back tears, Rosalie LaBillois told delegates that the youth council has been left to fend for itself on issues like child welfare, as executives and national head RoseAnne Archibald dominate discussion about her suspension.
“Every time you decide to fight each other, you forget about the children and young people you were once sworn to protect,” LaBillois said.
Chief Scott McLeod of Nipissing First Nation in Ontario later stepped up to the microphone to personally apologize to the youth council.
“I have listened to you and I am humbled by your words,” he said.
Assembly executives voted to suspend Archibald last month pending the results of investigations into four complaints against him.
Archibald has alleged that she was suspended for trying to investigate corruption within the assembly and called for a forensic audit of the organization.
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Much of the first day of the meeting was devoted to speeches and discussions about Archibald’s suspension. A vote to reaffirm his suspension was defeated.
Archibald said she wanted to be reinstated, but that emergency resolution was delayed until Wednesday and then delayed further as bosses review changes to the document.
Delegates are expected to debate an emergency resolution on Thursday calling for Archibald to be fully reinstated and an audit into possible information leaks within the AFN.
Bosses’ ‘fight’ over leadership diverts AFN’s focus from real issues: youth leader. #AFN
Archibald told delegates at the close of Wednesday’s agenda that the leadership debate will lead to “positive transformation.”
“I want you to know that there is a path to this evolutionary change that is needed in this organization, and I want to assure you that our time has come,” he said. “This meeting was that moment.”
The theme of the assembly meeting is “walking the path of healing.” It began the day after the AFN announced a $20 billion settlement to compensate First Nations children and their families for damage caused by chronic underfunding of child welfare on reserves.
The settlement still needs to be approved by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and the Federal Court.
Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, the AFN’s lead negotiator on the deal, presented details of the deal to assembly delegates on Wednesday.
“This child welfare agreement is the culmination of work by First Nations leaders and AFN staff for at least 20 years,” he said.
She said negotiators made sure the compensation process prioritizes youth and aims to minimize retraumatization of survivors.
“We have said time and time again that compensation will not eliminate the painful experience of First Nations as a result of this discrimination, however, the compensation team firmly believes that this settlement is in the best interest of First Nations children and their families. “, said.
He ended his speech by thanking the youth council for their calls to focus on issues affecting First Nations children.
“Thank you to our youth council for your total commitment to a better future for all children and young people, and for telling us what we need to hear,” he said.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 6, 2022.