TORONTO -- The Assembly of First Nations is hoping to bring the atrocities of residential schools back into the national conversation after releasing its election priorities for the campaign.
The document, entitled The Healing Path Forward, outlines the five main priorities the AFN hopes the federal parties address in their own platforms:
Were asking every party to commit to them, whether theyre aligned with their platform or not, AFN National Chief RoseAnne Archibald told CTVs Power Play on Tuesday. We want them certainly to incorporate more of these into their platform if they havent already done so.
When it comes to residential schools and unmarked graves, the AFN is specifically calling for funding to communities affected by these graves, investing in strengthening and rebuilding First Nations and providing a National Indigenous healing organization.
These are our children, these are our loved ones, Archibald said. When you think about First Nations issues and whats happening in our communities, its our children who are affected. Its our children living in overcrowded homes of 10 or 20 people, its our children who are receiving education thats not on par with non-Indigenous children. Our children are still being taken by child welfare systems.
While Indigenous issues and residential schools had been a hot-button issue across Canada earlier this summer, the election campaign has been fairly quiet on the topic to date.
The fact that we just came out with our document today, will put that issue back onto peoples plates in terms of having them answer some of these questions, Archibald said.
Its an ongoing issue, itll be at least a few years before we get through all of this ground penetrating radar to examine all of the schools across Canada. So its an ongoing issue and its going to be at the forefront and were going to keep talking about and making sure that all of our children are recovered.
For a group of demonstrators outside Manitobas legislative building whove vowed to remain camped on the grounds until all the school sites have been searched, the lack of discourse has been frustrating.
Even though there are still children being found, theres still a lot of stories coming to light, I feel like were still at a stand still because there are officials who are neglecting to speak about it, said Aaliyah Leach, a co-organizer of the group.
As part of the document, the AFN is also calling for all parties to fully implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions calls to action, work in partnership with First Nations to implement Indigenous water rights, provide resources for recovery from the pandemic and return Crown lands to First Nations.
We need to get to equality and equity and justice for our children and for our community and this election time is the time to start talking about this, Archibald said.
Its estimated that Crown lands, both provincial and federal, make up upwards of 89 per cent of Canada and Archibald said the request is part of a growing land back movement.
It is a part of reparations, she said. If you think about the size of Canada, all the nations that were here prior to contact, this land was given to us by the creator we have sacred obligations to this land.
According to CTVNews.cas platform tracker, the Liberals have pledged $18 billion in funding over the next five years to improve the quality of life and create new opportunities for Indigenous communities. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have promised funding for the search of unmarked graves and $1 billion in funding to support mental health and drug treatment programs.
The NDP are promising to fully fund the search of all residential schools for more unmarked graves and to fully implement the 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The Green Party is pledging to implement every recommendation from Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit report, the TRC and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Bloc Quebecois is pledging to replace the Indian Act with a new set of nation-to-nation treaties.
The AFN is not supporting any party because it says work will need to be done regardless of which party forms the next government. The AFN adds that there are 50 Indigenous candidates running in this election, 28 of whom are from the NDP.
For Real Carriere, a political science professor at the University of Manitoba, the amount of Indigenous candidates in the election is crucial to keeping Indigenous issues in the campaign conversation.
Thats very important to Indigenous people to have that representation and its very important for those representatives to represent Indigenous issues, he said.
With files from The Canadian Press
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Recovery of children in unmarked graves at the top of First Nations election priorities - CTV News
