First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine called on Canadian premiers yesterday to commit funding to improve the socio-economic conditions of aboriginal communities.
The call follows last month's residential-schools apology.
Fontaine and other First Nations leaders are meeting with the premiers tomorrow as part of the Council of the Federation in
"This is an important meeting for us because it's post-apology," Fontaine said before a meeting of the Assembly of First Nations, also taking place in
The historic apologies delivered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to those who suffered in residential schools will be front and centre at the AFN meeting.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner will address the assembly after a commemorative ceremony today.
Claudette Dumont-Smith, a writer and member of the Kitigan Zibi Algonquin community near Maniwaki, Que., was given a five-year mandate to meet with anyone affected - including students, teachers, church officials and community leaders - and to discuss past wrongs.
Fontaine said the apologies and the work of the commission are "very important" for the survivors - and for the country.
"We hope that one of the positive outcomes will be writing the missing chapter in Canadian history. That would be so significant," he said. But concrete actions are needed to back all the talking, he added.
For instance, the First Nations would like more funding for education, training, and skills development for aboriginal children.
"What we want to see from the Council of the Federation is continuous support to fill the gap of quality of life between Canadians and us," Fontaine said.
He didn't put a dollar figure on his demands.
He recalled that the Conservatives refused to move forward with the $5.1-billion Kelowna Accord, which would have helped narrow the gaps in education, health, housing and economic development.
The deal was signed by former prime minister Paul Martin, provincial and aboriginal leaders just before the election in December 2005, after 18 months of negotiations.
Martin introduced a private member's bill this year to force the Tories to implement the Kelowna Accord. However, there was no money attached to the bill.
"If we are going to make any progress on closing the gap, we are going to need help from the premiers," Fontaine said.
The
The Council of the Federation meets tomorrow through Friday. Climate change and interprovincial trade are among the hot topics on the table.