Phil Fontaine on overcoming First Nations poverty 3/3

AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine - speech to the Empire Club, Toronto, April 6, 2006. Part 3 of 3.

"I've seen calculations indicating that the energy, forestry and mining sectors contribute $141 billion to Canada's economy. Much of that economy would not be available to Canada if our ancestors were not willing to strike honourable agreements to share in the riches of this beautiful land. We are entitled - our people are entitled - to a fair share of this nation's prosperity. This is what our treaties tell us, that is what the Supreme Court says, and this is what our elders tell us. And increasingly, this is what Canadians are saying."

Sustainable development, mining, forestry, land claims, treaties, treaty rights, resource revenue sharing, voting, Elections Canada

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[fightnight79]

I think that treaties and reservations has made our people feel more lazy and defeated. We''ve been working so hard to declare national recognition when we should be declaring sovereignty?

[Mrreserveatim]

BREAK FREE CONFINES OF RESERVE PRISONS!! If 10 reserves could form township/ urban subdivisions; as is each reserve publicworks funding is $4000,000 per X 10=$4 mil. yearly.Using assembly line procuction could build 80 houses($50,000 each unit) per year X 10 = 800 houses.Equity qualifies them for higher PW funding. BGB Peepeekisis