Le Lézard
Subjects: POL, NTA, AVO

First Nations Citizenship Is Not for Sale


WENDAKE, QC, June 14, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - A recent CBC the National report once again highlights the fraudulent practices of an organization that falsely claims to represent First Nations and dangles individuals with Status Indian rights, while these individuals are not entitled to the legitimate and exclusive rights of First Nations members who are the sole recognized rights bearers as Status Indians under the Federal Indian Act.

The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) strongly denounces these practices which have been going on for a long time, and which have been tolerated for too long, particularly by the federal government, whose inaction and lack of clarity have allowed non-representative organizations to emerge and develop. We are asking this government to take their responsibility.

"Let us be very clear on this: no one can, under any circumstances, buy the Indian status or pay to belong to a First Nation. Our citizenship is not for sale!", said Ghislain Picard, Chief of the AFNQL.

The fraud offences that are committed are not the responsibility of the AFNQL, which demands that governments act quickly and firmly to stop these practices. The AFNQL Chief is very concerned that these fraudulent acts could cause negative impacts and compromise the access to status for any person dully recognized to belong to any of the 10 nations in Quebec and Labrador.

"The federal government is mainly responsible for the situation that the AFNQL denounces today. On the one hand, it continues to intervene without the agreement of the Chiefs in the definition of First Nations citizenship and, on the other hand, it has allowed, if not encouraged and even financed self-proclaimed organizations who, without any accountability, have been pretending for far too long to represent the "non-status Indigenous peoples or those living in urban settings." Only First Nations Governments and their accountable organizations have the responsibility and the right to represent First Nations people, regardless of where they live.

The Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations recently appointed a Special Representative to consult on the issue of status and citizenship. The AFNQL will certainly benefit from this opportunity to clearly demonstrate that membership of Nations is strictly the authority of the legitimate First Nations' elected officials, and to affirm once again that First Nations citizenship is not for sale! ," concludes Ghislain Picard.

About the AFNQL
The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is the political organization regrouping 43 Chiefs of the First Nations in Quebec and Labrador. Follow us on Twitter @APNQL

 

SOURCE Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador



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