On Wednesday many important Indians got together at the forum on Brokenhead Ojibway Nation that was dedicated to future elections. Sheila North and Katherine Whitecloud were also among them. Both of these women are from Manitoba.
Sheila and Katherine shared their opinions on the future of Canadian Indians. They also touched on the most important topics.
Previously Katherine Whitecloud was the Manitoba regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations and she is running for a national chief for the first time. Sheila North is Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak at the current moment and she is also running for this position for the first time.
Perry Bellegarde, the current national chief, and Miles Richardson, the third candidate, were also present at the forum. Russ Diabo could not get to the forum because of personal problems.
Grand Chief Arlen Dumas made a speech about the fact that the most important purpose of the future leader is to find a constructive way to move forward. Unfortunately, the standard of living of the Indian population of Canada is much lower than that of the rest of Canadians.
So, the forum participants are sure that AFN will be able to protect the Indigenous population, to create new opportunities and to help realize Canadian Indians in various spheres of life. Favorable cooperation with representatives of the Canadian government is also in the future plans.
Some of the problems that will be solved by the new leader of the Canadian Indians are the lack of housing and the poverty in which the Indigenous people live.
The forum was organized so that all chiefs from Manitoba could discuss all their issues of interest. The elections will be held next week and all Canadian chiefs will get together to give their voices for the new leader.