Phil Fontaine
Phil Fontaine
Larry PhillipFontaine, OC OMis an Aboriginal Canadian leader. He completed his third and final term as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2009...
action agreement assembly certainty class considered essential establish matter nations secure suit views whatever
We have filed a class action suit because we want to secure a place at the table, ... We want to establish some certainty in the process, that the views of the Assembly of First Nations will be considered as an essential matter in whatever agreement is concluded.
denied designed eradicate learn opportunity schools
The residential schools were designed to eradicate any sense of Indian-ness. They denied us the opportunity to learn about ourselves.
expressed issue minister
We don't take issue with anything the minister has expressed here today.
treated
We can't be treated as secondary. We can't be an after-thought,
changes clear hand invite negotiate table
It is clear to us that we have strengthened our hand considerably and that governments are going to have to invite us to the table to negotiate the kind of changes that we need for our people.
listening plug pull tells
No one wanted to pull the plug before. That tells me they are listening and they see us as an important issue.
far imagine seen ten
We have seen how far we can go in two years, imagine how far we can go in ten years.
order talk talking
When we talk about an appropriate response, we're talking in the order of $5-billion.
believe beyond class compared dealing importance influence information issues public seem speaking sphere vehicle
We believe in the importance of public education, public information as a vehicle for change. Speaking to a class of 30 may seem to be of little consequence compared to the issues we're dealing with, but it has a sphere of influence beyond that.
government habit handing
The government is not in the habit of handing out money.
busy extremely huge next time year
Next year is going to be an extremely busy time for us. It's going to be a huge undertaking.
national tragedy
That is a national tragedy and an international embarrassment.
general law suggested
It's been suggested that it will be a law of general applications with some exclusions.
afford needs
It needs to be addressed immediately. We can't afford to wait,