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...
extremely languages loss symbolic
We're extremely pleased. It's about symbolic recognition of the loss of languages and cultures.
basic connect lack nations
Unfortunately, many First Nations communities still lack the basic infrastructure to connect to the Internet,
agreement cause clearly complex delicate experts held involved package position proposed tinkering view
Our position is that it must be implemented as is. It's a very complex agreement. A lot of detail. Very delicate proposition and any tinkering with the proposed compensation package would cause it to unravel. And that's a view held very clearly by our experts who were involved in the negotiations.
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.
anxious bring chapter people terrible
People are anxious to bring this terrible chapter to a close.
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,
national tragedy
That is a national tragedy and an international embarrassment.
afford needs
It needs to be addressed immediately. We can't afford to wait,
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.
general law suggested
It's been suggested that it will be a law of general applications with some exclusions.
incredible opportunity slip
This is an incredible opportunity for us, and we can't let it slip by.
justice moment wonderful
It's a wonderful day, ... I know that every moment has been worthwhile. Justice has prevailed.