Welcome

Position David Neegan for Grand Chief

Education / Youth

Our current education system is a disservice to all Aboriginal people. Not only does it fail to graduate our young people at rates that would impact communities positively, but also, it fails us in ways that we cannot begin to measure. We are forever educating our youth in a poorly underfunded system that is not comparable to the Canadian education system. It is important that we close the gap in funding shortfalls. It is equally important that we develop Aboriginal based curriculum. We have a proud and vast history that is not taught in our schools to our children. By centering our attention on teaching our children the importance of our shared history, we will raise the self-esteem of all youth, and by combining this with community youth programs, we can strengthen their spirits and culture.

Community First

We live in a society where the governments legislates laws and implements how they are to be carried out, it provides mandates for the legal system and decides on policy thus controlling the funding. When NAN negotiates with the government on issues such as land claims, economic development, resource sharing, infrastructure and health; they have little success in attaining our needs or protecting our interest. The NAN Executive has little leverage with the government. NAN can gain that leverage by focusing on the community. People change governments, not a few individuals at a regional level. Community First is about mobilizing First Nations to begin advocating and integrating what community issues are promoting or hindering nation building within our First Nations and naming what issues we want to jointly address and develop as one Aboriginal Nation. We need to sit together as leaders to set the direction rather than wait for the government to set the direction with the wave of the financial wand. Community First is working from the communities and reaching outward.

Self-Government

As we continue to negotiate for self-government, the federal and provincial governments are imposing a “municipal” style government with no additional revenue for First Nations. This is not “self-government”. The people of Nishnawbe-Aski Nation must control their own destiny by writing our own system of governance. NAN must work with the communities to make true self-government a reality. This is in no way a radical vision, this is the model developed by our NAN Elders years ago. We live in communities where Canadian and Federal Law is often implemented if the funding can afforded it otherwise we get ignored and left to our own devices. We have an opportunity to begin the work that our communities so desperately need.

Quality Assurance

Implement Quality Assurance (ISO compatible) to ensure the best service is delivered to the Chiefs and the communities. Quality Assurance creates a framework that clearly defines the role of NAN, list of procedures and verification the task is complete thus providing the people of NAN the assurance that their issues are being met in a well-defined time frame. Quality Assurance will guide all employees of the Nishnawbe- Aski Nation.