Premier Kathleen Wynne

Office of the Premier of Ontario

Legislative Building, Queens Park
Toronto, ON
M7A 1A1
CONFIDENTIAL
February 22, 2016
Dear Premier Wynne,
We are writing this joint letter as nationally elected leaders of our respective organizations to express our
surprise and great disappointment in not receiving an invitation from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the
upcoming First Ministers meeting with First Nations, Inuit, and Mtis leaders. The meeting is set for
March 2, 2016, in Vancouver and is meant to begin the formal process on how to address climate change.
As you are aware, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and the Native Womens Association of
Canada (NWAC) are officially recognized as two of the five National Aboriginal Organizations (NAOs)
by all levels of governments.
A recent story published by APTN (February 18, 2016) has confirmed that the Prime Ministers Office
(PMO) has only invited the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), and the
Mtis National Council (MNC) to the March 2nd meeting with the Prime Minister. Based on the news
article, the purpose of the meeting is meant for organizations representing title holders, meaning
those with Aboriginal rights under Section 35 of the Constitution
This explanation, at best, is weak and holds no legal weight according to advice provided by our
respective legal teams. Clearly this distinctions-based approach and the newly constructed Nation-toNation approach are discriminatory, exclusionary, non-inclusive, and unsupported by either facts or law.
Moreover, if the meeting were to be held for only title holders then the AFN, MNC, and ITK invitation
must be withdrawn, and only true titleholders such as the Mohawk, Mi'kmaq, and Cree Nations, among
the more than fifty others, should be invited.
Even more disturbing is the fact that both of our organizations are at the forefront of the many critical
issues affecting Indigenous Peoples in Canada. As you are aware, NWAC has for years, led and continues
to lead the national conversation that successfully pressured the Federal government to hold a national
inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Furthermore, CAP represents
over 70 per cent, or 1.1-million Indigenous peoples living off-reserve a number that continues to
increase over time. In addition, CAP is soon expecting to hear the Supreme Courts final decision on the
historic case of Daniels vs. the Crown, which we are confident, will reaffirm the federal governments

fiduciary responsibilities to Mtis, and non-status Indians living off-reserve, under section 91(24) of the
Constitution Act, 1867.
In January 2016, another meeting was quietly arranged with federal, provincial and territorial health
Ministers in Vancouver. NWAC and CAP were excluded and not invited to participate in the Health
Accord discussions, where we should have been because of the poor health status of Aboriginal men and
women, regardless of where they live.
At a meeting held on December 16, 2015, the Prime Minister reiterated the Federal Governments
commitment to include all five NAOs in high-level discussions pertaining to Indigenous issues.
Undoubtedly, climate change is an issue that will affect both on and off-reserve Indigenous peoples for
generations to come. Furthermore, Aboriginal women have always been regarded as the protectors of the
water. This is a matter and responsibility they take seriously and must be included in discussions that will
affect them as the mothers or our nations. NWAC and CAP represent an important and growing
population who are at forefront of the battle against climate change. It is extremely important that all
Indigenous voices are heard and not just a select few.
As official leaders, we have decided that we will be in Vancouver to take part in these important
discussions. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that all Indigenous peoples are represented during
these talks. We ask for your support regarding this urgent matter and we intend to hold the Prime Minister
accountable to his commitment of inclusion as he indicated below:
Canadas Indigenous peoples have a sacred relationship with the Earth. Their unique perspective
will help guide us in developing policies that ensure our land, air and water are protected for
future generations.
- Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Respectfully,

Dwight Dorey, MA
National Chief
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

Cc:

Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Provincial and Territorial Premiers
CAP Board of Directors
NWAC Board of Directors

Dawn Lavell-Harvard, PhD

President
Native Womens Association of Canada