BR Premiers Meeting Indigenous Update – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Jul 18, 2018 

BOUCTOUCHE, N.B. – Canada’s premiers emerged from meetings with Indigenous leaders in New Brunswick today with little in the way of concrete initiatives.

The meeting is held prior to a summer gathering of provincial leaders in the seaside town of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, tomorrow and Friday.

But, three of the country’s largest Indigenous organizations bowed out of the talks for the second year in a row.

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples national chief Robert Bertrand, who represents off-reserve Indigenous people, attended the meeting along with Francyne Joe, president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant says the meeting in Bouctouche focused on economic partnerships and Indigenous children in care.

Gallant says he believes the talks were beneficial, although the premiers will likely discuss possible ways to attract more Indigenous groups in the future.

Bertrand says he believes there is value in meeting the premiers, and Joe says the issues facing organizations like her own are far too important to pass on the meeting.

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(The Canadian Press)

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