Assembly of First Nations

AFN Regional Chief of Alberta

P.O. Box 1688, Maskwacis, AB T0C 1N0
Phone: (780) 585-4238 Fax: (780) 585-4297

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release
AFN Regional Chief for Alberta Supports Onion Lake Cree Nation in their court actions
against the federal government regarding the implementation of the First Nations
Financial Transparency Act
August 18, 2015, Maskwacis, AB: Onion Lake First Nation will be in federal court in
Saskatoon, SK on August 19th and 20th, for a two-day hearing to have the federal
government enjoined from the continued implementation of the First Nations Financial
Transparency Act (FNFTA). Onion Lake is asking the federal court for an injunction in
order that they can pursue their own case against the federal government.
As former Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, and former
Chief of my nation, I have written many letters to the Prime Minister and the minister of
Aboriginal Affairs speaking out against the federal governments approach in imposing
federal legislation, regulations and policy changes. In February 2013, I made a
presentation the Senate on our opposition to Bill C27, as it was known at that time. It is
unfortunate that our efforts to engage and provide our positions to the federal government
are ignored and First Nations are forced into the courts to resolve issues, creating a
greater financial burden on all parties, said Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief
for Alberta, Craig Makinaw.
In 2014, in opposition to the unconstitutional and unlawful imposition of the First
Nations Financial Transparency Act (FNFTA), five First Nations filed litigation against
the federal government. They are the Athabasca Chipewyan, Onion Lake Cree Nation,
Sawridge Band, Ochapowace First Nation, and Thunderchild First Nation. Onion Lake
filed litigation against the federal government in November 2014. The following month,
the federal government began its own court action against Onion Lake. In order to move
its own case forward, Onion Lake has filed for an injunction against the federal
government.
The FNFTA was passed and enforced in a manner which disregarded the Crowns
constitutional and legal obligations towards First Nations. The federal court needs no
reminder that Aboriginal and Treaty rights are recognized and affirmed in the
Constitution Act, 1982, and Supreme Court of Canada rulings have supported the
Crowns legal duty to consult and accommodate First Nations when Crown decisions
may adversely impact those rights. I commend Okimaw Fox and Onion Lake Cree
Nation, and support their action against the federal government regarding the FNFTA,
concluded Regional Chief Makinaw.

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Craig Makinaw is the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Regional Chief for Alberta.
Makinaw is the former Chief and longtime member of Council for Ermineskin Cree
Nation, and former Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations.
- 30 For more information: Ann Gladue-Buffalo (587) 588 - 7254