HEAD OFFICE: Swan Lake First Nation Unit 9-4820 Portage Avenue Headingley, Manitoba R4H 1C8

AS S E MBL Y OF MANI T OBA C HI E F S S E C RE T ARI AT I NC .

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Floor 275 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B3 Telephone: (204) 956-0610 Fax: (204) 956-2109


May 16, 2014

National Post
365 Bloor St. East, 3rd Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 3L

ATTENTION: EDITOR

Dear Editor:

RE: RIFT AMONG FIRST NATIONS LEADERS ARTICLE BY PETER ONEIL

Your article by Peter O'Neill contains material inaccuracies which must be corrected.

First, you refer to a group of leaders "claiming to represent the Confederacy of Nations." The
meeting was duly convened, notice provided, and was chaired by Ghislain Picard, head of the
AFN Quebec Region and the spokesperson for the AFN Executive Committee during the vacuum
resulting from the resignation of the National Chief.

You quote our colleague, B.C. Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould. It is true that the AFN
Executive Committee did not agree to call the meeting, as it might have, which meant that the
Confederacy itself had to call its own meeting for the First Quarter of 2014, since the Charter
stipulates the Confederacy must meet "quarterly".

I heard no "political jockeying" or campaigning by anyone. Instead, there were frequent calls for
unity.

There was no resolution passed on May 15 at the meeting of the Assembly of First Nations
Confederacy of Nations. Neither was there a "rift". There was reasonable discussion -- not even
"debate" -- as to alternatives available to deal with the bullying of the Federal Government. In
all instances, the well-being of both the First Nations and of Canada generally was under
consideration.

There is no "internal crisis" within the AFN. There may be different views of course -- as there is
in Parliament on a daily basis -- but that has produced healthy and respectful
discussion. Neither is there a "leadership vacuum". Unlike Canada's own political system, the
power lies with the First Nations, whose people select leaders to represent them in regional
and national fora. The Charter of the Assembly of First Nations gives the National Chief a
"sacred trust" to set out the positions adopted by the Chief in Assembly and expresses no
personal opinions of his own.

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HEAD OFFICE: Swan Lake First Nation Unit 9-4820 Portage Avenue Headingley, Manitoba R4H 1C8

National Post Editor
May 16, 2014
Page 2

Peter O'Neill was not present during any part of the meeting. The National Post owes First
Nations and its own readers an apology for these numerous unfortunate errors which unfairly
tarnish our reputation.

Sincerely,

ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA CHIEFS



Niibin Makwa
Derek J. Nepinak, LLB, B.A. (Hons.)
Grand Chief, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs