AMC Declares Federal Government Attempting to Silence the Political Advocacy voice of First Nations

For immediate release

Winnipeg, MB – September 6, 2012 The Federal Government’s recent announcement on cuts to First Nations organizations it calls ‘concrete steps to create conditions for healthier, more self-sufficient Aboriginal communities’, is rather an attempt to silence the political and advocacy voice of First Nations people in Manitoba and across Canada.

The new model being forced on advocacy agents like the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) suggests cuts of up to 80% of core funding as the government attempts to make agencies ‘more equitable.’ While being one of the loudest advocates for First Nations people in Manitoba and Canada, the AMC is now one of the hardest hit political organizations in Canada under the Harper governmentÂ’s latest policy plan.

For AMC the ‘concrete steps’ represented by the federal government could mean an 81% cut in its core funding that could see a loss of over half (52%) of its staff. read more