Address by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde

National Chief
Perry Bellegarde

In this address to B.C. business leaders, National Chief Perry Bellegarde will identify some of the key goals for his second term at the helm of the Assembly of First Nations.

One of those goals is for the general public to have a much better understanding of the Assembly of First Nations and its key priorities. These priorities include the protection and support for First Nations' languages and the implementation of the United Nations' Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

National Chief Bellegarde will highlight the direct link between First Nations rights and the desire to create a stable business environment in Canada. He will also discuss the prerequisites for creating full partnerships between businesses and First Nations.

With the correct steps in place, Canada has the opportunity to create a very stable foundation for its future.

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Moderator

Joy Cramer
Director, Indigenous Business Programs
Beedie School of Business, SFU

About the speaker:

Perry Bellegarde, re-elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2018, holds a wealth of leadership experience. He's spent the past thirty years putting into practice his strong beliefs on the laws and traditions instilled in him by the many Chiefs and Elders he has known over the years. Passionate and unrelenting in creating real, measurable progress on the priorities that matter most to First Nations, National Chief Bellegarde is a strong advocate for honouring and implementing Inherent and Treaty rights, title and jurisdiction.

Originally from Little Black Bear First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory, he has served as Tribal Council Representative for the Touchwood-File Hills-Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Saskatchewan Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations, as well as Chief and Councillor for the Little Black Bear First Nation. He has experience and expertise in leadership at all levels of First Nations governance. In 2014, the Chiefs-in-Assembly first elected Perry as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. He was re-elected to the position in July 2018.

As Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Perry Bellegarde remains committed to building on the momentum created in his first term. His national platform and agenda, Closing the Gap, remains a top priority and has directly influenced the federal government's planning and priorities.

National Chief Bellegarde has been recognized numerous times as a First Nations leader. He has been awarded the Confederation Medal, the Saskatchewan Medal, and the Queen's Jubilee Medal on two separate occasions. This year, the Province of Saskatchewan recognized Perry with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.

National Chief Bellegarde remains grateful for the strength and vision he has gained from the Elders. He vows to always place great importance on respecting their teachings. Their guidance has made him a man of foresight and a leader for generations.

See perrybellegarde.com and afn.ca for additional information regarding National Chief Perry Bellegarde's leadership.