Honouring Promises: Priorities for Progress and Prosperity

National Chief
Perry Bellegarde

On September 9, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde launched Honouring Promises: 2019 Federal Election Priorities for First Nations and Canada which aimed to frame the dialogue around First Nations during the election and set the agenda for the next four years.

This document put a focus on the environment, restorative justice, and infrastructure investments among many AFN priorities. Honouring Promises is a path forward, calling for a comprehensive set of commitments for federal parties and First Nations to maintain momentum and work together for a stronger Canada. This document builds on the success of Closing the Gap: 2015 Federal Election Priorities for First Nations and Canada which helped define First Nations priorities in 2015.

National Chief Bellegarde will speak to the ambitious agenda set out in Honouring Promises, the impact and influence of First Nations on the federal agenda, and why First Nations priorities are Canada's priorities.

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.

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