ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA CHIEFS SECRETARIAT INC.

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

December 2, 2014
Attention:

RE:

Chief and Councils, Manitoba First Nations

Tribal Councils

Invitation to attend Families First Forum

As a member of the AFN Special Chiefs Assembly Host Committee, I am pleased to invite all First
Nation individuals and organizations to attend the Families First Forum:
DATE:
TIME:
LOCATION:

Monday, December 8, 2014

8:30am to 5:00pm
Canadian Human Rights Museum, 85 Israel Asper Way, Winnipeg

Taking place the day before the December 9-11, 2104 AFN Assembly, the Forum will begin with a
panel discussion, followed by two concurrent sessions on the following topics:

Families First a made in Manitoba approach for action in response to the call for a national
inquiry in missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls;

Bringing Our Children Home Manitoba First Nations approach to the child welfare system

Determining an Indigenous Womens Leadership Framework Workshop Skills, knowledge and

judgement of Indigenous women leaders

Information on National PTO, Federal and Provincial Governments Activities National

Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Women, and Framework of Action for Ending Violence
Against Women

Attached please find the registration form and preliminary draft agenda and submit to Shauna Fontaine,
SCO: shauna.fontaine@scoinc.mb.ca: tel.: (204) 946 1869; fax (204) 946 1871. For a copy of the
registration online, please go to http://www.ourlandourpeopleourtime.com.
Please be advised AMC will not be responsible for travel arrangements.
Sincerely,
ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA CHIEFS

Marcel Balfour
A/Executive Director
Encl.

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

ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS SPECIAL ASSEMBLY

Our People, Our Land, Our Time

Families First Forum

Location: Canadian Human Rights Museum
Monday, December 8, 2014
8:30am to 5:00pm
Preliminary Draft Agenda
8:30 - 9:30am

Water Ceremony
Sandra Delaronde, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak

10:00

Opening Prayer
Elder Florence Paynter
Elder William Lathlin
Welcome
Tina Keeper, MKO
Eva Wilson-Fontaine, Anish Corporation
Welcoming Remarks
Grand Chief David Harper, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
Chief Francine Meeches, Swan Lake First Nation, AMC - First Nations
Womens Committee

11:00

Panel Discussion
Moderator, Shauna Fontaine, Southern Chiefs Organization
Dr. Marie Wilson, Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Diane Kelly, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre Inc.
Chief Cathy Merrick, Pimicikamak (Cross Lake) Cree Nation, MKO
Womens Council
Bernadette Smith, Family and Grassroots Perspective

12:00 - 1:00 pm

Energizer
Lunch (Provided)

1:00 - 3:45

Concurrent Sessions

1:00 2:15

Families First
- MMIWG Inquiry / Roundtable and Action
Chief Francine Meeches, Swan Lake First Nation, Chairperson, AMCFirst Nations Womens Committee
Chief Cathy Merrick, Pimicikamak (Cross Lake) Cree Nation, Member,
AMC-First Nations Womens Committee

Determining an Indigenous Women Leadership Framework

Workshop
- Skills, Knowledge and Judgment of Indigenous Women Leaders
Sandra Delaronde, MKO
2:30 3:45

Bringing Our Children Home

- Bringing Our Children Home Report and Action Plan
Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, AMC
Kathleen Bluesky, AMC
Information Session on National PTO, Federal and Provincial
Governments Activities
- National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Women
- Framework of Action to End Violence Against Women & Girls
Karen Campbell, Assembly of First Nations
Nahanni Fontaine, Special Advisor on Aboriginal Womens Issues,
Province of Manitoba

3:45 5:00

Recap / Potential AFN Resolution

Closing Remarks:
Gail Stephens, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian
Museum of Human Rights
Energizer
Closing Prayer
Elder Florence Paynter
Elder William Lathlin
Adjournment