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'UBCIC Members Support the Defeat of Nault's "First Nations Governance" (FNG) Initiative at Meeting in Ottawa: Will Encourage First Nations People to continue to Fight the Pre-ordained and Assimilative FNG Legislation.'

Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver - Representatives of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs' member communities helped to defeat the federal government's "First Nations' Governance" (FNG) Initiative, during a national meeting of First Nations held in Ottawa, December 4-6, 2001.

The UBCIC members joined with others to form the "First Nations Coalition for Inherent Rights". The "coalition" of First Nations from British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec was instrumental in rejecting the federal Minister of Indian Affairs proposed FNG Initiative.

The Assembly of First Nations Confederacy also adopted a resolution calling for Nault's resignation, or for the Prime Minister to remove him.

As expected, following the national Assembly of First Nations meeting, Robert Nault, has already stated he intends to ignore the majority decision of the democratically elected leadership of First Nations across Canada, and work with those First Nations who will support him. Minister Nault has also reportedly said: "I think it's high time that the (AFN) restructure itself so it can work with the government of Canada".

It is because of Nault's "arrogant, confrontational and disrespectful" attitude and his "divide and rule" approach that the AFN Confederacy meeting voted for his resignation.

Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, stated today "we have prepared information materials alerting all First Nations people about the threat to our inherent right of self-determination, which Bob Nault and his pre-ordained colonial-style legislation represents. We are encouraging all First Nations to continue to oppose the federal government's proposed FNG legislation using all the tools available at our disposal.