Policy Areas

• AFN National Youth Council
• AFN Women’s Council
• Coalition Building
• Communications Unit
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• Matrimonial Real Property
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• Resource Revenue Sharing
• Specific Claims
• Strategic Policy, Planning and Law
• Water
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AFN Women’s Council

AFN Women’s Council Gender- Framework Analysis
March 2009

AFN's Gender Re-Balancing Framework
June 2007

AFN Women’s Council Gender-Balanced Analysis
June 2007

AFN Women’s Council

The Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council (AFNWC) works with the AFN Secretariat to ensure that the concerns and perspectives of First Nations women inform the work of the AFN. Council members hold portfolio responsibilities, including participation in a wide range of panels, presentations and forums that are relevant to First Nations women.

• Resolution 12/2006 called for the re-establishment of the AFN Gender Secretariat.
• Resolution 2/2007 endorsed the AFN Women’s Council’s Gender Balanced Analysis Framework.
• Resolution 26/2008 rejected Bill C-47 (now C-8) and called for proper development and implementation of a meaningful process that respects First Nation jurisdiction and existing First Nation processes addressing Matrimonial Real Property (MRP).
• Resolution 21/2009 supported the implementation of a Gender Balanced Analysis (GBA) Framework.

Key Issues and Activities

The AFNWC continues to advance its culturally-relevant Gender Balanced Analysis (GBA) Framework that allows policy units, departments and stakeholders to assess the differential impacts of specific policies on men and women within a First Nations context. In July, the AFNWC, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Women’s Council and prominent First Nations women leaders attended the inaugural training session of the AFN’s newly enhanced GBA Framework, toolkit and training manual in Calgary. During a concurrent session at the AFN Annual General Assembly, the GBA Framework and training session were presented to the Chiefs-in-Assembly. Resolution 21/2009 supported the implementation of the GBA Framework and, as such, it is currently being incorporated into the AFN matrix re-structuring. The GBA Framework was also presented at an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Strategic Session in September. Discussions with INAC are ongoing regarding resources for phased GBA capacity building and train-the-trainer opportunities. The AFN GBA Framework will be ready for widespread distribution in 2010.

The AFNWC continues to participate on collaborative efforts and collective action on raising awareness for missing and murdered Aboriginal women. In conjunction with the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Amnesty International, Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action, Pauktuutit Inuit Women’s Association and Members of Parliament, the AFN Women’s Council participated in a week-long campaign calling on action from the federal government to address the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. This included opening remarks for the launch and press conference for Amnesty International’s Stolen Sisters report, speaking at the Sisters in Spirit Vigil on Parliament Hill and participating on the Amnesty International Panel on Murdered and Missing Women. In addition, the AFNWC issued a press release to mark First Nations Women’s Day, which called on the federal government to take meaningful action to address violence and discrimination experienced by Indigenous women and their families, including: 1) the creation of a joint committee to review the matter of violence against Indigenous women and girls; 2) ensuring that Canada’s response to the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) includes input from Indigenous women and leaders; and, 3) the development of a National Action Plan. These actions are timely for Canada’s report to CEDAW (due November 2009) on their recommendations for steps taken to address inadequate social assistance rates and the failure of law enforcement agencies to deal with the disappearance and murder of Aboriginal women and girls.

AFNWC members also participated in several meetings and initiatives, including:

• launch of the Mother Earth Water Walk from the Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre in Kingston, Ontario;
• seminar on First Nations Fatherhood led by the Native American Fatherhood and Families Association (NAFFA);
• presentation on the AFN - Red Cross Memorandum of Understanding to Treaty 7 Elders in Calgary, Alberta;
• presentation to students at the Blackstar Trades and Training Centre;
• resentation on trades and economic development to the Blood Tribe in Cardston, Alberta;
• presentation on Indian Residential Schools and the excursion to Rome to Treaty 6-7 Elders;
• presentation on the application of a Gender Balanced Analysis (GBA) on family violence to the Blood Tribe in Alberta;
• meeting with regional BC women leaders on the formation of a BC Aboriginal Women’s organization;
• the International Conference: Building Healthy, Sustainable American Indian Communities at the Maharishi University of Management in Iowa;
• the Northern Conference on Victims of Crime in Yellowknife;
• Persons Case Award Ceremony at Rideau Hall;
• presentation before the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights regarding child sexual exploitation;
• opening remarks and GBA presentation at the National Aboriginal Women in Leadership Training Conference;
• the First Nations Women in Leadership reception honoring Dr. Cora Voyageur and women chiefs.

Anticipated Outcomes by March 31, 2010

• The AFNWC will continue to make strides in advancing culturally-relevant GBA on several fronts, including securing funding sources to advance research options and exploring capacity to mainstream GBA throughout the AFN Secretariat, regions, First Nations, federal departments and United Nations agencies, including collaborative efforts with Indigenous organizations to advance discussions on a GBA inter-cultural lens.
• The federal government’s legislation on MRP, Bill C-8, is now at second reading in the House of Commons and, if passed, would go before the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANO). If this happens, the AFNWC will have an opportunity to appear before the AANO to express their concerns with the bill.
• Although the Supreme Court of Canada recently announced that it will not hear Sharon McIvor’s case regarding the continued gender discrimination in the “status” provisions of the Indian Act, the AFN will continue to push the federal government to fully and meaningfully work with First Nations to restore the inherent rights of First Nations to determine who their citizens are.
• Continue to follow-up with INAC on the submission of a work plan for the development of Gender Balanced Analysis (GBA) capacity building at the AFN.
• In collaboration with the First Nations Diabetes Working Group (FNDWG), the AFNWC is aiding in the development and implementation of an education/ knowledge campaign and action plan which positions “First Nations Women as Agents of Change in halting the Diabetes Epidemic”. Three research papers on food security/ food safety, water and natural health have been developed and will be ready for distribution in 2010.