WHEREAS the First Nations of Canada need to address the Canadian public at large as to the importance of First Nations issues from a First Nations perspective; and

WHEREAS the historical, current and future issues of First Nations will continue to have an impact on Canadians at large, and the longer the First Nations perspective is unheard and unaddressed, the longer it may take to resolve outstanding issues; and

WHEREAS the Assembly of First Nations is committed to supporting initiatives that encourage the development and expansion of Aboriginal communications and media for this purpose, and

WHEREAS radio broadcasting continues to be a media which is universally economically accessible, and as an oral communication, plays to the strength of First Nations oral traditions, and

WHEREAS all regions of Canada, North and South as well as rural and urban, need to be reflected and represented on Aboriginal radio, and

WHEREAS the Canadian Government’s communications commission, the CRTC, is currently in process to assign the last remaining radio frequencies in Toronto after a Public Hearing in February 2000, and

WHEREAS there is presently no Aboriginal radio service in Toronto, Canada’s largest urban area, and

WHEREAS the Canadian Federal Government’s own Broadcasting Act requires that "the special place of Aboriginal Peoples" be reflected in radio services available to all Canadians, and it has directed that the CRTC reserve available frequencies in Toronto for the achievement of this objective of the Act, (see Direction to the CRTC [Reservation of Frequencies for Toronto] Apr 29, 1998 6-600218)

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Assembly of First Nations support an Aboriginal effort to establish a radio service in Toronto that will enhance understanding among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Assembly of First Nations support the effort to establish Aboriginal radio services in other Canadian urban centers; and

FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Assembly of First Nations ask the Chiefs Committee on Communications to support the development of a Native Radio broadcasting Network.