Inuit Restate Call for Prime Minister to Hold First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Issues

April 28, 2010 – Toronto, Ontario – Exactly six months following a meeting of national aboriginal leaders, provincial and territorial ministers of aboriginal affairs, and the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami reiterates the call for the Prime Minister of Canada to hold a First Minister’s Meeting on Aboriginal Issues.

In opening remarks at a meeting of the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group today, Jim Lyall, ITK Board of Directors member from Nunatsiavut, and President of the Nunatsiavut Government, said “We would like to see a strong emphasis on the urgency of a First Ministers’ Meeting on aboriginal issues. All issues affecting aboriginal people, especially those associated with our economic and social marginalization in Canada, demand the attention and active engagement of the Parliament and Government of Canada.”

President Lyall also reiterated the call for inclusion of Inuit and Innu residential schools survivors in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement.

Text of the full opening remarks is attached.