AFN supports the First Nation YouthBuild Initiative

SPECIAL CHIEFS ASSEMBLY

DECEMBER 4, 5, AND 6, 2018, OTTAWA    ON Resolution no. 86/2018 

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TITLE:   Realizing a National First Nations Youth Build Canada Program 

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SUBJECT:   Youth Employment and Sustainable Development 

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MOVED BY:  Chief Marcel Moody, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, MB

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SECONDED BY:   Chief Harvey McLeod, Upper Nicola Indian Band, B.C. 

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DECISION    Carried by Consensus 

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WHEREAS: 

A.  The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) states: 

i. Article 21 (1): Indigenous peoples have the right, without discrimination, to the improvement of their economic and social conditions, including inter alia, in the area of education, employment, vocational training and retraining, housing, sanitation, health and social security; and. 

ii. Article 21 (2): States shall take effective measures and, where appropriate, special measures to ensure continuing improvement of their economic and social conditions. Particular attention shall be paid to the rights and special needs of Indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities. 

iii. Article 23: Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. In particular, Indigenous peoples have the right to be actively involved in developing and determining health, housing and other economic and social programs affecting them and, as far as possible, to administer such programs through their own institutions. 

B. First Nations in Canada require a future that fosters improvements to the socio-economic circumstances of First Nations by addressing personal and systemic barriers to labour market opportunities and thereby increases access to these opportunities.

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Certified copy of a resolution adopted on the 6th of December 2018 in Ottawa, ON. 

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PERRY BELLEGARDE, NATIONAL CHIEF 

SPECIAL CHIEFS ASSEMBLY

DECEMBER 4, 5, AND 6, 2018, OTTAWA,  ON Resolution no. 86/2018 

C. It is estimated that 350,000 Indigenous youth will have reached working age by 2026, which the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) called an unprecedented opportunity to fill crucial labour shortages in Canada. 

D. The economic loss currently suffered by all of Canada and resulting from the gaps in economic outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians is significant. Closing these gaps would result in an increase in Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by an estimated $27.7 billion or a 1.5% annual increase. 

E. Recent YouthBuild (YB) programs in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Winnipeg have had success in delivering youth programming that has led to increased employment and the development of human capacity to address housing concerns in both urban and First Nations environments. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chiefs-in-Assembly: 

1. Direct the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) to establish a steering committee to study the potential of a National First Nations YouthBuild Council to lead the development of a First Nations YouthBuild program to address the above issues. The results of this study will inform the AFN and the Government of Canada to consider the value of an investment in a National First Nations YouthBuild program to improve opportunities for sustainable employment, career development and income for First Nations youth in Canada. 

2. The steering committee would be responsible for developing: 

a. A terms of reference for a YouthBuild Canada Governing Council 

b. A strategic plan for a National First Nations YouthBuild Program 

c. A business plan for a National First Nations YouthBuild Centre  

3. Direct the AFN to call on the Ministers of Youth, Indigenous Services Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, to provide the necessary financial supports to undertake the study for a First Nations Youth Build Program. 

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Certified copy of a resolution adopted on the 6th of December 2018 in Ottawa, ON. 

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PERRY BELLEGARDE, NATIONAL CHIEF   86-2018 

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AFN Supports YouthBuild

AFN SUPPORTS THE FIRST NATION YOUTHBUILD INITIATIVE