CAP AGA - 2007 Resolution Listings

Resolution 2007-1

Aboriginal Gang Prevention

Whereas, CAP and its provincial affiliates are the social voice of off reserve Aboriginal People in Canada;

And whereas; CAP and its provincial affiliates have a moral and social responsibility to off reserve social issues affecting Aboriginal Peoples in Canada,

And whereas; the issue of gangs and gang violence is the next social catastrophe since the residential school experience,

Be it Resolved; that CAP and its affiliates establish the “National Aboriginal Gang Prevention Commission” to design a National Aboriginal Gang Prevention Strategy;

Be it further resolved; that CAP and its affiliates begin immediate negotiations with the federal government to seek resources for a National Aboriginal Gang prevention Coordinator to accomplish such tasks related to a National Aboriginal gang prevention strategy in Canada.

Whereas, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) sponsored the International Congress on street gangs in Montreal, Quebec: October 28-31, 2007;

And Whereas; the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police called for a national strategy on street gangs in Canada;

Be it resolved; that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples join the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in calling for a National strategy on Street Gangs;

Be it further resolved; that CAP and the National Aboriginal Gang Prevention Commission become a part of that National strategy on street gangs by forming a partnership with the Canadian Association of Chief of Police and their strategic partners.

Resolution 2007-2

CAP Strategic Plan For New Affiliates

That the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples develop and enhance a strategic three to five year plan concerning new affiliates in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and the establishments of Affiliates in Alberta and other regional areas of Canada.

Resolution 2007-3

Amendment to CAP AGA Delegate Lists

Whereas; the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) currently allocates 16 delegate votes per region;
 
Whereas; each region is required to have one youth included in their 16 delegate votes;

Whereas; Aboriginal youth constitute over 50% of the population;

Whereas; providing mentorship and leadership opportunities for youth is critical to their development and to the future leadership of Aboriginal people;

Therefore it be resolved that the board of directors prepare an amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws that will require each region to include, at minimum, four youth on their list of delegates for Annual General Assemblies.

Be it further resolved that the board of directors prepare this amendment in time for the 2008 Annual General Assembly.

Resolution 2007-4

Adoption of HAC Vision Statement and Mandate for CAP Health Portfolio

Whereas, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is committed through its Health Secretariat and its Health Advisory Committee to addressing the health and wellness of its constituents using a holistic, community based, and social determinants of health approach;

Whereas, the Health Advisory Committee directed the Health Secretariat during its Spring 2007 meeting to develop a strategic plan for health policy and programming that incorporates this holistic, community based and social determinants based approach;

Whereas, during its October 2007 meeting the Health Advisory Committee developed a vision statement and mandate that reflects the Health Secretariat’s strategic plan;

Therefore be it resolved, that the vision statement and mandate developed by the Health Advisory Committee for the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health Portfolio be adopted as presented.

Resolution 2007-5

Post-2009 Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) National Human Resources Development Strategy

Whereas, the PTOs and leaders in Assembly have a vital role to play within the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement (AHRDA) and it is recognized that the objectives have been successfully achieved and have surpassed the terms of the strategy; and

Whereas, the Aboriginal Human Resource Development Strategy (AHRDS) is a strategy of the federal government of Canada through Services Canada initially launched as a five-year, 1.6-billion initiative and scheduled to sunset at the end of March 2004, the strategy was renewed in December 2003 for another five years to March 31, 2009;

Whereas, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and Canada entered into a 5-year National AHRDA Agreement on or about April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2009;

Whereas, the current five-year AHRDA strategy will come to a conclusion March 31, 2009;

Whereas, the Government of Canada has begun its work to identify a successor strategy for the period beginning April 1, 2009 to 2014;

Whereas, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples has a special and unique relationship with the federal government;

Therefore be it resolved that:

1. the PTO’s and leaders-in-Assembly support the development of an National Action Plan for the “post-2009” CAP Human Resources Development Strategy;
2. The PTO’s and leaders-in-Assembly request that the Government of Canada engage in a joint political table with the CAP’s PTO’s, and the HRSDC Minister or Deputy Minister to oversee, instruct and advise on the processes, consultation and joint initiatives to arrive at the post-2009 strategy;
3. A senior technical joint table be established to consist of  CAP and senior HRSDC staff with an objective to identify the details of the new strategy, programs, services, policies and/or incentives for the “Post 2009” CAP Human Resources Development Strategy; and,
4. That CAP seek and lobby for resources from HRSDC for the development of an action plan for the “Post 2009” CAP human Resources Development Strategy; and,
5. The National Chief and the PTO’s be directed to renew the framework agreement fundamental for the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

Resolution 2007-6

Amendment to National Youth Representation on BOD

Whereas, Aboriginal youth constitute over 50% of the population;

Whereas, providing mentorship and leadership opportunities for youth is critical to their development and to the future leadership of Aboriginal People;

Whereas, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) currently has 1 National Youth Representative that holds a voting position on the CAP board of directors.

Whereas, equal gender representation of National Youth would serve to build capacity in both male and female populations and would create balance in national youth perspective;

Therefore be it resolved that the board of directors prepare an amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws that will increase the number of National Youth Representatives to two. 

Resolution 2007-7

Rescind CAP Resolution 2006-7

Whereas the relationship between the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) reached an impasse prior to the 2006 Annual general Assembly (AGA) of CAP;

And Whereas actions taken in respect to Resolution 2006-07 of the 2006 AGA have not resulted in rectifying this impasse;

And whereas the Health Secretariat and the Health Advisory Committee have developed a self-determined approach to overcome the obstacles created by this impasse;

Resolution 2007-8

Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)

Whereas for several years, the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) has advised CEC to engage with indigenous peoples in CEC programs and projects;

And whereas CAP has had no relationship with the CEC and the commission has been criticized as implementing few concrete improvements to engage Aboriginal peoples;

Therefore, be it resolved that CAP lobby the Minister of the Environment to ensure that the CEC nominates Aboriginal individuals from the CAP constituency to the National and Governmental Advisory Committees of the Commission;

Resolution 2007-9

Homelessness

Whereas the provision of and access to adequate housing is a fundamental human right according to paragraph 25(1) of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Whereas Canada’s wealth and national budget are more than adequate to ensure that every woman, child and man residing in Canada has secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing as part of a standard of living that will provide healthy, physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social development and a good quality of life;

Be it resolved that CAP ensure that homelessness is a priority policy of the organization; and,

Be it further resolved that CAP pursue capacity building funding for CAP PTO’s to deliver programs for the homeless.

Resolution 2007-10

CAP Vice-Chief

Whereas, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) has an Executive consisting of a Chief and Vice-Chief;

Whereas, the CAP determined at the 2006 Annual General Assembly that only the Chief would receive a salary;

Whereas, the Vice-Chief is currently working in a limited capacity due to inability to fund the position;

Whereas, the workload of CAP as the sole National Aboriginal Organization representing off reserve non-status Indians and Métis is multiplying exponentially; and,

Whereas, the CAP determined at the 2006 Annual General Assembly that it would work to ensure funding for the Vice-Chief by the November 2008 Annual General Assembly.

Resolution 2007-11

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Aboriginal Veterans Association (NAVA)

Whereas the National Aboriginal Veterans Association (NAVA) is vital to ensuring that the contributions of our Aboriginal veterans is never forgotten;

And whereas the NAVA has expressed concerns regarding their operational funding;

Resolution 2007-12

Aboriginal Veterans Compensation Package

Whereas the current Aboriginal veterans compensation package, for the most part, excludes off reserve Aboriginal Veterans;

And Whereas wives of Aboriginal Veterans who died prior to 1980 and their children are ineligible to receive the $20,000 compensation package;

Resolution 2007-13

Amendment to Submission of Application Timeline

Whereas, the Constitution and Bylaws of CAP reads as follows; How to Become a Constituent Member Organization of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples- CAP Ottawa. To become a constituent member organization of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples of Ottawa, a Provincial or Territorial Organization must submit an application to the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples of Ottawa at least 120 days prior to the Annual General Assembly of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples of Ottawa at which it is desired by the applicant that the application be considered, in such form as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Resolution 2007-14

New Approach and Direction Post-2009 AHRDA

Whereas the Government of Canada announced that the age of denial of the situation of Aboriginal peoples who reside off-reserve must end, and;

Whereas actions or approaches toward isolation, segregation and estrangement are no longer acceptable, and;

Whereas a focus on the future requires opportunities in employment and training to provide the dignity of a job to make our own money, and;

Whereas employment and training programs to date have marginalized support towards off-reserve Aboriginal people disproportionate to their number and majority in Canada;

Therefore be it resolved that the national executive to establish a core negotiation team to advance to HRSD a new approach and direction after the post-2009 AHRDA scheduled end, and, to establish a new “focus on futures employment strategy” with the necessary funding and infrastructure delivery support throughout Canada for community controlled training and employment services inclusive of the majority of rural and urban off-reserve Aboriginal Peoples.

Resolution 2007-15

Report on the Potential Effects of Global Warming

Whereas global warming in no longer a debate; humans collectively contribute to the warming of earths temperature;

And whereas global warming will impact Aboriginal peoples lives from coast-to-coast;

And whereas Aboriginal people world views promote balance in all things, including mother earth;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples prepare a report on the “Potential Effects of Global Warming will have on Indigenous People in Canada” for the 2008 Annual General Assembly;

Be it further resolved that CAP call on Environmental Canada and OFI to fund or support a report;

Be it further resolved that the terms of reference included and is not limited to:

1. Effects on wildlife
2. Urbanization and homelessness
3. Agriculture and food
4. Role of Aboriginal people in finding solutions

Resolution 2007-16

National Youth Council Representation at PTO AGAs

Whereas the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples’ National Youth Council (CAPNYC) elects a National Youth Representative (NYR) and steering Committee (SC) to represent the interest of the youth constituency on a National level;

And whereas the CAPNYC does not have the capacity to consult, in person, with Aboriginal youth throughout Canada, which is an essential component of effective representation;

Resolution 2007-17

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Whereas, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the leading cause of developmental disabilities among Aboriginal Peoples and 100 percent preventable;

Whereas, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a major cause of numerous health and social problems including learning disabilities, school failure, juvenile delinquency, homelessness, unemployment and mental illness;

Therefore be it resolved, that the CAP Annual General Assembly mandate and instruct the Executive and Board of directors to promote awareness of the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol by:

1. Profiling FASD as a priority health issue in the CAP policy agenda:;
2. Preparing funding submissions to health Canada and the Office of the Federal Interlocutor to seek the resources necessary to implement a national prevention and education campaign for FASD

Resolution 2007-18

Increasing Legal Aid Services to Aboriginal People

Whereas legal aid plans throughout Canada are under funded;

And whereas some provincial legal aid plans are cutting or reducing legal aid services to Aboriginal people;

And whereas the aboriginal justice inquiry of Manitoba recommended increasing legal aid services to Aboriginal peoples;

And whereas over two thirds of inmates in jails in Canada are Aboriginal, and the proportion is increasing;

Therefore, be it resolved that CAP forward letters to and lobby provincial legal aid plans to advocate for increase services for Aboriginal people in all sectors including criminal defense, family law, administrative and civil law.

Resolution 2007-19

Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Funds

Whereas the provincial governments receive funding for off reserve Aboriginal housing;

And whereas there has been limited and/or no monies released for some provinces,

And whereas there are many off reserve people living in sub-standard housing and extreme deplorable conditions;

Resolution 2007-20

Off-Reserve Aboriginal Peoples Access to Health Services

Whereas, Pine Creek First Nations receives $1,061,132.00 from Health Canada for medical services for all members on and off reserve;

And whereas, off reserve members are only covered when using a private vehicle;

And whereas, some off-reserve members do not have access to a vehicle;

And whereas, on reserve members are allowed to take taxi services to medical appointments;

Resolution 2007-21

Amendment to Include Elder on BOD

Whereas the CAP board of directors is comprised of PTO Chiefs/Presidents and one voting National Youth Representative;

And Whereas, the wisdom and guidance of our elders are  vital to the success of our organization;

And Whereas elders are an essential voice in preserving our culture;