Assembly of First Nations regional chief Sean Atleo has travelled to Ottawa to press demands for a federal package to improve infrastructure -- especially housing -- on First Nations reserves in British Columbia.
Although reserves are under federal jurisdiction, Atleo met with B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and said the premier will include the proposals in his recommendations at the First Ministers meeting in Ottawa.
"He is very committed to the notion that it doesn't matter what the jurisdiction is, that the needs are so dire that we've got to move on this issue, all of us," said Atleo.
"The incident that happened on the Chemainus First Nation really drives home the issue of the need for housing and overcrowding." said Atleo, referring to the five deaths in a house fire on the Vancouver Island reserve on Wednesday.
Atleo, who celebrated his 42nd birthday Friday, said overcrowding on reserves had been a problem for decades.
"At the age of six or seven, I watched a home go up in flames in my village of Ahousat and most of a whole family go up. I have been haunted by those memories my entire life. And to think these things are still happening all these years later."
The Assembly of First Nations is making an incredible push for infrastructure money leading up to the federal budget Jan. 27.
The group wants federal cash for native housing, job training and a range of building projects totalling more than $4.4 billion over the next two years.
"We are not going to let up, at all," Atleo said.
Although reserves are under federal jurisdiction, Atleo met with B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and said the premier will include the proposals in his recommendations at the First Ministers meeting in Ottawa.
"He is very committed to the notion that it doesn't matter what the jurisdiction is, that the needs are so dire that we've got to move on this issue, all of us," said Atleo.
"The incident that happened on the Chemainus First Nation really drives home the issue of the need for housing and overcrowding." said Atleo, referring to the five deaths in a house fire on the Vancouver Island reserve on Wednesday.
Atleo, who celebrated his 42nd birthday Friday, said overcrowding on reserves had been a problem for decades.
"At the age of six or seven, I watched a home go up in flames in my village of Ahousat and most of a whole family go up. I have been haunted by those memories my entire life. And to think these things are still happening all these years later."
The Assembly of First Nations is making an incredible push for infrastructure money leading up to the federal budget Jan. 27.
The group wants federal cash for native housing, job training and a range of building projects totalling more than $4.4 billion over the next two years.
"We are not going to let up, at all," Atleo said.
