Ottawa – Members of the media are invited to the third in a series of Policy Options breakfasts  on key issues that could — or should — be part of the debate in the 2019 federal election.  

This event, held in partnership with the Max Bell School of Public Policy and in collaboration with the Yellowhead Institute, will focus on Indigenous-Crown relations. The Liberal government’s 2015 election commitments included renewing the nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples and committing to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission‘s 94 Calls to Action. The government vowed to transition away from the Indian Act and adopt a new approach to recognizing the inherent rights of First Nations. Now, as the next election approaches, how much meaningful change has occurred in this critical policy area? Has there been progress in fundamental areas such as restoring Indigenous land and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? What is the state of Indigenous-Crown relations? 

Panellists

• K̓áwáziɫ Marilyn Slett is a citizen of the Heiltsuk Nation and the elected chief of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council 

• Brock Pitawanakwat is an Anishinaabe from Whitefish River First Nation, and he is associate professor and program coordinator of Indigenous Studies in York University’s Department of Equity Studies. 
• Emily Riddle is a nehiyaw (Plains Cree) writer, researcher and policy analyst from Treaty 6 territory. She is a member of the board of advisers of the Yellowhead Institute. 

Jennifer Ditchburn, editor-in-chief of Policy Options, will moderate the discussion. 

What: Policy Options Pre-Election Breakfast Series: Indigenous-Crown Relations
When: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m., April 2, 2019
Where: Rideau Club, 99 Bank Street, 15th floor, Ottawa, Ontario 

Places are limited. Please register in advance. 

Contact:    Shirley Cardenas    tel. 514-594-6877    scardenas@nullirpp.org 

Policy Options magazine is a digital publication of the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP). The IRPP is an independent, national, bilingual, not-for-profit organization based in Montreal. To receive updates from the IRPP, please subscribe to our e-mail list