March 19, 2009
On Thursday, March 19, MYS was proud to be one of the sponsors for the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce luncheon Erma Chapman, Executive Director of MYS had the honor of introducing the guest speaker for this event, Mr. Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Erma presented Phil Fontaine’s life’s journey beginning with his proud membership of Manitoba’s Sagkeeng First Nation and the youngest son in an Ojibway family of 10 brothers and two sisters. He attended the Fort Alexander Indian Residential School, where he learned first hand about racism, sexual and physical abuse and the despair of powerlessness that comes with poverty.
In the early ’80s, Fontaine was elected Manitoba regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations, and in 1991, grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, where he served three consecutive terms.
He was instrumental in protecting Aboriginal rights and treaty rights in the Canadian constitution by engineering the defeat of the Meech Lake Accord.
He also negotiated the first comprehensive self-government plan for Manitoba First Nations and a fair and just process for the settlement of specific land claims, drawing on his experience as Chief Commissioner of the Land Claims Commission.
In 1997, he stepped onto the national stage when he was elected national chief. He is now serving an unprecedented third term.
His crowning achievement to date is leading the successful resolution and settlement of claims arising out of the 150-year Indian residential school tragedy. The Final Settlement Agreement, now being implemented, is the largest, most unique and comprehensive settlement in Canadian history. Worth over $5.2 billion in individual compensation, the settlement also includes a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, an education fund, healing resources and commemoration funding.
MYS is continuing to be very interactive in the larger community. MYS not only is pleased to have a recognized presence in the business community, but also pleased to be recognized in the academic and post secondary communities as a leader in our work with youth and their families and working towards being an employer of choice. MYS has recently established the Environmental Action Committee, the mission reflects MYS’s commitment to environmental responsibility as good community leaders.
