Tripartite Forum Celebrating 10th Anniversary
The Mi'kmaq–Nova Scotia–Canada Tripartite Forum will mark its 10th anniversary on Monday, July 2.
The anniversary will be celebrated at meetings in Membertou First Nation in Sydney today, June 27, and Thursday, June 28.
Rick Simon, executive chair for the Tripartite Forum and Assembly of First Nations Regional Vice-chief, said the forum is an example of First Nations working with the federal and provincial governments to achieve meaningful results.
"We have an interesting partnership here in Nova Scotia that makes up the Tripartite Forum," said Mr. Simon. "We're a leading example of First Nations working with the federal and provincial governments -- and we're quite pleased to be marking the 10th anniversary of the successes we've made, together."
Today, the forum's officials committee will hear progress reports from the forum's seven working committees. The officials committee is made up of 12 Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw chiefs; the Tripartite Forum executive chair; the executive directors and president of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, the Union of Nova Scotia Indians and the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association; the deputy minister/CEO of the Nova Scotia Office of Aboriginal Affairs and the Atlantic Regional Director General for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Later in the day, the forum will gather to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The 175 members of the Tripartite Forum -- leaders, technicians and community members from across the province -- will mark the occasion with local Mi'kmaw drummers and a keynote address by Viola Robinson, a leader in the Mi'kmaq community and co-chair of the forum's justice working committee.
On Thursday, the forum will host its fourth annual general assembly, bringing together members of the seven working committees.
The Mi'kmaq-Nova Scotia-Canada Tripartite Forum was formed in 1997 as a partnership between the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq, the province of Nova Scotia and the government of Canada, to strengthen relationships and to resolve issues of mutual concern affecting Mi'kmaw communities.