On the eve of the federal government’s next annual budget the FSIN is laying out their hopes for this year.
Finance Minister Cynthia Freeland will lay out the Liberal government’s annual budget on Tuesday.
In 2022, the federal budget committed a total of $11 billion over six years to Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) priorities; an average of $1.8 billion per year.
In a statement released today, the FSIN is hoping the federal government will build on last year’s budget highlighting several areas they hope this year’s budget will address.
The organization hopes to see investments in Indigenous health, education, child and family services, lands and resources, justice, treaty governance, and housing.
“First Nations request that Canada recognizes First Nations Inherent and Treaty right to self-determination and self-governance as we strive to improve housing, healthcare, education, and the overall standard of living for our people,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron in a statement. “We want to educate our people but it all starts with housing and lifting people out of poverty so they can access services and education. Many First Nations are still homeless on their ancestral homeland.”