Through the collective efforts of the Dene, Dakota, Cree, Oji-Cree, and Ojibway Nations, as embodied in the Manitoba Indian Brotherhood, the First Nations of Manitoba developed and signed the declaration, Wahbung: Our Tomorrows, in October of 1971.
Wahbung allowed the First Nations to present their positions and recommendations on a full spectrum of policy issues with a united front. The value of Wahbung should not be underestimated because it was able to facilitate, inform, and generate knowledge and discussion on the issues and prospects facing the First Nations of Manitoba to the Canadian government and the Canadian public at large.
Wahbung provided a historical analysis of the political, economic, and social issues facing the First Nations’ people from a First Nation’s perspective. The major conclusions of Wahbung were:
First Nations must assume control and ownership over all aspects of their lives;
First Nations dependency on the Canadian state must not continue; and
Wahbung provided a historical analysis of the political, economic, and social issues facing the First Nations’ people from a First Nation’s perspective. The major conclusions of Wahbung were:
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Unfortunately, First Nation self-sufficiency as envisioned in Wahbung has yet to become a reality. The socio-economic conditions of the First Nations remain far below national standards. Three decades have passed since Wahbung: Our Tomorrows was published. In that time the Manitoba First Nations and our political organizations have undergone many changes. The Manitoba Indian Brotherhood was disbanded and reborn as the Four Nations Confederacy. The First Nations Confederacy split in 1981 and the Northern First Nations formed the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. From 1981 to 1988 the Manitoba First Nations did not have a coordinated province-wide political organization. In 1988, the Manitoba Chiefs recognized the need for a unified political entity to address common issues and concerns. It was from this recognition that the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs was born and developed. The purpose of this document is to describe in more detail how and why the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs evolved and to describe the present day roles and functions of the organization. In order to fully explain this evolution it is necessary to examine the role of Canadian policy, ideology, and administrative practises upon the development of the First Nations of Manitoba and the political organization that is the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. |
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Total = 115,399 Smallest is Buffalo Point with 104, 2nd Smallest is Gamblers with 139 |
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Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3C 0M6 
Toll Free: 1-888-324-5483 Telephone: 1-204-956-0610 Facsimile: 1-204-956-2109 Website: http://www.manitobachiefs.com E-mail: assembly@manitobachiefs.com |