The Hill Times: Advocacy approach to upcoming Indigenous rights bill at stake in AFN national chief elections

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“This is the most significant one we’ve had since the constitutional talks in the 1980s,” said Russ Diabo, a policy analyst from the Kahnawake Mohawk community south of Montreal who once served as an adviser to AFN national chiefs and who announced his intention to run in April.

Mr. Diabo told The Hill Times that he’s running as an “outsider” candidate, and said he believes Mr. Bellegarde is too cosy with Mr. Trudeau and doesn’t speak up on federal measures he considers to be acting against the independence of First Nations in deciding their own affairs.

“The AFN and Perry Bellegarde have lost control of the agenda. The government of Canada is driving the process now,” he said.

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