Wilton Littlechild of Ermineskin Cree Nation brought forward a resolution at the AFN Special Chiefs Meetings calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine. It was overwhelmingly adopted. It’s a big set back for the Israel lobby which has been courting indigenous peoples. (Screenshot/CPAC)

Media coverage of the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) Special Chiefs Meeting on December 7th understandably focused on the election of Cindy Woodhouse as the new national chief.

But mainstream media missed an emergency resolution advocating for a permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, recognizing the Palestinians as an Indigenous People under international law, which passed unanimously, according to the Orchard, a small digital publication.

The AFN ceasefire resolution was introduced by Wilton Littlechild of Ermineskin Cree Nation in Alberta, who happens to be an expert in international Indigenous law. Littlechild worked on the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and sat on Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Watch Chief Littlechild’s powerful speech here.

His resolution, which passed with four abstentions and zero votes against, consisted of four points:

1. Calling for an “immediate ceasefire, an end to the occupation of Gaza and the liberation of all hostages, the unimpeded flow of immediate humanitarian access to all occupied Indigenous People’s territories, and full respect for international human rights law in all occupied Indigenous People’s lands,” including the West Bank and Gaza.
2. Denouncing “all forms of violence against Indigenous Peoples” by supporting “an end to the violent, illegal occupation of all Indigenous Peoples’ lands.”
3. Reminding states of their “Treaty, moral and legal obligations to fully respect human rights and law, and its norms and standards, including respect of international treaties, which call on states to achieve peaceful co-existence with Indigenous Peoples.”
4. Instructing the new national chief to “immediately” send a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling for a permanent ceasefire.

Chief Dylan Whiteduck of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, an Algonquin First Nation, proposed a “friendly amendment” inserting “permanent” before the word “ceasefire”. It was accepted. What’s happening over there is colonialism, and taking over those lands and territories,” Chief Whiteduck said. He also called for the new national chief to write Trudeau immediately demanding he advocate for a permanent ceasefire. (This was a week before Canada’s vote at the UN on December 12th.)

The overwhelming vote at the Assembly of First Nations probably indicates that this emergency resolution caught Israel’s advocates unawares. The resolution’s promoters should expect severe pushback in the coming days from the Israel lobby. In anticipation of this, if the AFN would like to provide further educational resources on the issue, the Ottawa Forum on Israel Palestine would be happy to help.

Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine.ca