A NAFTA chapter focused on Indigenous rights will be crucial, Bellegarde says
OTTAWA — The push for an Indigenous chapter in a renegotiated NAFTA could require support from Indigenous Peoples south of the border as well as in Canada, says Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde — a main advocate for its creation.
Indigenous Peoples were left out of North American free trade discussions of the 1990s, Bellegarde said, adding he is pleased to see Ottawa is working to change that as it begins hashing out a new agreement.
Bellegarde, who is part of an advisory committee on the trade negotiations, said there is a “certain amount of instability” in the White House at the moment and he acknowledges additional pressure may be required to see movement on the part of the U.S.
“We also have to reach out and start working with our Indigenous brothers and sisters on the U.S.A. side,” Bellegarde said.