Indigenous leaders to boycott Monday's meeting with premiers

Three Indigenous groups will boycott their meeting with Canada's premiers on Monday in Edmonton.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Mtis National Council andInuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) told CBC News they're backing out of the meeting because they believe their groups should be included as equal partners at the Council of the Federation meeting, which startson Tuesday.

Each of the organizations has sent a letter to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, the meeting's chair. Notley had told reporters Thursday the meeting with Indigenous leaders was "a little bit up in the air."

The Council of the Federation represents the provincial and territorial leaders.

AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde, ITKPresident Natan Obed and MNCPresident Clment Chartier said in a press release Friday they would hold a news conference in Toronto on Monday. The release did not provide further details, only that the organizations wanted to discuss intergovernmental relations.

A spokesperson for Obedsaid the ITK president would not be commenting until that time.

Notley told reporters on Thursday she was expecting Monday's meeting would be spent engaging with the leaders about progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations and the federal government's implementation of principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

Two other major Indigenous organizations are still planning to be at that meeting: the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and the Native Women's Association of Canada.

"We will be happy to represent our constituents and voice their concerns," said CAP National Chief Robert Bertrandin a statement.

"It's unfortunate other national Indigenous organizationswon't be representing their constituents."

CherylOates,Notley'scommunications director, said late Fridaythat the premier's officecontinues"to work with indigenous leaders and hope that we can persuade them toattendon Monday."

"Monday'smeeting has been set for months now and the intent of themeeting is largely to address relationships and interactions with theindigenous leaders and organizations and the provinces andterritories."