AFN is 87 per cent united on action plan. (Chiefs in Assembly).

Ninety-three of the 107 chiefs who took part in the May 23 vote on the national First Nations rights agenda resolution voted in favor. The chiefs in favor made up 87 per cent of those who voted. One chief abstained and 13 were opposed. Sixty per cent, was required to carry the question.

The resolution was, the formal recognition by the chiefs in assembly of an action plan devised to actively oppose the First Nations governance act.

That plan emerged from a March meeting in Winnipeg, which was called by those chiefs who feared the Assembly of First Nations executive was ignoring assembly resolution that rejected the governance initiative.

While the theme of the first day of the assembly had been a call for unity and action, observers on the second day were left wondering if 90 per cent unity is still unity. AFN communications sources answered yes to that question, pointing out that 90 per cent is better than what most political organizations can muster.

Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs President Stewart Phillip told Winds peaker on June 18 that the numbers don't tell the whole story. He pointed out that only 13 votes were recorded against a plan of aggressive action. That's way down from the '49 chiefs who voted against a similar resolution Last December.

Phillip said the battle between the AFN executive and grassroots chiefs has led to a few nasty confrontations in closed sessions over the last year. But the issues were dealt with during a meeting in Edmonton where the Winnipeg group and many of the executive member met face-to-face to discuss the issue.

At that meeting, Phillip apologized to the executive members for his harsh criticism of them.

"They needed to hear that," he said. "It seemed to clear the air."

He said the AFN is less divided than it has been in the last year as a result of that meeting.

Most of the chiefs who voted against the rights agenda resolution are involved in the treaty process in B.C. Those chiefs have been extremely reluctant to endorse any motion that is strongly critical of the federal government. Some observers speculate that is because they feel vulnerable to a government backlash at the treaty table.

May 23 started with speeches by AFN vice-chiefs that all urged a united front against the governance act. Only British Columbia Vice Chief Herb George spoke against the resolution to oppose the government's proposed legislation.

Ontario Vice-Chief Charles Fox said Ontario chiefs would lobby the huge Liberal caucus in their province. He said he believes there are many Liberals who don't support the Nault governance initiative.

"I sense Cabinet as a whole does not support the governance initiative," Fox said.

He also criticized the minister's approach saying it was adversarial and "attacked. our leadership."

Ghislain Picard, the Quebec vice-chief, urged all the chiefs to unite behind the national executive.

"Sometimes you agree to some decisions when you don't agree completely, for the sake of unity," he said.

Picard said he had watched the minister 'on television the night before.

"He didn't look like he had the same confidence. He didn't sound like he had the same confidence. So maybe there's a window of opportunity for us," he said.

Saskatchewan Vice-chief Perry Bellegarde, noted his organization has been criticized as "collaborators."

"Wrong. Wrong. Wrong," he said, explaining that while Saskatchewan is involved in a local self-government process with the federal government, the 73 First Nations in the province are against the governance act initiative and support the AFN position.

"We're not changing," he assured the assembly.

The AFN's plan includes political action, government lobbying, improved communications among First Nations, a national media campaign to counter the department of Indian Affairs point of view, public education, direct action, litigation and other strategies aimed at promoting First Nations solidarity and challenging the government. Also planned is an information campaign and appeal for support at the international level.