K'ómoks First Nation members approved in March an agreement-in-principle, the critical fourth stage of the six-stage process in treaty negotiations with senior levels of government.

The third phase of Stephen Harper’s approach to aboriginal issues collides with the angry, conflicting, politically charged demands of Canada’s first nations leadership Tuesday. Not only is there no certainty of success, no one is exactly sure what success would look like.

History does repeat itself, it would appear.

Pierre Trudeau had his constitutional conferences that involved aboriginal leaders. Brian Mulroney had his too, plus a big session in British Columbia to launch the B.C. Treaty Commission process, which has been a discouraging flop.

From British Columbia, the view of the Crown/first nations gathering is decidedly different.

Recent history suggests that talk in Ottawa this week about the need to escape the shackles of the Indian Act is mostly just that. Attempts by the B.C. and federal governments to conclude treaty negotiations with the province’s first nations have been a dismal failure.

TORONTO, Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Yesterday, in Ottawa, a selection of First Nations leaders from across Canada met with Prime Minister Harper and members of his cabinet to discuss the state of the First Nations-Crown relationship and to consider options for improving the economic and social conditions of First Nations.

OTTAWA, Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Students call on the federal government to honour the Treaty rights guaranteed to Aboriginal students to access post-secondary education. Despite rising tuition fees in many provinces, the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) has been capped at two per cent growth since 1996.

OTTAWA, Jan. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - 97 Chiefs and representatives from BC First Nations are registered along with approximately 400 Chiefs from across Canada to attend the Crown-First Nations Gathering to be held in the Old City Hall in Ottawa, January 24th 2012.

A New Brunswick chief says the most important thing the federal government could do to improve the lives of First Nations peoples is to live up to existing treaties.

St. Mary's First Nation Chief Candace Paul met Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa this week along with hundreds of her colleagues from across the country.

OTTAWA — The complex and increasingly contentious process of settling Algonquin claims in Eastern Ontario is just one of the problems the leader of the Assembly of First Nations is hoping will begin to change after next week’s summit between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and First Nations leaders.

TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - On January 24th, 2012, First Nations leaders will meet with Prime Minister Harper and Cabinet Ministers in Ottawa. The true value of the meeting will depend on what happens as a result. This cannot simply be a photo op for the federal government or a continuation of the agenda to avoid recognition and implementation of the rights of First Nations.