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“To me the fact that the government is not represented at this assembly, this week, with a federal election in October, it’s a perfect testimony of where they stand on indigenous issues in this country,” said Picard. “The last time they bothered to return my calls, it’s so far back I can’t remember.”

Picard pointed to recent news reports that the Conservatives have allowed $1 billion in First Nations funding lapses in the past five years. These cuts come despite chronic poverty on reserves across the country and a national aboriginal housing crisis, according to a recent Senate report.

AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde is seizing on this so-called broken relationship to orchestrate a national voter registration movement in hopes that First Nations will have an impact on October’s federal elections. Bellegarde has identified 51 ridings that could be in play but only a few of those are within Quebec.

Meanwhile, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal boss Justin Trudeau were in Montreal Tuesday to court the AFN leadership. Both party leaders spoke before the assembly and its delegates.

Though voter turnout has traditionally been low among Quebec First Nations, Picard says things could change in the coming election.

“In light of the very exceptional political context today, after nine years of the Conservatives in power and to see so much distrust from our community toward the federal government, things might change,” he said.

For his part, Kahnawake grand chief Joe Norton says he won’t call on his people to vote in federal elections and said he won’t engage with Ottawa through traditional channels.

“We’ll force them to the table, that’s the only way we’ll meet with the federal government,” said Norton. “We’re all for cooperation… But they have to come to the table.”