"Natives Must Achieve Rights, Leadership Candidates Agree"

OHSWEKEN - If the six candidates for national chief of the Assembly of First Nations had their way, the Canadian political system would be drastically changed after June 11.

The candidates shared their vision of native and non-native politics with about 350 people on the Six Nations reserve Tuesday night.

The men have one more week to campaign before the election is held to replace Georges Erasmus, current head of the assembly.

Six Nations Chief Coun. William Montour said there must be constitutional recognition of the First Nations' inherent right to self-government.

Manitoba chief Phil Fontaine said the Indian Act must be abolished, and British Columbia chief Bill Wilson said all the money from the department should be handed over to Indian bands.

Though some of the changes advocated may seem radical to many non-native people, they don't raise many eyebrows among the men vying to lead Canada's top native lobby group.

The candidates seem to agree on the direction, if not the specific details, of many changes they want the next national chief to implement.

All agree this is a crucial time for native people, and say constitutional recognition of the right to self-government is imperative.