North American First Nations meet for "historic document" By Lynda Powless, Editor VANCOUVER - More than 100 resolutions later including the approval of a new AFN logo, and filing of a $1 million deficit, national Chief Phil Fontaine joined his American counterpart in signing what is being billed as a "historic agreement" between aboriginal peoples in Canada and the U.S. After a more than two-hour elaborate ceremony at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Fontaine and Ron Allen from the National Congress of American Indians signed a protocol agreement, aimed at uniting the two groups on issues ranging from political to cultural. AFN leader, Phil Fontaine described the signing of the "Declaration of Kinship and Cooperation" as a "historic event." He called on First Nations from across North America to join together for the collective benefit of aboriginals on both sides of the border. The joint protocol between the Assembly of First Nations and the National Congress of American Indians promises one day to be referred to as a historic document," Fontaine said. (Continued on page 10)