Last week the Joint Chiefs Assembly was held in Dakota Tipi First Nation with first nations represented from across Manitoba. Waywayseecappo Chief Murray Clearsky was there, and says the meetings do help their causes.

Murray Clearsky, Chief of Waywayseecappo First Nation"Yes it does to a certain extent. They do help. Collectively it takes all of us to push some of the issues through nationally. So, if we don't have that, then it's just one-on-one. And very seldom they take you seriously. You seem to have more clout when you have all 63 first nations."

He outlines the various assemblies held each year.

"Twice a year. They just had AFN assembly in Ottawa, and then there'll be another one coming up here, I believe, it's in July at Niagara Falls. And it's national. Well, this one here, I think it's going pretty good. There's a lot of First Nation communities that are very interested in what's happened. The interest is here. I'm happy for that. But one thing I strongly would like to see is doing away with the Indian Act."