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At a news conference on Parliament Hill, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) identified two areas where the federal Liberals should tread carefully if they want communities to help advance project development: ensuring Ottawa improves how it consults with First Nations, and guaranteeing that the AFN鈥檚 fall budget demands are met.

Last week, the federal government unveiled the five 鈥渘ation-building鈥� projects it hopes to see fast-tracked as a result of a new and controversial law giving Ottawa temporary powers to bypass environmental laws and regulations to accelerate the development of major resource and infrastructure projects.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has tasked a newly created 鈥渕ajor projects office鈥� with determining whether project proposals are in the national interest, and then streamlining the approval process and financing of the projects.

His government also recently appointed an 11-member Indigenous advisory council intended to advise that office on how to include Indigenous perspectives and interests when conducting its work.

AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Tuesday that her organization was never consulted on the makeup of the advisory council and said she has not seen details regarding the official mandate of the group.

鈥淔or First Nations, we make up 1.5 million people, and so any time there’s any advisory board 鈥� the majority has to be First Nations led, First Nations driven,鈥� Woodhouse Nepinak said.

鈥淚 think that again, the federal government should have taken more time to go across the country and hear people’s views on who鈥檚 to sit around that table.鈥�

The national chief said the AFN did not reach out to the Carney government to propose a list of names because it had not received a mandate from its chiefs to do so.

鈥淚t was already a tough process to have (the law) rammed through Parliament in 20 days,” she said, “and so I think to expect First Nations to come up, within a day or two 鈥� names, why would we do that?鈥�

A government source, speaking to the Star on the condition they not be named, said the creation of the advisory council began this summer, and that Indigenous leaders were canvassed about potential names at a trio of summits about the law that Carney held with First Nations, Inuit and M茅tis groups.

The source said the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office and major projects office ultimately selected the final group based on members’ experiences with project development, procurement and knowledge of treaty rights. Seven of the 11 members are First Nations, including the AFN鈥檚 outgoing Yukon regional chief, Kluane Adamek.

The source confirmed that the AFN was not directly consulted on the formation of the group because the organization does not speak for all First Nations members.

They also suggested that the government鈥檚 messaging on the purpose of the advisory council has not been clear, clarifying that the group will not be providing a final green light on any projects but will be advising the government on who it should be consulting with and what issues may arise in those discussions.

Last week, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs criticized Ottawa鈥檚 decision not to appoint any Manitoba First Nations leaders to the council, and said it will decide how to 鈥渆ngage in these major projects.鈥�

Regional Chief Bernard said Carney鈥檚 fall budget, now expected to land Nov. 4, offers another opportunity for the Liberals to get First Nations onside with the projects.

She said she advised the prime minister鈥檚 cabinet this summer to spare Indigenous initiatives from Ottawa’s planned spending cuts.

鈥淭o cut it more and then say, 鈥極h, please, come help us build this infrastructure and allow us to come and invade your land and the environment without having consultation with us,鈥� it鈥檚 major. It could end up on the wrong side for Canada if they don’t do it right,鈥� Bernard said.

The AFN鈥檚 prebudget submission to the government calls for investments in closing the First Nations infrastructure gap 鈥� including hundreds of billions of dollars for roads, ports, clean water supply, housing, schools and improved high-speed broadband and cellular connectivity 鈥� along with money for essential community services and more opportunities for self-determination.

Finance Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne did not answer directly when asked Tuesday about what budget cuts First Nations could expect, but said he planned to speak with Woodhouse Nepinak and that Canada had reached a defining moment in working with First Nations partners.

鈥淭his is all about economic reconciliation. This is a moment where First Nations will be part of building this new Canada of the 21st century,鈥� Champagne said.