Despite challenges, outgoing AFN Chief Perry Bellegarde looks forward to 'shared future'

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegardesays Canada has made significant progress in the past seven years onits relationship with Indigenous people, but he warns there is still much work to doas he prepares to step down next month.

First elected in 2014, Bellegarde's tenure has seen rapid but, he says, insufficient change in the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, as well as steps forward in federal legislation.

He pointsto the creation of a national day of truth and reconciliation, recognition of treaty rights in citizenship oathsand development on child welfare and language rights as signs of progress.

The day before Canada marks National Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, Bellegarde spoke withCBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton in an interview that aired on Rosemary Barton Live.

"We've moved the yardsticks, but progress doesn't mean parity. We still have to keep investing in housing and water and infrastructure and education and health care so that gap keeps closing," hesaid.

"It's only been seven years. It's going to take five, 10, 15, 20 years for that gap to eventually close because progress does not mean parity. And we've got to get to the same starting line."

Bellegarde spoke with Barton just days after Bill C-15, legislation to align Canadian law with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP),passed in the Senate. The bill is nowpoised for royal assent.

The AFN national chief noted that C-15includesa provision to implement steps to eliminate racism and discrimination, saying the legislationis"another arrow in our quiver" to put pressure on the government to make policy change.

Bellegardepointed to the need for "transformational change" in the justice and health-care systems, among other areas.

"If there's systemic racism and discrimination, you need systemic change," he said.

'Canadians are waking up'

Despite persistent inequities experienced by Indigenous people, Bellegarde has struck an optimistic tone about the future. He notes that there has been a major shift in the attitude of Canadians, saying a decade ago, concerns about missing and murdered Indigenous women were dismissed or ignored.

"We weren'ttalking about the lack of access to potable water. We weren't talking about the high youth suicide crisis.Canadians are getting it. And that's a real powerful thing. Canada is moving and embracing reconciliation at the time for change," he said.

Canadians arebecoming more aware of the history and legacy of the residential school system, and the preliminary findings of children buried at the site of a Kamloops, B.C., residential school haveplayed a major role in increasing awareness, Bellegarde said.

"Because of colonization and oppression, you see the genocide and now there's a waking up. Canadians are waking up, governments are waking up."

The key to moving forward isa clear-eyed viewof the past "the good things, the bad things, the ugly things" and a commitment to mutual respect, Bellegardesaid.

"We need to knowwe have a shared history, and it's not always bright and light around that shared history. We have to tell the truth and embrace that truth as hard as it is, because more importantly, now we have a shared future."

Part of that effort isa recognition that the residential school system was a genocide against Indigenous people, that Indigenous people aresuffering intergenerational trouble and that challenges remainon issues such as child welfare, Bellegarde said.

As he prepares to step down, with a new national chief to be elected July 7, Bellegardesaid he'sgrateful for the opportunity to serve his people.

"Forever inmy head, mind, heart and spirit,I'll be a public servant and helper of the people. And it is time to take a rest and reset now, and we'll see what the next road turns up."

You can watch full episodes of Rosemary Barton Live onCBC Gem, the CBC's streaming service.