First Nations leaders hold rally in Montreal to get attention of political parties

About 100 people gathered in downtown Montreal Friday afternoon to call on federal party leaders to address and discuss aboriginal issues during this election campaign.

"It's a little shameful from the parties running [in] the campaign that no one has talked about indigenous issues...We should be ashamed of the situation because we are not treating indigenous people with respect," said a woman at the rally, Émilie Joly.

First Nations leaders say the issues affecting their communities have been completely overlooked by all the parties in the race.

"We are part of this country — we have been here for a very long time. As we move closer to the election, the voters need to hopefully take a better look at what the parties have to offer when we take a look at First Nation issues in this country," said Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict.

• First Nations say their issues ignored so far in election campaign
• Aboriginal elders feeling need to vote for 1st time in federal election
• Conservative MP says 'lack of a job' cause of missing and murdered indigenous women

First Nations leaders at the rally said it's time to tackle issues such as improving access to schools, health care, better living conditions, settling territorial disputes and strengthening the communities' partnership with Ottawa.

"We need to be heard. Once the election is done with, we're an afterthought. That has to stop," said Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador.

"What we need to have is a party or government that is willing to sit down and prepare a plan with us."