/R E P E A T -- Assembly of First Nations Specific Claims Expert Panel to Meet in Vancouver, B.C. on March 26, 2015/

OTTAWA, March 24, 2015 /CNW/ - The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Expert Panel on specific land claims will be in Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday, March 26 to hear from First Nations and their representatives about the current specific claims process, their experiences and insights and ideas for change. The AFN created the independent Expert Panel in order to assist in creating a better, more fair and just approach to resolving specific land claims. The Expert Panel is preparing a report and recommendations as part of the five year review of the Specific Claims Tribunal Act.

AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde will be at the Vancouver hearing to deliver Opening Remarks at 9:10 a.m. on Thursday, March 26.

The Expert Panel is a parallel process called "Assembly of First Nations Specific Claims Review: Expert Based - Peoples Driven" that honours Section 41 of the Specific Claims Tribunal Act and the Political Agreement entered into between the AFN and Canada in 2007 that requires Canada to carry out a five year review of the Specific Claims Tribunal Act.

DATE:	Thursday, March 26, 2015
TIME:	9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Pacific Time)
LOCATION:	Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown
	Pinnacle III Meeting Room
	1128 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C.

The members of the Expert Panel are Delia Opekokew (Chair), Bryan Schwartz and Robert Winogron, both former legal counsel for the AFN/Canada Joint Task Force that created the Specific Claims Tribunal Act. The Expert Panel held its first hearing in Toronto, ON on March 10, 2015.

The session is open to media and the public and will be simultaneously webcast at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yChYnzD0Hhk

A full agenda for the Assembly of First Nations Expert Panel hearing in Vancouver is available at: http://www.afn.ca/index.php/en/news-media/latest-news/Assembly-of-First-Nations-Specific-Claims-Review-Expert-Based-Peoples-

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

SOURCE Assembly of First Nations

Don Kelly, AFN Communications Director [phone] ext. 200, c: 613-292-2787 or [email protected]; Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer, [phone] ext. 382, c: [phone] or [email protected]