Premier Greg Selinger gets earful from First Nations leaders

Manitoba Premier GregSelingerfaced sharp criticism on Tuesday at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs' annual general assembly of chiefs atBrokenheadOjibwayFirst Nation.

Selinger was there for threehours to talk about the province's progress implementing the recommendations from the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry and to take questions from the First Nations leaders.

But some chiefs were unhappySelingerlimited the number of questions chiefs could ask.

O-Pipon-Na-PiwinCree Nation ChiefChris Baker of South Indian Lakesaid he was not happy the premier was there for such a short period of time.

He said he would have likedSelingerto hear more of what the chiefs had to say at the general assembly, but he also wanted a separate meeting over a full day or two with the premier and his cabinet to discuss poverty, social issues, and Manitoba Hydro concerns.

"The resources that are being extracted and taken away from us, and the opportunities, the training and the education that we talk about why can't we sit down and get a commitment from the province?" Baker said at the meeting.

Selinger agreed to further meetings with the chiefs involving his cabinet.

Manto Sipi Cree Nation Chief Michael Yellowback voiced his concerns about the province taking over the band constable program.

Federal funding for the program runs out in April.

Yellowback said he's worried about the impact of that on training, equipment, and facilities.

More than 40 chiefs have travelled to the South Beach Casinoat the BrokenheadOjibway Nation,about an hour north of Winnipeg,to attend the meetings.

They will also discuss gaming and casino revenue sharing and the roundtable that takes place in Ottawa this week on missing and murdered indigenous women.