Canadians give as much as 10-Billion dollars a year to charities and philanthropic trusts. And yet across this country those living on First Nations reserves are often invisible to those who donate to make a difference. The Chief of the Assembly of First Nations wants to change that saying partnerships with philanthropies could transform the lives of many. Others argue, the real change will come with loans not gifts.

---

Part Two of The Current

First Nations & Philanthropy - Shawn Atleo

We started this segment with a clip from Shawn Atleo, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Last week, he presented his case to a group he thinks is in a unique position to help transform the lives of native Canadians. Chief Atleo was the closing speaker at the National Conference of the Philanthropic Foundations of Canada and he used the occasion to build stronger ties between philanthropists and First Nations. We heard what some people at the conference thought about his speech.

We reached the National Chief in Winnipeg.

First Nations & Philanthropy - Calvin Helin

Calvin Helin has been listening in. He is the President of The Native Investment and Trade Association and the author of Dances with Dependency: Out of Poverty Through Self-Reliance and The Economic Dependency Trap: Breaking Free to Self-Reliance. Calvin Helin was in Vancouver.

Other segments from today's show:

• Air Canada Labour Dispute
• Short Term Marriage