Indigenous issues a priority as Winnipeg hosts Liberal MPs, Prime Minister at convention

The theme of reconciliation will play an important role when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Liberal members of parliament from across the country gather in Winnipeg.

As the city hosts the federal Liberal Biennial Convention starting on Thursday, Indigenous issues will be front and centre, convention co-chair Rebecca Chartrand said.

"Twenty per cent of the policy resolutions that are being brought forward are Indigenous focused," she said.

Chartrand ran in the Churchill—Keewatinook Aski riding which eventually went to New Democrat MP Niki Ashton in the 2015 federal election. After the election Chartrand continued her work with the Liberal Party, including bringing Indigenous issues to the forefront at the convention.

"I know that some of the policies that we are bringing forward from Manitoba are taking a look at the high number of kids we have in care for example, or the housing issue in First Nations communities, the water issues," she said.

"They are issues that are relevant for Indigenous people across this country and it's a population that has felt ignored or overlooked in terms of issues we are dealing with in our communities."

During the election the Liberals promised to implement all 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Chartrand said that will be on the agenda at the convention.

• Trudeau lays out plan for new relationship with indigenous people
• Truth and Reconciliation offers 94 'calls to action'

"I know some people think its an ambitious agenda but it's one that they are pushing hard, they are pushing forward," she said. "For example, one of the resolutions [at the convention] is to immediately address the first five recommendations in the TRC commission."

Chartrand is optimistic for the future and said that the Indigenous presence in different levels of government is growing, but there are still hurdles.

"When we think about our unique experience as Indigenous people, we have only been given the right to vote for 50 years, whereas for women it's 100 years, so we haven't been as engaged in Canadian politics comparable to other Canadians," she said.

"That's changing and we are approaching a new era now where we are seeing people get involved."

As the convention co-chair, Chartrand said she hopes to get more Indigenous people involved in the party to enable a stronger Indigenous voice.

"As an Indigenous woman, I know on my end of things I'm ready to take somebody else by the hand and say 'okay let's walk together, let's figure this out.' I think that's what this is really about," she said.

The convention runs until Saturday and non-members can attend, although they are unable to vote.