The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations made a call for unity during his welcoming speech at the 34th Annual General Assembly in Whitehorse today.

"Our agenda, that which compels us to gather here, our First Nations agenda, it requires that everyone come together,” Shawn Atleo said.

"We have inherent responsibility to our lands, waters and peoples – and we have inherent rights as Nations to work in full respect with one another and as equal partners with other governments.”

Atleo highlighted the many challenges that continue to face First Nations communities across the country.

"I look around and I see today that beyond the headlines of floods and fires, many of our First Nations are in a perpetual state of crisis,” he said.

"Our people are crammed into crumbling homes in collapsing communities.

"Almost half of our children are living in poverty. We have more children in care right now than at that the height of the residential school era. Our young people are more likely to end up in jail than to graduate,” Atleo continued.

"These statistics are stark, they're sobering and we don't need to recite them again but we can ask the Canadian government and all Canadians: is this the Canada they want to stand for? Is this the kind of country they believe in?”

Atleo reminded the gathered chiefs, First Nations citizens, and observers, that in 2010 he called upon the federal government to work with aboriginal people in moving past the Indian Act. "We know what we oppose. But that is only half the fight,” he said, highlighting the priority on empowering and supporting each other.

The national chief underscored the assembly's packed agenda for the next three days, noting specifically the work that must be undertaken on education and comprehensive claims.

On education, he noted the chronic underfunding to First Nations schools, compared to schools in the provincial system.

But it's about more than just increased resources, it's about developing complete systems with full supports, Atleo said, highlighting a successful First Nations education system in Nova Scotia.

Moving to comprehensive claims, the national chief said "there is no doubt that current government policy is completely inadequate and inconsistent with legal developments.”

"We finally have agreement on the need for reform, a clear timeline and process to achieve this change – we will press for and be unrelenting in our pursuit of full recognition and reconciliation and a final and permanent end to extinguishment and denial.”

In closing, Atleo referenced the energy that movements like Idle No More have brought to First Nations in Canada.

"This is absolutely a critical time. And yes there is energy in the air. We are demanding change on our terms to reach our goals,” he said.

"We will indeed emerge stronger together today, for our children tomorrow,” Atleo said, referencing the 1973 document that has served as a framework for self-government and aboriginal land claim settlements in the Yukon.

Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Ruth Massie welcomed the AFN delegation to the Yukon, adding her voice to the two local chiefs who welcomed the gathering to their traditional territories.

Yukon First Nations are truly honoured by AFN's presence in their homeland, Massie said.

"Today I am proud to say that we have 11 of 14 Yukon First Nations that are self-governing. It's been a long journey with many positive achievements along the way and we look forward to sharing our stories of success and the many challenges we faced with some solutions,” said Massie.

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski echoed Massie's comments, saying the road to Yukon's self-government and land claim agreements was long and at times challenging.

"But today these agreements are the foundational pieces of how we organize ourselves socially and politically, how we do business and how we manage our natural resources,” he said.

Pasloski went on to say that the territory's experiences would continue to serve as a template for First Nations across the country, as Yukon First Nations continue to be leaders.

He noted the special honour that AFN has returned to Yukon in 2013, the 40th anniversary of Together Today, for our Children Tomorrow and the 20th anniversary of the Umbrella Final Agreement.

The last annual general assembly held in Whitehorse was 21 years ago, Atleo noted during his speech.

The AFN annual assembly continues until Thursday afternoon.