WINNIPEG — The Assembly of First Nations' annual general assembly kicked off Wednesday with a strong message to government and industry that the countrywide push for major projects won't happen without First Nations at the table.

"We can all agree on this: that progress cannot come at the cost of our rights, our treaties or our responsibilities to the land," Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson told those gathered in Winnipeg.

“Anything that we do in this country will not be at the expense of our lands, our waters and our resources. For generations, decisions have been made without us, while the impacts fall on our nations and our families.”

The assembly is expected to focus heavily on the federal government's major projects legislation, as it's the first time all chiefs

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