Hey Sudbury, there is one body that represents just about all natives in Canada (Assembly of First Nations), they even have an election to choose a speaker for the whole body (was Shawn Atleo but replaced by Bellegarde?).
The problem is that as in all political organizations, compromise and common decision is hard to obtain.

But on the flip side:
Remember, if you were an investor of any stock of the Ring in 2009-2010 time frame, of the blockade.
Just consider what would have happened IF all natives of Canada were to stand behind that blockade. Does Blackmail not ring an alarm bell?

The Problem imho is not native unity or who speaks for any native community but what they consider as theirs and what they want as compensation for 'Their' land.

I think that they consider for all practical purposes all of Canada as theirs and want compensation accordingly. And that is what I am totally against.

If anyone here reads one or more of my posts in the Off topic forum, I think that natives ( under treaty or not) only own the land on the reserve. They also have fishing, hunting, or other wise usage of land surrounding their reserves if they wish to continue they traditional way of life. Many have opted out or try to have it both ways.

As to remainder of Canada, they gave that up when they accepted support from the federal government. That is their compensation. Ref. 1969 White Paper of Jean Chrétien, assimilation of First Nations.

But even IF they did not give up then by common occurance we the invading/immigrating Europeans would have conquered them and they would lose every thing. Practically and effectively that has happened except no one dares to tell them so lest they be accused of being prejudiced. And that is what our politicians are afraid to do and bend over backwards to accomodate.

Excuse me for this long winded rant, but with this matter remaining unsolved we the investors of the Ring are likely to pay a heavy price money wise ( we already are in terms of time).
Ed G.