Editing Assembly of First Nations (section)

==Public perceptions==
The AFN depends upon the federal government for most of its funding. First Nations activists have sometimes accused it of being obsequious to the government as a result, and not sufficiently representative of the larger First Nations community.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-after-afn-national-chief-election-apathy-and-resignation-remain/|title=After AFN national chief election, apathy and resignation remain|last1=Watts|first1=Vanessa|date=2018-07-26|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2019-10-27|last2=King|first2=Hayden}}</ref> But there is also widespread Indigenous support for continued operation of the AFN.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/wab-kinew/assembly-of-first-nations_b_5280412.html|title=Why Canada Still Needs the Assembly of First Nations|last=Kinew|first=Wab|date=2014-05-07|website=HuffPost Canada|language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>

In early 2013, the press reported that documents revealed that the AFN had been operating together with the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP) to provide information and conduct surveillance on members of First Nations communities. This was in response to their joint concerns over disruptions due to mass protests over issues of sovereignty, land claims, and related tensions. Reporters acquired the documents through access to information requests. ''The Star'' reported that heads of the RCMP, and of the Ontario and Quebec provincial police met in the summer of 2007 with AFN national chief Phil Fontaine to "facilitate a consistent and effective approach to managing Aboriginal protests and occupations."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/15/assembly_of_first_nations_rcmp_cooperated_on_response_to_mass_protests_in_2007.html|title=Assembly of First Nations, RCMP co-operated on response to mass protests in 2007 {{!}} The Star|website=thestar.com|date=15 February 2013 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-03}}</ref>