Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, wants to see hard evidence that the federal government is willing to back up its pledge to work with First Nations people to brighten their future.

Speaking Wednesday, one day after First Nations leaders met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston, Atleo called on Ottawa to demonstrate its commitment in the next federal budget.

Atleo said areas such as education simply can't wait.

"My view is that we can be both practical in areas like education, build on what we know to be the challenge, get to the work together with the Crown, agree to how we're going to implement those changes and then seek the resources to match the required changes," Atleo told reporters Wednesday.

"Those are natural next steps to be looking for. Our children, as I said yesterday, cannot wait."

First Nations leaders and the Conservative government emerged from the talks with a commitment to renew their relationship by addressing a number of concerns.

The decided to form working groups to look at economic development as well as the financial relationship between Ottawa and native communities.

The two sides also agreed to follow up on an already-launched working group examining education.

Atleo acknowledged there have been years of study groups and tasks forces that have resulted in few changes for First Nations people. But he said the difference this time is that both sides are committed to working together to come up with solutions.

"This is about moving away from government unilaterally deciding what they feel is right for First Nations," he said. "That's not a partnership."

Atleo hailed Tuesday's meeting as a milestone despite key outstanding differences in federal-aboriginal relations -- such as the future of the Indian Act.

"Once again there was an articulation that there's much that's agreed on especially around the fact the Indian Act does not serve us. This was an important first step in renewing the relationship between First Nations and the Crown," Atleo told CTV's Canada AM earlier Wednesday.

While the two sides both agree the Indian Act requires a major overhaul, they sharply disagree on how to go about it.

On Tuesday Atleo said the act is a major obstacle that is hurting First Nations' ability to work with the federal government.

"Built on the disgraceful premise of our inferiority, aimed at assimilation and the destruction of our cultures, it was a complete abrogation of the partnership between respectful nations," Atleo said in his speech.

Just prior to that, Harper made it clear from the outset of his remarks that there were no plans to dismantle the Indian Act, but instead Ottawa intended to update it piece by piece.

While he acknowledged the Indian Act is embedded with "incentives" that have led to "outcomes that we all deplore," he said the solution requires an incremental approach.

"To be sure, our government has no grand scheme to repeal or unilaterally rewrite the Indian Act. After 136 years that treaty has deep roots, blowing up the stump would just leave a big hole," Harper said, suggesting that instead Ottawa would work to modernize outdated portions of the act.

Still, Atleo insisted Wednesday that Harper and Johnston's presence, and the meaningful discussions that took place, represent an important starting point for discussions between the two sides. While Harper was initiailly criticized for his plans to only attend the opening ceremony of the event, he ended up staying for the entire day.

"They were listening directly to First Nations leaders from coast to coast to coast and we were saying clearly we need to return to the original treaty relationship as full partners," Atleo said.

The Indian Act-- defining everything from who has First Nations status, to how reserves should be managed and even the effect of marriage on status -- was last amended in 2000.

Since its passage into law in 1876, the Indian Act has given Ottawa exclusive jurisdiction over "Indians and Lands Reserved for Indians."

One of the most contentious features of the Indian Act is the fact that education, from kindergarten to Grade 12, is administered within First Nations communities under the Indian Act, rather than by the provinces.

"Everyone agrees that doesn't make sense," Atleo said.

"We received commitments to get on to work in areas like education and I hope it will be followed very soon by further commitments as well."

Regardless of the issue, from aboriginal health to infrastructure, economic development or education, Atleo said it's vital that First Nations drive the solutions -- a point he said the federal representatives agreed with.

"What we've been seeking is a Crown partner who is willing to do that work with us, not for us, and not having unilateral decisions made by Ottawa, and that is a significant change in smashing the status quo that we've been looking for."

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the federal government and the chiefs acknowledged they have had a contentious relationship and mistakes can't be repeated.

"Unfortunately, there have been low points in our relationship. A series of misguided and harmful government policies in our past has shaken First Nations confidence in our relationship," the statement said.

"We cannot undo the mistakes of the past, but we can learn from them and affirm that they will not be repeated."

They agreed to set up task forces and working groups on issues such as economic development, and report back on the progress they've made in one year.