Indigenous

Members of the Land Defence Alliance met on Wednesday to discuss the issues facing our Nations and our lands. We face multiple crises both in and outside our Nations arising from attacks on our way of life and the failures of Ontario and Canada. Issues such as youth suicides, drug epidemics and mental health issues. We have had multiple suicides ...

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) convened a Special Chiefs Assembly (SCA) on June 28th to fulfill the mandate of AFN Resolution 03/2022, which called for an investigation and audit of AFN’s Financial and Management Policies. The purpose of the assembly was to report on the findings of a human resources investigation to the First Nations-in-Assembly and address the implications ...

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Acting Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum has released the following statement on the reinvestigation into the deaths of 13 First Nations people in Thunder Bay by the Ontario Provincial Police: “This will be extremely difficult for the families who have lost their loved ones with no explanation by those in authority. Communication is key, and we ...

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples has lost faith in Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller after years of ignoring and excluding hundreds of thousands of off-Reserve, non-status, Metis, and Southern Labrador Inuit Indigenous people. The Congress believes these acts and policies can only be remedied with the removal of Marc Miller, with hopes of a replacement with compassion and a clear ...

The Anishinabek Nation Chiefs-in-Assembly have unanimously passed a resolution on Day 2 of the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Assembly on June 8, rejecting the Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement between the Métis Nation of Ontario and Canada in its current form. The 39 Anishinabek First Nations continue to assert that they are the only holders of inherent rights and ...

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is calling on Canadian Senators to ensure all Indigenous Peoples are included in the planned Reconciliation Council being created by Bill C-29. The oversight body is a “Call to Action” from the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions’ 2015 report. It is vital that urban Indigenous voices and CAP have a seat at the table, and therefore ...

On February 24, 2023, the Government of Canada and the Métis Nation of Ontario (“MNO”) signed the Métis Government Recognition and Self-Government Implementation Agreement (“the Agreement”).   Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin (“RHW”) challenges the historical existence of distinct “Métis” communities in the Robinson-Huron Treaty territory and, as such, commissioned a study led by Dr. Celeste Pedri-Spade (McGill University) and Dr. Darryl ...

This past weekend, the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council (MNOYC) partnered with The Gordon Foundation to host a Métis Self-Government Simulation for Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) youth. From Friday, January 20 to Sunday, January 22, youth gathered at Toronto’s Sheraton Gateway Hotel to develop foundational skills and key learnings on the many facets of Métis self-government. Participants networked ...

The Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund (RHTLF) leadership and the governments of Canada and Ontario will begin mediated discussions today with the Honourable Murray Sinclair serving as the mediator. On Thursday, Justice Hennessy agreed to an adjournment which will delay Stage Three proceedings by two weeks to allow all parties to come together for settlement discussions.   Stage Three – ...

The National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Elmer St. Pierre, has strongly condemned the Liberal Government’s action to force the off-reserve voice out of Bill C-29. The proposed legislation and National Council create new levels of colonial policy and discrimination that continues to marginalize our people. “The entire Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) is shocked and frustration at ...

This week, the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund (RHTLF) leadership met with the governments of Canada and Ontario to discuss treaty renewal and the ongoing Robinson Huron Treaty annuities case.   This historic meeting with Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller and Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford focused on the ceremony and was an important step towards treaty renewal. ...

The serial murders that occurred in Winnipeg, Manitoba are a national tragedy and another example of racism and hate. This is a call for action to address this hate that continues to put the safety of Indigenous women at risk – and to end the ongoing genocide that is its direct result. The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) recognizes and ...

The Halfbreed Adhesion to Treaty No. 3 is the only instance of a Métis community collectively adhering to one of the historic treaties negotiated with First Nations across Canada. As a part of Treaties Recognition Week, the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community is raising awareness about the “Halfbreeds of Rainy Lake and Rainy River.” In the 1870s, Métis pressed their land ...

Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs, issued the following statement on Treaties Recognition Week: “This week, Ontario is marking the seventh annual Treaties Recognition Week by encouraging students and the public to learn more about treaties and how they form the basis of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in this province. Treaties Recognition Week was introduced by the ...

Greg Rickford, ministre des Affaires autochtones, a fait la déclaration suivante au sujet de la Semaine de reconnaissance des traités : « Cette semaine, l’Ontario souligne la septième Semaine annuelle de reconnaissance des traités en encourageant les élèves et le public à en apprendre davantage sur les traités et sur la façon dont ils constituent la base des relations entre ...