Indigenous

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 ...

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, 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 ...

on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Ontario Heritage Trust, in partnership with the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSAA) and Algoma University, unveiled a new provincial plaque commemorating the former Shingwauk Indian Residential School in Sault Ste. Marie. The new plaque replaces an outdated 1977 version that excluded facts about the true purpose of the residential school and ...

The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is pleased to announce that Executive Director, Cora McGuire-Cyrette, has been appointed to the Thunder Bay Police Services (TBPS) Board Governance Committee for a 2-year term. This Committee was established to ensure governance decisions are being represented, not just by the Board, but informed and assisted by the community’s voice. The Committee will have ...

Yesterday, October 21st, 2022 marked 172 years since the Crown acknowledged and committed to protect the rights to land of the Sault Ste. Marie Métis Community in the Robinson-Huron Treaty negotiations. That solemn commitment remains unfulfilled, and reconciliation is stalled without it.   In recognition, the bell in the steeple of the Sault Métis Centre — the former St. John’s ...