In March of 1975, at the First Annual All Ontario Chiefs Conference, a joint First Nations Association Coordinating Committee was formed, constituting an unincorporated federation of the four major Ontario First Nation organizations. The purpose of the committee was to provide a single Ontario representative to the Assembly of First Nations (then, the National Indian Brotherhood). From this committee emerged the Chiefs of Ontario office whose basic purpose is to enable the political leadership to discuss and to decide on regional, provincial and national priorities affecting First Nation people in Ontario and to provide a unified voice on these issues.
Former Ontario Regional Chiefs, from left to right: Grand Council Chief Pat Madahbee, Deputy Grand Chief Gord Peters, Angus Toulouse, Charles Fox, Chief Tom Bressette.
About the Logo
The circle and the map represents the continuity, strength and harmony of the First Nations peoples of Ontario; the five feathers signify the four political organizations of the Chiefs of Ontario; the fifth feather represents the independent nations and First Nation peoples living off reserve, First Nations who are not forgotten. The overall symbol represents the continuance of the First Nations peoples of Ontario struggle for pride, culture, self-determination and spirituality.
THE LATEST FROM CHIEFS OF ONTARIO
Media Releases
Twenty-five years after Walkerton, a water crisis persists
Twenty-five years after Walkerton, a water crisis persists (Toronto, Ont.–May 20, 2025) The Chiefs of Ontario have issued the following statement
The Chiefs of Ontario responds to the tabling of 2025 Ontario budget
(Toronto, Ont.–May 15, 2025) The Chiefs of Ontario has issued the following statement in response to the 2025 Ontario budget, tabled
Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict Responds to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Cabinet Appointments
(May 14, 2025—Toronto, Ont.) Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict has released a statement following the announcement of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s
Three quarters of First Nations police in Ontario report facing mental health challenges on the job
(Toronto, Ont.–May 12, 2025) Today, the Chiefs of Ontario, in partnership with the First Nations policed under the Ontario First Nations