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
Chiefs of Ontario Stand with the Family of Heather Winterstein and Six Nations Ahead of Coroner’s Inquest
Content Warning: This release discusses the death of a First Nation woman and references systemic racism in healthcare. (March 25, 2026
For World Water Day, First Nations Leaders Urge Federal Government to Fulfill Commitments to Reintroduce the First Nations Clean Water Act
(Toronto, Ont. – March 23, 2026) For World Water Day, First Nations leaders in the Ontario region are calling on the
Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Conclude Historic CHRT Approval Hearings for the Ontario Final Agreement
March 3, 2026 - The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) have concluded oral submissions before the Canadian
Chiefs of Ontario Urges Immediate Action on Highway Safety After String of Fatal Collisions
(Toronto – Ont. Feb. 23, 2026) – The Chiefs of Ontario is calling on the federal and provincial governments to take