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 in Solidarity with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Demanding Urgent Action from Treaty Partners on Community Safety Crisis
(Toronto, Ont. -- October 10, 2025) The Chiefs of Ontario stand in full support of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) as
Chiefs of Ontario Discontinue Judicial Reviews of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act
(Toronto, Ont.—October 6, 2025) Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict and the Chiefs of Ontario’s Leadership Council have issued the following statement
First Nations people in Ontario disproportionately affected by opioid crisis, new report shows
(Toronto, Ont.–Oct. 6, 2025) Opioids are killing and harming First Nations people in Ontario at an alarming rate much higher than
Chiefs of Ontario Support Joint Police Operations Against Organized Crime, Reiterate Call for Federal Recognition of First Nations Policing as an Essential Service
(Toronto, Ont.–October, 1 2025) The Chiefs of Ontario express strong support for recent investigations between First Nation police services and the