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
The Chiefs of Ontario host Historic #TogetherApart Chiefs Assembly Entirely Online
(August 21, 2020, Toronto, ON) A historic day, for the first time ever, the Chiefs of Ontario hosted their #TogetherApart Chiefs
Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians, Grand Chief Joel Abram’s Statement of Support on Ontario’s Decision to Eliminate the Practice of Birth Alerts
(Toronto – July 21, 2020) Grand Chief Joel Abram is supporting the Government of Ontario’s announcement to put an end to
Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald Congratulates the Indigenous Graduates of 2020
(Toronto, ON, June 25, 2020) Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald celebrates the Indigenous Class of 2020, their friends, families, and communities
Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald Calls for Action against Systemic Racism amidst National Indigenous Peoples Day
(Toronto – June 18, 2020) National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) is meant to recognize and celebrate the vibrant culture, diversity and