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
Notice: Chiefs of Ontario – Special Chiefs Assembly February 2020
The Chiefs of Ontario will be hosting the Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, Ontario, on February 5-6, 2020. Call for Resolutions: SCA
Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald Acknowledges the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women
(December 6, 2019) Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald and the Chiefs of Ontario acknowledge the National Day of Remembrance and Action
Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald Cautiously Optimistic in Advancing First Nations Priorities in Speech from the Throne
(Ottawa, December 5, 2019) Early this afternoon, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, delivered the Speech from
First-of-its-kind report on First Nations and diabetes shows better prevention needed
(November 25, 2019) A new report developed jointly by the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and ICES is a first-of-its-kind, First Nations–specific report on