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
Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare Congratulates Newly Elected National Chief Cindy Woodhouse of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
(Algonquin Unceded Territory, Ontario – December 8, 2023) Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare, on behalf of the Chiefs of Ontario, congratulates
The Chiefs of Ontario support Temagami First Nation and Teme-Augama Anishnabai’s legal action challenging the Ontario Métis Harvesting Agreement and Métis section 35 rights in their Ancestral territory
(Toronto, ON – December 1, 2023) Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare has issued the following statement offering support to Temagami First Nation
OFNYPC Announces Participation in Indigenous Advisory Process as Part of Broader Indian Act Reforms
(Toronto, Ontario — November 30, 2023) The Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council (OFNYPC) has issued the following statement to announce
Chiefs of Ontario File a Judicial Review Calling on the Federal Government to Alleviate Burden of Carbon Pricing on First Nations
(November 30, 2023 )– Chiefs of Ontario (COO) is releasing the following statement regarding a judicial review it has filed today