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Free Legal Support for Survivors of Human Trafficking

Free Legal Support for Survivors of Human Trafficking

chiefsofontario2020-11-17T20:06:39-05:00November 12th, 2020|

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Latest Updates

Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Celebrate Historic Ap…
March 30, 2026
Chiefs of Ontario Responds to 2026 Ontario Budget
March 27, 2026
Media Advisory: Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation to Ho…
March 26, 2026
Chiefs of Ontario Calls on Government to Strike a Commission of I…
March 26, 2026

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Education – Policy Analyst
Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Celebrate Historic Approval of the Ontario Final Agreement by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Policy & Communications cross-sector with Housing & Infrastructure – Coordinator
Housing & Infrastructure – Junior Analyst

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Grand Chief Linda Debassige highlights how an agre

Grand Chief Linda Debassige highlights how an agreement developed in 1965 cannot possibly serve as a modern foundation for community care without comprehensive, fundamental reform. By prioritizing a "co-design and co-develop" approach, it ensures that new models of support are built by First Nations, for First Nations. Creating a system that empowers every First Nation citizen to be the best they can be, supported by services that honor identity and traditions.

Learn why reform is required: 1965IWAReform.ca

#ChiefsOfOntario #1965IWAReform

Today, on Indigenous Nurses Day, we honour First N

Today, on Indigenous Nurses Day, we honour First Nations nurses whose care and dedication support the health and well-being of our communities.

We recognize your strength and compassion as you care for individuals, families, and communities across all generations.

Today and every day, we uplift your contributions and ongoing commitment to our people.

Miigwech / Niá:wen / Yaw^ko / Thank you for the vital role you play in protecting the health, wellness, and future of our communities.

#IndigenousNurses

During Public Health Week, the Chiefs of Ontario r

During Public Health Week, the Chiefs of Ontario recognize the work of the Health Sector and the Public Health Advisor in supporting First Nations.

This includes improving access to culturally appropriate health services and addressing systemic barriers and inequities.

Key priorities focus on preventing infectious diseases, reducing chronic illness, and promoting healthy lifestyles.

#PublicHealthWeek #FirstNationsHealth

The Two Spirit Learning Series is back! Register

The Two Spirit Learning Series is back!

Register now for Session One - Foundations & History of Two Spirit+ People

Registration: https://coo.smudging.ca:8443/Meeting/Register/ea7499b1-00a3-4cac-8c48-a4ae2c95f7ab

Hosted by the Ontario First Nations 2S/LGBTQQIAPD+ Council and the Chiefs of Ontario Women's Initiatives Sector, we invite allies and 2S/LGBTQQIAPD+ relatives to join us for a foundational session to launch the Two Spirit+ Learning Series with guest speaker Missy Fishman (she/her), Public Educator.

Join us as we cover topics like the differences between gender and sexuality; gender identity, sexual orientation, and spiritual identity; the history of Two Spirit+ people in our Nations, including the traditional roles and responsibilities held in community and society; the impacts of colonization on ways of life and being, and the effects of patriarchy, racism, heteronormativity, and cisnormativity. This is a space that welcomes questions from a place of curiosity and kindness — you can submit questions to be addressed in the session to Sarah.Whelan@coo.org.

To learn more, visit: https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/tsls-one-foundations-history-of-two-spirit-people

Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30pm ET
Location: Virtual via Zoom

Who should attend: Anyone looking to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of First Nations 2S/LGBTQQIAPD+ identities and history — allies, 2S/LGBTQQIAPD+ relatives, parents and families of 2S/LGBTQQIAPD+ youth, Knowledge Keepers, and Leadership are all welcome.

In this short video, Roseanne Sutherland, Cree Lan

In this short video, Roseanne Sutherland, Cree Language Speaker from Kashechewan First Nation, and Senior Lead of Research & Data Management at the Chiefs of Ontario, shares a few common phrases in Cree, an opportunity for all of us to learn and practice.

#IndigenousLanguagesDay #FirstNationsLanguages

Today, on Indigenous Languages Day, we recognize a

Today, on Indigenous Languages Day, we recognize and celebrate the strength, beauty, and resilience of First Nations languages.

Indigenous languages carry generations of knowledge, history, and ways of understanding the world. Despite ongoing challenges, First Nations continue to lead vital revitalization efforts, ensuring these languages are spoken, heard, and celebrated.

We acknowledge and thank the members of the Chiefs of Ontario Leadership Committee on Languages (LCOL) for their guidance and support of this important work. As language champions from across Ontario, they help ensure our languages continue to thrive for future generations.

While not all First Nations languages are represented in this post, we honour and uplift each and every one.

Yaw^ko / Miigwech / Thank you to the following individuals and communities who contributed to this project:

-Oneida Nation of the Thames, for sharing language resources
-Sarah MacLeod-Beaver, Anishinaabemowin Language Speaker, Policy Analyst, Education, Chiefs of Ontario (Alderville First Nation)

#IndigenousLanguagesDay #FirstNationsLanguages

March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visib

March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). A day to recognize and celebrate the strength, contributions, and achievements of transgender and Two Spirit people.

Today, we honour and uplift trans and Two-Spirit individuals. Your presence matters, and the contributions you make to our communities are valued.

Our trans and Two-Spirit relatives deserve to be seen, respected, and safe, today and every day.

#TDOV

Today, COO and NAN are pleased to announce a monum

Today, COO and NAN are pleased to announce a monumental turning point for First Nations children and families. Following years of advocacy and the conclusion of hearings in Ottawa, the CHRT has formally issued its decision to approve the Ontario Final Agreement (OFA).

The Tribunal’s decision confirms that the Ontario Final Agreement is sufficient to achieve the objectives of its previous orders to address and eliminate systemic racial discrimination in First Nations Child and Family Services in Ontario.

At the heart of the Tribunal’s decision is the principle of substantive equality, and the ruling affirms the inherent right of First Nations to care for their own children and to design services grounded in their laws, traditions, and priorities.

“Today is about children. With the approval of the Ontario Final Agreement, our Nations are reclaiming control over our most precious assets, our children and our future,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “This work has always been for the children, and we are finally securing the jurisdiction necessary to ensure they grow up immersed in their culture and supported by the love of their communities.”

The Tribunal further underscored the urgency of its ruling, noting that any delay would risk significant harm to children and families, including the potential loss of critical funding. As a result, the approval was issued through an expedited letter of decision, with full reasons to follow.

“This work has always been about the authority of our leaders, and that has been affirmed by the Tribunal. This agreement puts the authority for the care of our children back where it belongs – with our families, leader and communities. This historic decision marks a significant shift in the structure of FNCFS Program in Ontario and provides strong support for our work on remoteness and its broader approach to substantive equality.

The Tribunal has acknowledged that the remoteness quotient is an important, ground-breaking, innovative and valuable tool. Miigwetch to everyone involved for getting us to where we are today,” said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

Link in bio.

This year’s budget largely continues previous mess

This year’s budget largely continues previous messaging focused on strengthening Ontario’s economy in the face of global economic uncertainty, including ongoing concerns related to tariffs from the United States. The province also remains focused on accelerating development and accessing critical minerals in the Ring of Fire.

“Much of the budget’s language surrounding Ontario’s economic defence and the Ring of Fire is not surprising,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “We understand the need to explore new ways to stimulate the economy. But there must be full partnership and the free, prior and informed consent of all impacted First Nations before any development begins.”

The province is projecting a $13.8 billion deficit, nearly double what the province projected last fall.

Investments specific to First Nations remain limited, and language throughout the budget largely echoes previous commitments, with little to no new funding for First Nation programs and services. Projected 2026-27 funding levels for the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation (IAFNER) also remain largely unchanged.

A major initiative highlighted in yesterday’s budget is Ontario’s recent declaration of Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto as a special economic zone (SEZ), following the passing of Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy, last year.
Chiefs of Ontario is still deeply concerned over Bill 5, and the broad powers it grants the province to fast-track projects designated as SEZs, including the exemptions from certain regulatory and assessment requirements. These concerns are particularly relevant as Ontario seeks to take control over the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport, which is located on the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

Read the full statement here: https://chiefs-of-ontario.org/chiefs-of-ontario-responds-to-2026-ontario-budget/

#onpoli

This agreement has been flagged as broken for deca

This agreement has been flagged as broken for decades.

Since 1980, the Ontario Chiefs-in-Assembly have passed 12 resolutions identifying persistent structural problems.

Reform is long overdue and clearly mandated by First Nations leadership.

Stay informed on why reform is necessary, visit the link in our bio.

#ChiefsOfOntario #1965IWAReform

Full statement via link in bio. Chiefs of Ontario

Full statement via link in bio.

Chiefs of Ontario is demanding an apology and federal action on widespread spying on First Nations by police and security forces in Canada.

Earlier this week, CBC Indigenous revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police spent decades spying on First Nations leaders and organizations whose only crime was advocating for their inherent rights and sovereignty.

Chiefs of Ontario is calling for an impartial, First-Nations led federal inquiry into state-sponsored spying on First Nations groups to understand why the policy was implemented, which organizations were involved and to what extent.

Security and policing organizations infiltrated organizations like the National Indian Brother Hood (now known as the Assembly of First Nations) through clandestine programs in a bid to surveil First Nations advocates and disrupt their work.

Hundreds of First Nations people and at least 30 legitimate organizations were subjected to this covert spying program, according to CBC.

Police surveilled offices, homes, airports and other meeting places, and used informants and wiretaps to monitor many First Nations people and organizations, not just suspected radicals.

“This reporting is a damning reflection on Canada’s history of subterfuge against our people and our organizations who only want to ensure that our rights and sovereignty are respected, and to work towards a prosperous and health future for First Nations and all Canadians,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “Spying is not what partners do to each other. It undermines our efforts to build strong and meaningful relationships with the Crown and its representatives. We need dialogue and collaboration, not cloaks and daggers or espionage.”

#onpoli #canpoli #cdnpoli

In this video, Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedi

In this video, Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict emphasizes that true reform is not just about updating paperwork, it is about ensuring that programs such as childcare, social assistance, and home care are transformed for First Nations, by First Nations.

This means putting communities in charge, with their customs and traditions guiding how services are delivered.

Learn why reform is required: 1965IWAReform.ca

#ChiefsOfOntario #1965IWAReform

Content Warning: This release discusses the death

Content Warning: This release discusses the death of a First Nation woman and references systemic racism in healthcare.

As the coroner’s inquest into the death of Heather Winterstein approaches, Chiefs of Ontario stands in solidarity with her family and Six Nations of the Grand River.

Heather Winterstein was a 24-year-old First Nations woman, a member of the Cayuga Nation with ties to Six Nations of the Grand River, who was living in St. Catharines when she died at the Marotta Family Hospital (formerly known as St. Catharines General Hospital) in 2021.

Heather sought care for a severe backache on Dec. 9, 2021. She was discharged with only Tylenol. The following day, she returned to the hospital and collapsed in the waiting room. She later died.

More than four years later, there are still no answers for her friends or family. The inquest, scheduled to begin March 30, will examine the circumstances surrounding Heather’s death and consider recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.

“Heather’s death is a tragic reminder of the systemic racism First Nations people continue to face in healthcare,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “This process must carefully examine whether discrimination, whether overt or not, may have affected the care she received. Any issues that are uncovered by this inquest must be remedied to avoid any more sorrow and pain for our people. All First Nations patients deserve meaningful change and safe healthcare.”

For many First Nations peoples, this inquest represents more than a single case. It is a critical moment to examine how systemic racism, stigma and bias, continue to shape the experiences of First Nations patients within hospitals and emergency departments within Ontario’s healthcare system.

The upcoming inquest is an opportunity to examine the circumstances surrounding Heather’s death, pursue accountability and implement positive change within the system.

Read the full statement via the link in bio.

MMIWG2S+ Family Gathering 2026 The Chiefs of Ont

MMIWG2S+ Family Gathering 2026

The Chiefs of Ontario Women’s Initiatives Sector will host a two-day, in-person Family Gathering on May 5–6, 2026, in Toronto, ON. The Family Gathering will offer a supportive space for healing, connection, and remembrance for families and loved ones impacted by the MMIWG2S crisis. The gathering will include sharing circles, crafts, presentations, evening activities, and a memorial to honour families and loved ones impacted by the MMIWG2S crisis.

Please note that attendance is limited.
Those interested must fill out the Preliminary Interest Form before the deadline of April 9, 2026, and participants will be contacted based on available space.

Preliminary Interest Form: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/zVrZVXiPX6

For more information: https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/mmiwg2s-family-gathering

Date: May 5-6, 2026 (Evening activities to occur on the evening on May 4)
Location: Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites, 5875 Airport Rd. Mississauga ON., L4V 1N1
Who should attend: Invited guests, Families who have experienced loss through MMIWG2S
Registration: To follow completion of Preliminary Interest Form and selection process ‍

Today is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. We continue

Today is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. We continue to raise awareness about TB and its ongoing impact on First Nations.

A 2023 study by the National Collaboration Centre for Infectious Diseases found that First Nations people living on reserve accounted for 37% of active TB cases in Canada.

TB is preventable and treatable, yet it continues to affect our communities.

We must work together to recognize the signs and ensure equitable access to care for all.

Know the symptoms:
• Persistent cough (longer than 2 weeks)
• Chest pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue or low energy • Fever or chills
• Night sweats

Learn more: https://nccid.ca/project-stream/tuberculosis/

#WorldTBDay

Full statement via link in bio. For #WorldWaterDa

Full statement via link in bio.

For #WorldWaterDay, First Nations leaders in the Ontario region are calling on the federal government to fulfill its commitment to reintroduce Bill C-61, the First Nations Clean Water Act, and address ongoing drinking water advisories in First Nations communities.

A 2025 Auditor General report rated Indigenous Services Canada’s progress on First Nations drinking water as unsatisfactory, noting that 35 long-term advisories remained nationally as of April 2025, including nine that have persisted for more than a decade. Ontario bears a disproportionate share of the crisis, with dozens of ongoing long-term and short-term advisories affecting First Nations communities across the province.

Following the landmark $8 billion First Nations drinking water settlement in 2021, recent Federal Court decisions have reaffirmed Canada’s legal duty and ongoing obligations to ensure safe drinking water and affirmed that the crisis stems from decades of chronic underfunding.

“Without legislation, First Nations communities are left without enforceable standards for drinking water and wastewater,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “Reintroducing Bill C-61 is essential to closing that gap and ensuring First Nations have jurisdiction over their own water governance.”

Bill C-61 was developed after years of advocacy and effort by First Nations. The bill would establish enforceable standards and a legislative framework for drinking water and wastewater services. The legislation died on the order paper after Parliament was prorogued in January 2025. Despite commitments from the current federal government to reintroduce the bill, no timeline has been announced.

“Healthy communities require clean drinking water,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige. “Ensuring safe drinking water is about respecting First Nations rights and supporting our sacred obligation to protect these waters.”

#ONpoli #canpoli #cdnpoli

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