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Indigenous Identity Summit Commits to Advocating Against NunatuKavut Ontario Métis

Indigenous Identity Summit Commits to Advocating Against NunatuKavut Ontario Métis

Chiefs of Ontario2025-12-18T10:50:45-05:00

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The Chiefs of Ontario Economic Development Sector, The Chiefs of Ontario Economic Development Sector, in partnership with Indigenous and Community Engagement (ICE), is hosting an engagement session on the development of a First Nation Employment Services Framework Friday February 20, 2026, at the Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre, Thunder Bay ON. This hybrid session will focus on co-developing the Framework outline and exploring how it can support communities in designing individualized employment service plans that reflect their unique needs and priorities. Registration available in bio Date: Friday February 20, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Location: Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre, Thunder Bay ON Please note: This session is intended for participants in Northern Ontario. Lodging and travel support are available only for participants located in Northern Ontario (north of Sudbury). Lodging and travel support will not be provided to participants from Southern Ontario who choose to attend. For additional information, please visit chiefsmeeting.com/fn-employment-framework-3
The Chiefs of Ontario Health Sector will host the The Chiefs of Ontario Health Sector will host the 19th Annual Health Forum on February 11-12, 2026, in Toronto, ON. The 19th Annual Health Forum theme is Rooted in Wellness: Meeting Needs, Reducing Harm, and Building Strength for Generations to Come, with a focus on strengthening our communities through the lens of Health Human Resources. Registration is open! Please note that room blocks expire today, January 15, 2026. For additional information or to complete your registration, please visit the assembly link in our bio.
The Chiefs of Ontario Justice Sector will host a v The Chiefs of Ontario Justice Sector will host a virtual dialogue session on the United Nations Declaration Act (UNDA) on February 6, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. ET – 12:00 p.m. ET. This session will focus on the reporting process for the upcoming fifth annual progress report and implementation progress of the current Action Plan. Members from Canada’s Department of Justice’s UNDA Secretariat will attend to present and answer questions on these topics. Registration available in bio Date and Time: February 6th, 2026, 10:30 a.m. ET – 12:00 p.m. ET Location: Online via Microsoft Teams Who Should Attend: First Nations Leadership and Technicians For more information, please visit: https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/unda
📢Registration is now live for the annual Canada On 📢Registration is now live for the annual Canada Ontario Agreement (COA) executive and First Nations meeting on February 18-19, 2026 in Garden River. This hybrid meeting will provide an opportunity for information exchange between the COA Co-Chairs and attendees to discuss Great Lakes issues, as well as priorities and actions planned to achieve COA goals. The session will also include presentations from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Date & Time: February 18, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET, February 19, 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM Registration available in bio Location: Hybrid via Teams (Garden River Recreation Centre - 48 Syrette Lake Road, Garden River, ON. P6A 7A1) Who should attend: First Nations Leadership, technicians, and community members For more information, visit: https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/10th-annual-coa-great-lakes-fn-meeting
Trigger warning: Opioid Toxicity & Substance-Relat Trigger warning: Opioid Toxicity & Substance-Related Harms We’re breaking down the key findings on opioid use, related harms, and access to treatment among First Nations in Ontario. Understanding these realities is an important step toward healing, improved supports, and community-led solutions. Did You Know? For First Nations people living outside of their communities, hospital visits for opioid-related toxicities peaked at 32.3 per 10,000 in the third quarter of 2021. For First Nations people living within their communities, hospital visits for opioid-related toxicities peaked earlier, in the third quarter of 2020, at 11.3 per 10,000. We call upon the Canadian and Ontario governments to partake in discussions with First Nations and First Nations organizations directly on ways to expand the scope of the Opioid Surveillance Project to address the constantly changing landscape. To view the recently released report, Opioid Use, Related Harms, and Access to Treatment Among First Nations in Ontario, visit the link in our bio. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at hopeforwellness.ca #EndTheCrisisInOurNations
Today we celebrate National Ribbon Skirt Day and t Today we celebrate National Ribbon Skirt Day and the beauty, strength, and connection carried in every ribbon skirt. On Dec. 18 2021, Isabella (Bella) Kulak wore her ribbon skirt to Kamsack Comprehensive Institute and was told it was not considered formal attire. By standing her ground in the face of prejudice, Isabella sparked a movement of solidarity that led to National Ribbon Skirt Day being recognized across Canada. Worn with pride, ribbon skirts are regalia for women and Two Spirit people, connecting us to the creativity and care of the matriarchs who came before; skilled artisans who wove heart and skill into every garment. #NationalRibbonSkirt Day
Trigger warning: Opioid Toxicity & Substance-Relat Trigger warning: Opioid Toxicity & Substance-Related Harms We’re breaking down the key findings on opioid use, related harms, and access to treatment among First Nations in Ontario. Understanding these realities is an important step toward healing, improved supports, and community-led solutions. Did You Know? The annual number of people newly receiving safer opioid supply medications increased steadily from 2018 to 2023. In 2023, the rate of people starting safer opioid supply programs was more than nine times higher among First Nations people (0.65 per 1,000 people; 92 individuals) compared to non–First Nations people (0.07 per 1,000 people; 999 individuals). We call upon the Canadian and Ontario governments to work to create and compile an accessible evergreen resource that outlines comprehensive information on available addiction and treatment services and programs across Ontario and in proximity to all 133 First Nations. To view the recently released report, Opioid Use, Related Harms, and Access to Treatment Among First Nations in Ontario, visit the link in our bio. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at hopeforwellness.ca #EndTheCrisisInOurNations
Trigger warning: Opioid Toxicity & Substance-Relat Trigger warning: Opioid Toxicity & Substance-Related Harms We’re breaking down the key findings on opioid use, related harms, and access to treatment among First Nations in Ontario. Understanding these realities is an important step toward healing, improved supports, and community-led solutions. Did You Know? The contribution of fentanyl to opioid-related deaths rose at a similar rate for both First Nations and non-First Nations people between 2018 and 2021. After this rise, there was a slight decrease among First Nations people: fentanyl was involved in 90.2% of opioid-related deaths in 2021, dropping to 84.2% in 2022. We call upon the Canadian and Ontario governments to undertake a thorough review of existing data on publicly funded treatment programs in Ontario and how they are serving or being accessed by First Nations Peoples.. To view the recently released report, Opioid Use, Related Harms, and Access to Treatment Among First Nations in Ontario, visit the link in our bio. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at hopeforwellness.ca #EndTheCrisisInOurNations
The Chiefs of Ontario Education Sector will host t The Chiefs of Ontario Education Sector will host the Post Secondary Education Forum on February 5, 2026 in Toronto, ON. The one-day event will bring together post-secondary education technicians, Education Directors and Coordinators, and Indigenous Institutes to share information and resources related to First Nations post-secondary education. For additional information, and to complete your accommodation details please visit the assembly link in our bio.
The Chiefs of Ontario Environment Sector will host The Chiefs of Ontario Environment Sector will host the annual Canada Ontario Agreement (COA) executive and First Nations meeting on February 18-19, 2026 in Garden River. This hybrid meeting will provide an opportunity for information exchange between the COA Co-Chairs and attendees to discuss Great Lakes issues, as well as priorities and actions planned to achieve COA goals. The session will also include presentations from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Date and Times: February 18, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET, February 19, 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM Location: Hybrid via Teams, Garden River Recreation Centre - 48 Syrette Lake Road, Garden River, ON. P6A 7A1 Who Should Attend: First Nations Leadership, technicians, and community members Registration: Coming soon! For additional information, please visit https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/10th-annual-coa-great-lakes-fn-meeting, or email Ryan Bowie, Associate Director of Environment at ryan.bowie@coo.org
Happy holidays and season’s greetings from the Chi Happy holidays and season’s greetings from the Chiefs of Ontario! Please note that the COO Secretariat Office will be closed from December 18, 2025, and will reopen on January 5, 2026.
*Content Warning: A national Indian Residential Sc *Content Warning: A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available to provide support for Survivors and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour service at 1-866-925-4419. A decade ago, Survivors courageously told the truth about the Indian Residential School system, exposing its violence, lasting intergenerational impacts, and the ongoing harms created by colonial policies. The TRC Final Report was not a symbolic exercise, it was a clear directive to transform these systems and replace them with approaches grounded in First Nations rights, laws, and self-determination. “Survivors did their part. They spoke the truth about the horrors they endured, so that future generations would know, and so that Canada could act,” said Ontario Regional Chief Benedict. “Ten years later, governments and institutions have yet to follow through. Reconciliation cannot be delayed, ignored, or implemented halfway.’ Despite repeated commitments, many of the 94 Calls to Action remain unfulfilled. First Nations in Ontario continue to experience inequities in child welfare, education, justice, and housing, conditions the TRC explicitly identified as ongoing consequences of the residential school system. The Chiefs of Ontario are also deeply concerned about the growing presence of Indian Residential School denialism, which undermines reconciliation and retraumatizes Survivors. “Indian Residential School denialism is not a difference of opinions, it is an attack on Survivors, their families, and truth itself,” said Regional Chief Benedict. “It causes real harm and has no place in Ontario or anywhere in Canada. Reconciliation cannot exist where truth is denied.” The Chiefs of Ontario call on the federal and Ontario governments to accelerate the implementation of all 94 Calls to Action, with clear timelines, accountability mechanisms, and sustained, long-term funding. Read the full statement via the link in bio.
The Chiefs of Ontario affirm our support for the ( The Chiefs of Ontario affirm our support for the (Un)Making of Metis Claims in Ontario conference held in Baawaating (Sault Ste. Marie). This landmark gathering brought together First Nations, Metis and non-Indigenous scholars, historians, knowledge holders and community members to critically examine historical claims of Metis communities in Ontario, an issue the Chiefs of Ontario have long emphasized requires careful, evidence-based research and meaningful engagement with First Nations. “First Nations have an inherent right and responsibility to protect our territories, cultures, oral histories and legal traditions,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “Conferences such as this create space for First Nation-led research, respectful dialogue, and the reaffirmation of our sovereignty and rights. Accurate history is essential to justice, and discussions about Indigenous identity, rights and territorial claims must be grounded in evidence and Indigenous knowledge systems.” The Chiefs of Ontario acknowledge complexities of identity and culture, and support Indigenous peoples’ right to investigate, learn from, and teach their own histories. This conference contributes meaningfully to this work, and we commend the organizers and participants for fostering a respectful forum for dialogue on these critical issues. “I stand with First Nations who are engaging in rigorous scholarship, guided by community oral histories and academic research, to clarify and protect the historical record of Indigenous presence and governance on the lands now known as the Ontario region,” said Ontario Regional Chief Benedict. “It is deeply concerning and unacceptable that First Nations Ancestors and relatives, including leaders within our traditional governance systems, are being appropriated and re-cast as “Metis” for the purpose of constructing so-called “Metis family lines”.” The Chiefs of Ontario continue to call on governments and institutions to closely examine the extensive research and evidence presented by First Nations, in order to address false Metis claims in First Nations ancestral and Treaty territories. Read the full statement via the link in bio.
Trigger warning: Opioid Toxicity & Substance-Relat Trigger warning: Opioid Toxicity & Substance-Related Harms We’re breaking down the key findings on opioid use, related harms, and access to treatment among First Nations in Ontario. Understanding these realities is an important step toward healing, improved supports, and community-led solutions. Did You Know? Non-pharmaceutical opioids were involved in most opioid toxicity deaths among First Nations people (87.1%). Only 9.8% of deaths involved opioids prescribed for pain. Of those prescription-opioid deaths, about half also involved other types of opioids. This means that only 5.4% of all opioid-related deaths among First Nations people were caused solely by opioids prescribed for pain. We call upon the Canadian and Ontario governments to Develop innovative approaches to address the opioid crisis with governments at all levels, and ensure that within these approaches, there are different treatment options available for those experiencing opioid use disorder. To view the recently released report, Opioid Use, Related Harms, and Access to Treatment Among First Nations in Ontario, visit the link in our bio. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at hopeforwellness.ca #EndTheCrisisInOurNations
The Chiefs of Ontario Economic Development Sector, The Chiefs of Ontario Economic Development Sector, in partnership with Indigenous and Community Engagement (ICE), is hosting an engagement session on the development of a First Nation Employment Services Framework. This hybrid session will focus on discussing and co-developing the outline of the Framework, including how it can support flexibility for communities to design individualized employment service plans that reflect their unique needs, capacities, and priorities. Your insights, experiences, and guidance will be essential in shaping a truly First Nation-led approach to employment services. Date and Time: Friday, January 30, 2026, 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Location: Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre, 655 Dixon Rd Who Should Attend: First Nations Leadership, Employment Stakeholders, Technicians. Registration available in bio Please note: - For in-person attendees, lodging and travel support will be provided for participants travelling from south of Sudbury. - Communities located north of Sudbury are asked not to register for this session, as a dedicated northern engagement will take place in Thunder Bay in February 2026. - Please note that lodging and travel support will not be available for northern participants who choose to attend the Toronto session. For additional information, please visit https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/fn-employment-framework-2 or email Stephen Kanagaratnam, Policy Analyst at stephen.kanagaratnam@coo.org or Arvind Sharma, Director of Economic Development at arvind.sharma@coo.org
The Chiefs of Ontario are hosting an in-person mee The Chiefs of Ontario are hosting an in-person meeting in the Sudbury region to provide First Nations and First Nations Child and Family Services Agencies an opportunity to begin collaborating on important planning and reporting requirements as outlined under the Final Agreement on Long-Term Reform of the FNCFS Program in Ontario (Ontario Final Agreement). This meeting is geared towards First Nations Child and Family Services Agencies and First Nation technicians, councilors, and other relevant personnel. Date and Times: January 28 - 29, 2026 - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Location: Radisson Hotel Sudbury, 85 Ste Anne Road, Sudbury, ON, P3C 5T6 Who Should Attend: First Nations Child Welfare Technicians, FNCFS Agency Staff, Ontario First Nations Leadership Registration available in bio Hotel room accommodations for First Nations Child Welfare Technicians, FNCFS Agency Staff, and Ontario First Nations Leadership attending this event will be provided by the Chiefs of Ontario. The deadline for requesting accommodations is January 7, 2026. Please reach out to Ifsia Zaman, Policy Analyst, Social Services Sector at ifsia.zaman@coo.org or Amasena Delormier, Coordinator, Social Services Sector at Amasena.delormier@coo.org For additional information, please visit www.chiefsmeeting.com/fn-cwb-s or email Ifsia Zaman, Policy Analyst, Social Services Sector at ifsia.zaman@coo.org
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