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Indigenous leaders adopt declaration condemning identity theft

Indigenous leaders adopt declaration condemning identity theft

Chiefs of Ontario2026-06-18T16:36:00-04:00

Latest Updates

  • Chiefs of Ontario Calls for Action to Confront Residential School…
    September 30, 2026
  • Chiefs of Ontario Launches Open Letter Calling for Respectful Ret…
    September 23, 2026
  • Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict Stands with Mississauga Fir…
    September 4, 2026
  • Justice for Barbara Kentner: First Nations Leadership Demand Fede…
    August 31, 2026

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Today, on World Teachers’ Day, we honour and thank Today, on World Teachers’ Day, we honour and thank our teachers! Teachers are mentors, role models, supporters, and trusted members of our communities. They help create spaces where children, youth, and adult learners can learn, grow, and thrive. Miigwech / Nia:wen / Thank you for all that you do. Your impact reaches far beyond the classroom and helps strengthen communities for generations to come. As we celebrate educators, we also look forward to bringing people together to exchange ideas, explore best practices, and learn from one another at the upcoming Education, Languages and Special Education Forum, taking place November 3–5, 2026, at the Valhalla Inn and Conference Centre in Thunder Bay, Ontario. For more information, please visit the conference link in our bio. We hope you can join us!
October 4, Sisters in Spirit Day, is the National October 4, Sisters in Spirit Day, is the National Day of Action to honour the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two Spirit+ People and stand with the families and First Nations who continue to lead the call for justice. Across First Nations in Ontario, families and communities continue to carry the names, stories, and memories of their loved ones while leading efforts to bring attention to the ongoing crisis of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2S+ people. Sisters in Spirit vigils were started by the Native Women's Association of Canada and held across Turtle Island to remember those lost to this genocide. Look for vigils happening in your area to join in honour. Wear red, light candles, and share prayers, songs, and stories to stand with families. Chiefs of Ontario Women’s Initiatives Sector has released a report card assessing progress on the National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice. The report highlights that while some steps have been taken, significant work remains to ensure lasting safety, justice, and healing for families and communities. Read the full report here: https://chiefs-of-ontario.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-National-Inquirys-231-Calls-for-Justice_A-Report-Card-by-Chiefs-of-Ontario.pdf Today, we honour those who are missing and those who have been taken from us. We recognize the strength of the families who continue to seek answers and demand accountability. Artwork by artist Lucia Laford as part of a larger mural created during the Chiefs of Ontario May 4-6, 2026 MMIWG2S+ Family Gathering. #SistersInSpirit #MMIWG #MMIWG2S
A new Toronto Star feature highlights the work of A new Toronto Star feature highlights the work of archaeologist and cultural adviser Brandy George and the Chiefs of Ontario’s Help Us Bring Our Ancestors Home initiative. Across Ontario and beyond, First Nations Ancestors, sacred belongings and culturally significant items continue to be held in museums, institutions and private collections. Their respectful return is about restoring connection, dignity and responsibility to the First Nations they belong to. Read the full article to learn more about this work and why repatriation matters. If you have information about First Nations Ancestors, sacred items, or other culturally significant belongings, please visit the link in our bio or contact repatriation@coo.org.
As First Nations continue the work of addressing t As First Nations continue the work of addressing the legacy of the Indian Residential School system with admirable resiliency, the lingering presence of denialism remains deeply concerning. Efforts to deny, minimize, or distort the truths and ongoing impacts of the Indian Residential School system undermine Survivors, families, and First Nations communities while hindering shared understanding and progress toward accountability, justice, and healing. “ I want to take this opportunity to say that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is the time for governments to act, denialism must be criminalized. On a day of remembrance and honouring we are haunted by the on false narratives and blatant demonstrations of intimidation inflicted upon us by denialists. This unabated hatred cannot be allowed to thrive and cannot continue to go without consequence. Survivors’voices must be heard, their experiences must given the weight and recognition they deserve, and their truths must never be diminished or distorted.,” says Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige of the Anishinabek Nation, Chiefs of Ontario Indian Residential School Portfolio Holder. Across Ontario, Survivors and First Nations continue to lead important work to preserve these truths and ensure they are carried forward. This includes, Survivor-led public education, such as the Survivor’s Secretariat Stolen Childhoods exhibition, decades of advocacy and repatriation efforts that helped bring Percy Onabigon home to Long Lake #58 First Nation, and efforts to preserve Survivor testimony and records, including the Indian Residential School Records Project, led by Connie Walker and Kimberly Murray. Read the full statement via the link in bio. #NationalDayForTruthAndReconciliation #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters #TruthAndReconciliation
On September 30, Chiefs of Ontario will mark the N On September 30, Chiefs of Ontario will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day alongside communities across Canada. This is a time to honour Indian Residential School Survivors, the children who never returned home, their families, and all those who continue to live with the intergenerational impacts of the Residential School system. Truth must remain at the centre of reconciliation. This means listening to and honouring Survivors, preserving their testimony, supporting ongoing search and repatriation efforts, protecting historical records, and confronting attempts to deny, minimize, or distort the truth. The resources highlighted in this post offer opportunities to learn from Survivor experiences, support truth-telling, and continue the work of reconciliation. Mental health and crisis supports are available for Survivors, First Nations, families, and anyone who may need support. #NDTR #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters #TruthAndReconciliation
Ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconcilia Ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, Former Independent Special Interlocutor Kimberly Murray reflects on the ongoing responsibility to support First Nations families and communities searching for missing and disappeared children. “Searching for missing and disappeared people is not a program. It is an obligation.” To learn more, please visit link in bio #NDTR #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters
The Chiefs of Ontario will host the Fall Chiefs As The Chiefs of Ontario will host the Fall Chiefs Assembly (FCA) on November 24-25, 2026, in Toronto, Ontario. The assembly will include critical updates on a variety of issues and priorities for First Nations in Ontario. Registration is now live! For more information, or to register, please visit the assembly link in our bio.
For generations, First Nations Ancestors, burial i For generations, First Nations Ancestors, burial items, and sacred belongings have been removed from their resting places and communities. Chiefs of Ontario is calling on anyone who may be holding Ancestors, burial items, or artifacts, or who may have information about where they are being held, to come forward and support their respectful return home. Learn more about the Ancestors Repatriation Initiative by visiting the link in bio Watch the full message from Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict - link in bio
Chiefs of Ontario (COO) have launched an Open Lett Chiefs of Ontario (COO) have launched an Open Letter to All Ontarians: Help Us Bring Our Ancestors Home, calling on people and institutions to come forward if they are holding or have information about, First Nations Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, or other culturally significant items. This initiative responds to a resolution passed by the Ontario Chiefs-in-Assembly in June 2025, directing the Ontario Regional Chief to advance the respectful repatriation of First Nations Ancestors. For generations, First Nations Ancestors and sacred belongings have been removed from burial places, territories, families, and Nations, including through archaeological excavation, institutional collection, and private collection. These removals have caused lasting spiritual and cultural harm. Repatriation is about restoring relationships and responsibilities that were disrupted and ensuring Ancestors are returned to the Nations and families to whom they belong. “Our Ancestors are not objects. They are our relatives, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and brought home to their Nations and families,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “For too long, First Nations have carried the consequences of having Ancestors and sacred belongings taken from our communities. Through this open letter, we are asking Ontarians to help us address that harm. Whether you are an individual, a museum, a university, or another institution, coming forward is an important step towards respect and restoring what was taken.” The Open Letter calls on private citizens who may hold Ancestors or sacred belongings, or, who have knowledge about where they are being held, to come forward in good faith. It also calls on governments, museums, and universities to share their inventories with First Nations, and on institutions and other partners to work directly with First Nations to remove barriers to timely and respectful repatriation. Read the full statement via the link in bio.
Gender Equality Week 2026: Power of Gender-Lens Mo Gender Equality Week 2026: Power of Gender-Lens Money For First Nations women, these issues cannot be separated from the history of colonial land administration and the framework governing reserve lands. This Gender Equality Week, we recognize that gender equality means ensuring that all women have security in their homes and economic lives; rights that were not always legally protected for women living on reserve. #GenderEqualityWeek #GenderEquality
Today wraps up the Chiefs of Ontario Great Lakes G Today wraps up the Chiefs of Ontario Great Lakes Gathering in Huntsville, ON. Rooted in the concept of confluence, meaning the junction of two rivers, the two-day gathering brought together youth, elders, community members and Leadership to share dialogue, land-based activities, and teachings. Over the past two days, conversations covered our relationships with water, protection efforts, and collective responsibilities to future generations. Thank you to all in attendance, and to our presenters for sharing valuable stories and teachings. Presentations from the gathering will soon be available on the Chiefs of Ontario Environment Portal: https://environment.chiefs-of-ontario.org/
The Chiefs of Ontario are hosting a series of Onta The Chiefs of Ontario are hosting a series of Ontario Final Agreement (OFA) Implementation – Virtual Information Sessions. These sessions serve as a vital platform for informing participants on the structural and financial foundations of the agreement. Participants will receive overviews covering a variety of topics essential to the long-term implementation of the OFA, including the three key integral funding streams (e.g., Prevention, Post Majority Support Services, and First Nations Representative Services), Service Provider Funding Adjustment Request and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Each session will focus on a different topic, and participants are encouraged to attend all; registering once will provide access to the entire series of meetings. Registration is available in bio Dates and Times: October 23, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. EST - OFA Overview and 3 Funding Streams November 13, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. EST - Service Provider Adjustment Request November 20, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. EST - Alternative Dispute Resolution For more information, please visit: https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/ofa-implementation-sessions
On September 6, we remember Dudley George. In 19 On September 6, we remember Dudley George. In 1995, Dudley stood with members of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation as they asserted their rights and called for the return of their ancestral lands at Ipperwash. He lost his life while standing up for his people, their lands and their rights. Dudley’s death and the events at Ipperwash led to years of advocacy and ultimately the Ipperwash Inquiry, which made 100 recommendations aimed at improving relationships between First Nations and Ontario, including changes related to policing, land claims, Treaty rights, consultation and public education. More than 30 years later, important work remains unfinished. Today, we honour Dudley’s life, courage and legacy, and call on Ontario to continue acting on the Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations and advancing meaningful, respectful relationships with First Nations. Remembering Dudley George means continuing the work he stood for.
On Monday, First Nations leaders, Barbara Kentner’ On Monday, First Nations leaders, Barbara Kentner’s family, and supporters marched from Parliament Hill to the Parole Board of Canada’s National Office to demand justice and accountability. Following remarks outside the office, the Kentner family hand-delivered a letter to the Parole Board calling for action. Now, you can add your voice. Send a letter calling for clear accountability, stronger parole risk assessments, meaningful review mechanisms, and culturally safe support for First Nations victims and families. Share the campaign with your networks and encourage others to take action. Send a letter: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/justice-for-barbara-kentner-first-nations-call-for-action?source=direct_link&
Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict stands firml Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict stands firmly with Mississauga First Nation following its rejection of territorial and harvesting assertions made in connection with the recent purchase of approximately 320 acres of private property along the Mississagi River by the Métis Nation of Ontario-affiliated “Huron-Superior Regional Métis Community”. “Mississauga First Nation has spoken clearly and unequivocally about its history, its territory, and its rights,” said Ontario Regional Chief Benedict. “The Mississagi River lies within the traditional and Treaty territory of the Mississauga Anishinabek, whose relationship with these lands and waters has existed since time immemorial. I stand with Chief Brent Niganobe, Council, and the citizens of Mississauga First Nation as they defend that relationship and reject territorial assertions they maintain have no historical foundation within their lands.” Purchasing private property does not purchase an Indigenous history. Indigenous rights are grounded in longstanding relationships with lands, waters, and territories that cannot be created through a modern real estate transaction. While colonial displacement has separated many Indigenous peoples from their lands without extinguishing those relationships, acquiring property today cannot create the historical foundation upon which an Aboriginal rights claim depends. Land can be purchased. History cannot. Mississauga First Nation has expressly rejected the historical foundation underlying these territorial assertions, stating that no historic Métis community existed within its traditional territory capable of grounding the harvesting and territorial claims now being advanced. Aboriginal rights claims must have a historical foundation. Where that history and the geographic extent of a claimed rights-bearing community are disputed by the affected First Nation, governments must undertake rigorous historical and legal due diligence before recognizing or acting upon those claims. Read the full statement via the link in bio.
The Chiefs of Ontario are hosting an Ontario Final The Chiefs of Ontario are hosting an Ontario Final Agreement (OFA) Southern Gathering from November 4-5 in Toronto, ON for southern First Nations to attend. This gathering will be used for First Nations to work on their Multi-Year Plans, and First Nation Investment Infrastructure Plans, and to collaborate with their affiliated Agency on the Child and Community Wellbeing Plans and Agency Investment Infrastructure Plan. This gathering will provide a unique opportunity for First Nations and Agencies to work together, address questions in real time, and advance planning activities collaboratively. We strongly encourage your affiliated Agency to attend and participate alongside your First Nation. Their involvement is critical to the development of Child and Community Well-Being Plans and Investment Infrastructure Plans, as well as to ensuring a coordinated approach to implementing the Ontario Final Agreement. Registration available in bio.
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