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Ontario chief calls on province to ‘erase’ six Métis communities, including Georgian Bay

Ontario chief calls on province to ‘erase’ six Métis communities, including Georgian Bay

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

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Upcoming Events

February 2026
Feb 05 2026

Post Secondary Education Forum

Feb 06 2026

UNDA Dialogue Session: Annual Reporting and Implementation Progress

Feb 11 - 12 2026

19th Annual Health Forum

Feb 18 - 19 2026

Canada Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality & Ecosystem Health Tenth Annual First Nations Meeting with COA Executive Committee

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That concludes the Post-Secondary Education Forum That concludes the Post-Secondary Education Forum in Toronto, ON.

This one-day gathering brought together First Nations Education Directors, Post-Secondary Education Technicians, and Indigenous Institutes to share updates and information on the Post-Secondary Education Costing Tool, the Adult Education funding formula, and ongoing initiatives led by the Indigenous Institutes Consortium and the Indigenous Advanced Education & Skills Council.

For additional information and to access resources shared during the forum, please visit the assembly link in our bio.
The Post-Secondary Education Forum begins this mor The Post-Secondary Education Forum begins this morning at 9:00 AM.
You can watch the livestream on the Chiefs of Ontario YouTube Channel. 

For additional information, please visit the assembly link in our bio.
The Chiefs of Ontario is hosting an in-person Agen The Chiefs of Ontario is hosting an in-person Agency & First Nation Child Well Being Planning Session on March 19 - 20, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in Fort Frances, ON. The session will provide an opportunity for First Nations and their affiliated agencies to collaborate 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). 

Registration available in bio

Date and Time: March 19 - 20, 2026 - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location: La Place Rendez-Vous Hotel, 1201 Idylwild Dr, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 3M3

Who Should Attend: First Nations Child Welfare Technicians, FNCFS Agency Staff, Ontario First Nations Leadership

For additional information, please visit www.chiefsmeeting.com/fn-cwb-ff
The Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO), in The Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO), in collaboration with the Chiefs of Ontario Justice Sector and the Ontario Provincial Police Indigenous Policing Bureau, are hosting the Bridging the Gap: First Nations Law & Policing Symposium on Thursday, February 26, 2026!

For more information, and to RSVP, please visit the link in bio.
Registration is now live for the virtual Great Lak Registration is now live for the virtual Great Lakes and First Nations Data Sovereignty meeting on February 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM!
 
The Chiefs of Ontario Environment Sector will host a one-hour webinar on data collection, usage and storage. Jeff Berthelette, Community Liaison Specialist at the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre and Abraham Francis, Senior Policy Analyst at Chiefs of Ontario, will share their experiences in working with data in their own work and research within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
 
Date: Monday, February 2, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM ET

Location: Virtual via Teams

Registration: https://coo.smudging.ca:8443/Meeting/Register/7c935d1a-73ce-4210-9c59-29b15288e008

Who should attend: First Nations Leadership, technicians, and community members
 
For more information, visit: https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/great-lakes-and-first-nations-data-sovereignty or email Ryan Bowie, Associate Director of Environment at Ryan.Bowie@coo.org
The Chiefs of Ontario is seeking five (5) dedicate The Chiefs of Ontario is seeking five (5) dedicated individuals to serve as at-large members of the Ontario Reform Implementation Committee (ORIC).

The ORIC is the central oversight body responsible for monitoring and guiding the implementation of the Reformed First Nations Child and Family Services (“FNCFS”) Program in Ontario. 

Deadline: January 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.

For more information and to apply, please visit link in bio
On International Day of Education, we recognize th On International Day of Education, we recognize the work of the First Nations Lifelong Learning Table (FNLLT) which brings together First Nations in Ontario and the Ministry of Education, and the Ontario Bilateral Education and Learning Table (OBELT) which serves as a dedicated space for discussions between First Nations in Ontario and Indigenous Services Canada.

The FNLLT and OBELT work to support the success and well-being for First Nation learners across both the provincially and federally funded education systems. 

Today and every day, we honor education as a shared commitment to lifelong learning that supports learners at every stage of their journey. 

To learn more about  FNLLT and OBELT, please visit the Chiefs of Ontario Education Portal. 

#DayofEducation
Today in Ottawa, Chiefs of Ontario held a Quad Cou Today in Ottawa, Chiefs of Ontario held a Quad Council meeting, bringing together representatives from the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council, First Nations Women’s Council, 2S/LGBTQQIAPD+ Council, and Knowledge Keepers Council for a full day of dialogue and collaboration.
 
Held on Algonquin Territory, the unceded unsurrendered Anishinabe territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe peoples, the meeting included policy discussions, cultural humility training, governance updates, and strategic conversations.
 
Together, councils shared perspectives, strengthened Quad Council coordination, and identified key priority areas to guide collective work moving forward.
*Reminder* There is still time to register! The C *Reminder* There is still time to register!

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
💙Today, and every day, we raise awareness and work 💙Today, and every day, we raise awareness and work to reduce stigma around mental health in First Nations. Every conversation and every act of care helps break down barriers and create spaces where people can access the support they need.

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day, a reminder that First Nations mental health matters.

Reaching out is a sign of strength. Support is available:

Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310

Text: HOPE to 45645 (24/7)

#BellLetsTalk #FirstNationsMentalHealth
Rooms blocks have been extended 📣 The Chiefs of O Rooms blocks have been extended 📣

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 Thursday, January 22, 2026.

For additional information or to complete your registration, please visit the assembly link in our bio.
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
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