First Nations Leaders Seek Lasting Power Shift in Historic Meeting with Mark Carney
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Assembly of First Nations chiefs prepare for a rare sit-down with the prime minister and premiers to challenge project timelines and propose a sovereign wealth fund.
As CityNews Toronto first reported, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is preparing for a historic Monday meeting in Ottawa with Prime Minister Mark Carney and provincial premiers, marking the first such gathering since 2005. Woodhouse Nepinak noted that previous leaders fought for years to open these doors, emphasizing that the meeting must offer lasting hope rather than being a "one-and-done" event.
The meeting arrives amid heightened tensions following the 2025 election of Mark Carney. According to CityNews Toronto, First Nations leaders have criticized legislation passed by Carney's government and various provinces to streamline major project approvals within one year, warning that these compressed timelines threaten Indigenous rights. Specific points of contention include the Pacific Link pipeline project in Alberta, the Ring of Fire development in Ontario, and the lands claim process in British Columbia.
To prepare, the AFN held town halls and worked with former Indigenous Services Canada deputy minister Gina Wilson to establish priorities. These include position papers on health, employment, policing, and economic development. A central proposal from Chippewas of the Thames First Nation Chief Joe Miskokomon is the creation of a First Nations sovereign wealth fund. Miskokomon told The Canadian Press the fund would allow communities to build long-term wealth and invest in projects while bypassing government oversight.
Attendance among provincial leaders is mixed. Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon confirmed he will not attend, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated she will send representatives due to a provincial referendum and the resumption of question period. The 2005 Kelowna Accord, the last similar meeting, saw commitments to reduce socioeconomic gaps, but progress stalled after the fall of Paul Martin's government, as noted by Jeff Copenance, chief of Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation.