We Need To Stand With First Nation Leaders

On December 2, 2025 during a Special Chiefs Assembly hosted by the Assembly of First Nations, the chiefs from across Canada voted unanimously to adopt an emergency resolution tabled by British Columbia First Nations leaders to support upholding the current oil tanker ban on the pacific coast as well demanding the withdrawal of the agreement clearing way for a new oil pipeline to the coast of British Columbia. Both federal and provincial governments have been doing their best to divide and conquer in rapid fire meetings with First Nations across the country in negotiating agreements and handing out money. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed a memorandum of understanding on November 27 to co-operate on energy, opening up the prospect of an exemption from the tanker ban to support a major pipeline.

First Nations have been pushing back on the Federal government Bill C5 all over the country and the Ontario government Bill 5 in our province. These governments are using the excuse of emergency legislation to allow for the rapid development of all kinds of projects across the country. This was done without proper free, prior and informed consent with First Nations and threatens to turn back conservation, environmental, union hard fought rights over many decades and features the invasion of First Nation lands.

Federal and provincial government leaders have been promising that there will be consultation with First Nations but the reality is these governments are moving ahead without real engagement with First Nation leaders. They are holding fancy press photo events promoting various projects involving First Nations without having provided for free, prior and informed consent and consultation before these bills were passed and projects committed to. This is an example of divide and conquer.

AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak criticized the federal government and Prime Minister Carney for the failure to consult with First Nations and also to cuts to investments in First Nations. Prime Minister Mark Carney who had been invited to the AFN event made commitments to continue meeting with First Nations and promising that no project would be moving ahead without agreement from First Nations.

The Federal Liberal government was elected on the perceived threat of tariffs from the Donald Trump government in the United States. Once in power Mark Carney pushed through a budget that promotes all kinds of resource development rewarding the very wealthy and putting in place Bill C5 which gives the government unprecedented emergency powers to provide for the rapid development of projects with less oversight. The federal government has also pushed through major funding increase in military spending which will no doubt lead to a militarization of the country and might even lead to some form of military involvement where our government workers and young people are pushed into some type of military participation. It seems as though the right wing trend is moving across the world at this time through Europe, South America and now right here in our own back yard.

It almost seems like we are helpless against this bulldozer of wealth and power yet our AFN and First Nation leadership across the land has shown bravery, resilience and strength in addressing this trend. We tend to forget that much of our country’s wealth is already controlled and owned by other countries and we are more or less tied to the hip of the economic American elephant south of the border. We also forget that our government leaders and the billionaire class that very much controls most of what happens is not interested in fighting global warming and climate change so they can make more money. This is forsaking us all to a future of horrific weather and storms, floods, forest fires and the destruction of carbon sinks, poisoning of our rivers, lakes and air while pushing back on democratic rights and freedoms.

There is hope because we have many brave young people and Elders fighting to protect the land, the water and the creatures on Mother Earth. Consider supporting these First Nation youth movements at: Here We Stand – Call To Action, Youth Rising Together and Okiniwak. We need to stand with our First Nation leaders and our Youth movements. They need us more than ever.

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