THUNDER BAY — The leadership of the territorial organization that represents 49 First Nations across Ontario’s far north say they look forward to working with the incoming federal government and expect it to uphold its responsibilities as treaty partners.
In a statement issued a day after the 2025 federal election, Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney on the win and laid out what he and the organization’s executive council expect from the incoming government.
“We look forward to working with him and look for a strong commitment from his cabinet to prioritize relationships with Indigenous peoples,” Fiddler’s statement said.
“We have made progress over the past decade, but much work remains to be done. Our leaders have high expectations that this government will continue to advance the priorities of our communities, honour our Treaties, and respect our Aboriginal and inherent rights.”
Carney and the Liberal Party will form a minority government, falling just three seats shy of a majority as they took 169 ridings. Under the new riding distribution system in place for the first time this year, a majority would have required 172 seats.
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services was re-elected in Thunder Bay-Superior North, as was Atorrney General Gary Anandasangaree, who is also Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.
Both will continue in those roles until Carney names a new cabinet.
In his statement, Fiddler made specific note of recent discussions and comments about Canadian economic sovereignty and how First Nations would be, and have been, impacted.
“Economic concerns were front-and-centre during this election, and there has been a lot of talk about increasing access to NAN territory for minerals and other resources,” Fiddler said. “Our Nations are not against development, but the Canadian economy cannot be strengthened without engaging First Nations as true partners.”
“Our Nations will not tolerate unwanted intrusions into their territories,” he continued. “They are looking to this new government to acknowledge their stewardship over their traditional territories and support their rightful authority and jurisdiction over their homelands.”
And while U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state and eyeing the country’s natural resources has received plenty of backlash in Canada, Fiddler said “the Prime Minister warned that America wants our land, our resources, our water, and that President Trump is trying to own Canada.
"That’s how our Nations feel about Canada’s settler governments.”
“This is a critical moment for our federal Treaty partner to fully commit to our shared future through respect, recognition and reconciliation,” Fiddler said.
“Our leaders need to hear that the Prime Minister accepts this responsibility and is prepared to move forward in a good way.”
