October 23, 2026.
October 26 gathering in Ottawa will address treaty rights, jurisdiction, infrastructure needs and a proposed First Nations-controlled wealth fund.
OTTAWA, Ontario —— First Nations leaders from across Canada are preparing for a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney and provincial and territorial leaders on October 26, with treaty rights, First Nations jurisdiction, economic development and longstanding infrastructure needs among the issues expected to be discussed.
The First Nations–First Ministers’ Meeting follows years of calls from First Nations leadership for a dedicated forum with the prime minister and premiers. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) pressed for the gathering after meeting with provincial and territorial premiers in 2025. Carney subsequently committed to convening the meeting and allowing First Nations to set the agenda.
The Government of Canada is hosting the meeting on the traditional, unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation in Ottawa. The AFN describes the gathering as a high-level forum intended to support dialogue and establish shared priorities between First Nations, federal officials and provincial and territorial governments.
The meeting comes as Canada seeks to accelerate major infrastructure and resource projects, including developments involving energy, critical minerals and transportation. First Nations leaders have emphasized that economic growth must recognize their treaty rights, inherent jurisdiction, title and responsibilities to their lands and waters.
Ceremony to precede political discussions.
The formal meeting on October 26 will be preceded by a Day of Ceremony on October 25.
In an October 21 announcement, Woodhouse Nepinak said the ceremony would help ensure the gathering begins in accordance with First Nations protocols and traditions. Elders and Knowledge Keepers from across the regions have been engaged in planning an approach guided by the protocols of the host Algonquin Nation while involving the traditions of participating First Nations.
The ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 25 at the grounds of the John G. Diefenbaker Building, 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa. The AFN has invited First Nations across the country to hold their own ceremonies and gatherings in solidarity with the leaders attending the meeting.
The AFN has also cautioned that some ceremonial elements cannot be photographed or recorded and has asked media and attendees to respect instructions from Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
The ceremony is intended to recognize First Nations traditions and sovereignty before discussions with federal and provincial leaders begin.
Who will participate, and will the public be able to watch?
The Canadian Press reported in September that the main meeting room was expected to include 28 participants: the prime minister, the AFN national chief, 13 provincial and territorial leaders, and 13 First Nations representatives. The report said an additional 44 First Nations leaders had been invited to attend.
The arrangements were still being finalized, and the AFN has said regional leadership is working to determine which Chiefs will occupy the available First Nations seats. The reported numbers should therefore be understood as planned arrangements rather than a final attendance list.
Public access is another unresolved issue.
The Canadian Press reported that a livestream was planned, but it was unclear whether the broadcast would be available for public viewing. The AFN has requested that the meeting be broadcast openly and has said additional information would be provided when available.
As of October 22, the AFN's official meeting page did not provide a confirmed public livestream link. Readers should check the AFN's official event page for updates rather than assume the broadcast will be open to everyone.
The question of transparency is significant. First Nations citizens and the Canadian public will want to know what governments discuss, which commitments are made and how progress will be measured.
Proposed wealth fund would share benefits beyond project locations.
One of the most significant proposals ahead of the meeting is a First Nations-controlled sovereign wealth fund intended to distribute economic benefits from major projects more broadly among First Nations.
In an October 14 report, APTN News examined a draft AFN position paper titled Building Prosperity for All. The draft asks the prime minister and premiers to jointly develop a National Benefits Sharing Framework and establish a First Nations-controlled wealth fund.
The proposal responds to concerns that the economic benefits of major developments are often tied to a project's location. A First Nation near a mine, pipeline or energy project may negotiate an impact-benefit agreement, while First Nations elsewhere in Canada may have no comparable mechanism to benefit from projects described as being in the national interest.
The draft proposes two possible structures: creating a dedicated First Nations component within the existing Canada Strong Fund or establishing a separate institution controlled by First Nations.
Under the proposal, contributions would be invested and retained in the fund, with a portion of investment returns directed toward First Nations infrastructure priorities. The paper suggests the mechanism could benefit First Nations whether or not a project is located nearby or whether they consent to that project proceeding.
The proposal is not an approved government program. The draft does not establish the fund's final structure, a required contribution rate or a confirmed funding commitment from federal, provincial or territorial governments.
The paper also states that receiving benefits through such a fund would not settle a dispute, remedy a rights infringement or relieve the Crown of its legal obligations.
Infrastructure gap is estimated at $376.1 billion.
Closing the infrastructure gap in First Nations communities is another central issue expected to feature in discussions.
The AFN estimates that $376.1 billion is now needed to close the First Nations infrastructure gap over the coming decade. The estimate covers essential infrastructure, including housing, drinking-water systems, schools, roads, health facilities and connectivity.
The AFN's earlier 2023 report, prepared with Indigenous Services Canada, estimated the cost of closing the gap by 2030 at $349.2 billion. The updated figure reflects inflationary factors and government spending over the intervening period.
APTN's reporting on the draft position paper states that the estimated cost could rise to $527 billion if action is delayed until 2040.
These figures are estimates of the investment needed to address infrastructure deficiencies, not money that has already been committed or made available.
For many First Nations, infrastructure shortages affect community health, housing, education, transportation and the ability to pursue economic opportunities. The proposed national wealth fund is one possible approach to securing longer-term resources, but it would not replace the need for direct government investment and fulfillment of existing obligations.
The draft paper asks federal, provincial and territorial leaders to recognize closing the infrastructure gap as a national priority and to develop a continuing political and officials-level process to advance the proposed benefits-sharing framework.
Economic development and First Nations rights.
The meeting takes place amid debate over Canada's efforts to accelerate major projects and streamline regulatory processes.
First Nations leaders have warned that changes intended to speed development must not weaken environmental protections, disregard treaty obligations or bypass First Nations decision-making.
The AFN's draft position paper draws a distinction between supporting economic development and accepting that development can proceed without regard for rights. The paper cites AFN resolutions opposing reforms that weaken environmental protections, compress review timelines or circumvent free, prior and informed consent.
First Nations have different rights, laws, priorities and relationships to individual territories and projects. A national benefits-sharing mechanism would not resolve every project-specific dispute or replace consultation and other legal obligations.
The October 26 gathering provides an opportunity for First Nations leaders to address these issues directly with the governments responsible for national policy, natural-resource development and many infrastructure decisions.
Whether the meeting produces concrete changes to how projects are approved, how benefits are shared and how First Nations jurisdiction is respected remains to be seen.
What First Nations leaders are asking governments to do.
The draft AFN position paper identifies several requests for the prime minister and premiers:
- Jointly develop a First Nations National Benefits Sharing Framework that protects consent and preserves Nation-specific benefits and ownership.
- Establish a First Nations-controlled sovereign wealth fund or an equivalent structure through which First Nations can benefit from national projects.
- Recognize closing the First Nations infrastructure gap as a nation-building priority.
- Establish a permanent First Nations–federal, provincial and territorial political and officials-level process to develop and implement the framework, with progress reported at a future First Ministers’ Meeting.
These are proposals in a draft document prepared for discussion, not commitments already accepted by governments.
The proposal also recognizes that resource development responsibilities are divided among governments. A framework binding only the federal government could cover only part of the activity it is intended to address, according to the draft.
For that reason, participation by provincial and territorial leaders is important to the proposal's potential reach.
The test will be what happens afterward.
The October 26 meeting represents an opportunity for First Nations leaders to put treaty rights, jurisdiction, infrastructure and economic participation directly before Canada's political leadership.
But the gathering itself will not guarantee a new funding program, a wealth fund or changes to major-project policies.
The results will need to be assessed against specific commitments, funding decisions, timelines and accountability measures. First Nations leaders and citizens will also need to determine whether the process provides meaningful opportunities for participation beyond the limited number of representatives expected in the main meeting room.
The meeting is scheduled for October 26 in Ottawa, following the Day of Ceremony on October 25. The public broadcast arrangements and final venue details had not been confirmed on the AFN's official event page as of October 22.
The central question is whether the gathering will move the relationship between First Nations and Canadian governments beyond dialogue toward practical action on rights, jurisdiction, infrastructure and a fairer share of economic benefits.
