Mark Carney Convenes First First Nations-First Ministers Meeting Since 2005

Prime Minister Mark Carney is convening a closed-door meeting with provincial premiers and First Nations leaders in Ottawa on Monday, October 27, 2026. This marks the first gathering of its kind since the 2005 Kelowna Accord talks. The proceedings began on Sunday, October 25, with a traditional Indigenous ceremony intended to ground participants in First Nations spirituality.

The meeting follows rising tensions over federal legislation aimed at streamlining major project approvals, which Indigenous leaders argue threaten their rights. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is prioritizing the creation of a sovereign wealth fund to enable communities to invest in projects independently of the government.

Attendance among provincial leaders is fragmented. Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have both confirmed they will not attend; St-Pierre Plamondon stated he intends to prioritize a different approach with Indigenous peoples. Alberta will send representatives despite the premier's absence. British Columbia Premier David Eby may also be absent due to a provincial general election.

While AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak views the summit as a historic opportunity, the process faces criticism from grassroots leaders and independent treaty nations. Some, including the Onion Lake Cree Nation, have distanced themselves from the AFN, while others are organizing counter-protests to demand that rights-holders remain the primary decision-makers.