February 1, 2025 – Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario) — Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak today confirmed plans to travel to the United States (U.S.) this month to meet with Native American organizations regarding the newly announced U.S. tariffs, as well as Treaty and border mobility rights.
“The borders dividing Canada and the U.S. cross the ancestral lands and traditional territories of many Indigenous Peoples, Tribes, and Nations,” said National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “We look forward to meeting with Chiefs and leadership from national organizations south of the Medicine Line to discuss our Treaty and border mobility rights, and the impact of these harmful tariffs on our Inherent and Treaty rights. We will also discuss the importance of border mobility and our right to maintain our spiritual, cultural, political, economic, and social relations with Indigenous Peoples across borders.”
In addition to meetings with U.S. Native American organizations, National Chief Woodhouse will meet with the Jay Treaty Border Alliance and the AFN Executive to coordinate strategy and discuss next steps to ensure that First Nations voices are heard, our rights upheld, and our freedoms protected.
National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak also renewed her call for Canada’s First Ministers to include First Nations leadership in their ongoing strategic discussions regarding border issues, Arctic sovereignty, and Canada’s response to these shortsighted tariffs.
“First Nations must be at the table when decisions are made that affect our people, our lands, and our rights,” said National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak. “We call on the federal government to ensure First Nations leadership is part of any Team Canada approach to trade and border discussions. Any decisions or discussions concerning the future of our ancestral lands and traditional territories must, and will, include us.”
National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak has reiterated these concerns in an open letter to President Donald J. Trump, in a meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau on Canada-U.S. trade relations, and in responses to remarks from the U.S. President-elect.
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The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern.
For more information, please contact:
Genna Benson
Director of Communications
Assembly of First Nations
[email protected]
604-340-3117 (mobile)
Cherish Francis
Press Secretary
National Chief’s Office
(343) 630-1372 (mobile)
[email protected]