(June 2, 2026 – London, England) – National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak met today with His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace as part of a delegation of Chiefs and Regional Chiefs who were accompanied by Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Today’s meeting continues a long history of international diplomatic and Treaty relations between First Nations and the Crown.
“As Treaty partners, the Crown and First Nations have perpetual obligations to uphold under the sacred protocols of Treaty,” said National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak. She continued, “First Nations leadership again communicated to the King the international status of the Crown-First Nations Treaty relationship. No third party can interfere or change the sacred Treaty relationship or change how First Nations choose to relate to Canada or to the Crown. We are grateful to His Majesty for the opportunity to meet him. First Nations have always been honourable Treaty partners. We look forward to an ongoing relationship grounded in Treaty, as well as free prior and informed consent and the right to self-determination.”
The delegation included AFN New Brunswick Regional Chief Joanna Bernard, Manitoba Regional Chief Willie Moore, Saskatchewan Regional Chief Bobby Cameron, Northwest Territories Regional Chief George Mackenzie, and Yukon Regional Chief Math’ieya Alatini and other First Nations leadership.
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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.
The AFN gratefully acknowledges the First Nations Bank of Canada for its financial support of the delegation’s travel costs.
For more information, please contact:
Cherish Francis
Press Secretary
Office of the National Chief
(343) 630-1372 (mobile)
[email protected]