Serving First Nations from coast‑to‑coast‑to‑coast for decades, with a history of chiefs, political landscapes, and government resistance.

Our History A history of leadership for positive change.

The AFN has been serving First Nations from coast-to-coast-to-coast for decades, with a history of chiefs, political landscapes, and government resistance. Assemblies have been documented as far back as 1870, with organizational name changes, elected chiefs, and ever-changing needs.

When the National Indian Brotherhood (NIB) formed a single cohesive lobby group in 1970, there was criticism that it was not truly representative of all the Status First Nations across the country.

That rang true in 1979, when 300 status First Nations and Chiefs traveled to London, England to halt the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution. The Constitution repatriation battle caused, and identified the need, for the NIB to restructure and in 1982 The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) was formed under Dr. David Ahenakew in Penticton, B.C.

Former National Chiefs Our former National Chiefs helped bring us to where we are today. Read about their individual accomplishments:

RoseAnne Archibald

National Chief
2021-2023

Perry Belegarde

AFN National Chief
2014-2021

Shawn A-in-chut Atleo

AFN National Chief
2009-2014

Phil Fontaine

AFN National Chief
1997-2000, 2003-2009

Matthew Coon Come

AFN National Chief
2000-2003

Ovide Mercredi

AFN National Chief
1991-1997

Georges Erasmus

AFN National Chief
1985-1991

David Ahenakew

AFN National Chief
1982-1985

Delbert Riley

NIB National Chief
1980-1982

Noel Starblanket

NIB National Chief
1976-1980

George Manuel

NIB National Chief
1970-1976

Walter Dieter

NIB National Chief
1968-1970

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