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Summary:
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In the summer of 2025, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak met with the Council of the Federation (COF) which is a yearly meeting of the Premiers of the provinces and the territories. Through strong advocacy, National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak secured a commitment from the Premiers to request that the Prime Minister hold a First Nations-First Ministers’ Meeting (FNFMM) to discuss issues of national significance. During the 2025 AFN Special Chiefs Assembly, the Prime Minister announced that an FNFMM would be convened in 2026 and confirmed that First Nations would set the agenda, with the process intended to support dialogue and establish shared priorities between First Nations, the federal government, and provincial and territorial governments.
During the 2026 Annual General Assembly, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak announced that the FNFMM will take place on October 26, 2026, on unceded Algonquin Territory in Ottawa. A day of ceremony will take place on October 25.
Please note that some details are still being finalized, including the venue. The AFN is advocating for the FNFMM to be as open and inclusive as possible and that the meeting be broadcast so it can be viewed publicly. More details will be shared when available.
The AFN will hold a Virtual Gathering for Leadership on September 23, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm EDT. This Virtual Gathering will provide leadership with updates on the ongoing preparations for the FNFMM. An agenda will be shared once final. The meeting will be held virtually by Zoom and registration will open soon. The Virtual Gathering is open to all leadership to continue discussions in preparation for the FNFMM.
To learn more about the FNFMM and to review documents from previous Virtual Gatherings for Leadership held earlier this year, please visit https://afn.ca/events/first-nations-first-ministers-meeting/.
SAVE THE DATE: Virtual Gathering for Leadership on First Nations-First Ministers’ Meeting
Wednesday, September 23 1:00-3:00 pm EDT Virtual by Zoom
The First Nations-First Ministers’ Meeting (FMNFMM) will be held October 26, 2026, in unceded Algonquin territory in Ottawa.
To assist with preparations for the FNFMM, the AFN is hosting a Virtual Gathering for Leadership on September 23. Please save the date for this gathering to receive updates on planning and logistics. For more information, please visit https://afn.ca/events/first-nations-first-ministers-meeting/.