The Canadian Press reports: “Prime Minister Mark Carney says this week’s meeting with First Nations leaders will help forge new relationships as his government pursues a major projects building boom. First Nations leaders are meeting with Carney and some of the country’s premiers in Ottawa.”
This article further notes: “The meeting comes as Carney’s government works to speed up major project approvals and development — efforts some First Nations chiefs say threaten their rights.”
Major projects include the Pacific Link pipeline on Secwepemc territory, the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline on Gitanyow and Gitxsan territory, and LNG Canada Phase 2 on Wet’suwet’en territory.
Another Canadian Press article highlights: “Tensions between Ottawa and First Nations spiked soon after Carney was elected in 2025 when his government passed legislation to create a new office tasked with streamlining major project developments and approving projects within one year. First Nations leaders warned the compressed timelines would interfere with their rights and lead to court challenges. Provincial governments have enacted similar legislation.”
APTN News also reports: “Russell Diabo, spokesperson for the Truth Before Reconciliation Education & Advocacy Network [says] that the network called a National Day of Action to highlight what it sees as the federal government’s selective use of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
Diabo told APTN News: “The AFN [Assembly of First Nations national advocacy organization] is renewing this bilateral agreement [of funding from the federal government], pushing this idea of economic reconciliation, which is going to be based on loans and buying into major projects without really considering the impacts on First Nations culture, livelihoods and water.”
That article adds: “A draft position paper from the Assembly of First Nations Building Prosperity for All, was obtained by APTN News. It asks Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers to jointly create a sovereign wealth fund controlled by First Nations. It would be paid for in part by ongoing contributions from projects of national interest.”
Idle No More co-founders and organizers stated that they “stand in solidarity with the Indigenous Nations, grassroots Chiefs, leaders, Elders, clan mothers, youth, land and water protectors, and allies [who are] participating in the National Day of Action on October 26, 2026, in Ottawa and across Canada.”
Their statement adds: “We condemn the federal government’s agenda of fast-tracking legislation and accelerating project approvals at the expense of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, Treaty relationships, and the lands and waters that sustain us.”
And Idle No More further encouraged peoples and movements to support youth and land and water protectors.
We continue to follow this.
Further reading
–Secwepemc-Ktunaxa land and water defender Kanahus Manuel in Ottawa for National Day of Action, October 26 (PBI-Canada, October 20, 2026)
–Indigenous rights defenders mobilize for National Day of Action at First Nations-First Ministers Meeting in Ottawa, October 26 (PBI-Canada, October 17, 2026).
