AFN Special Chiefs Assembly 2025: Chiefs Reject Federal-Alberta Pipeline Deal, Uphold Coastal Oil Tanker Ban, and Address Key First Nations’ Priorities

Press Release

December 4, 2025

This week, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly was held from December 2 to 4, 2025, on the unceded, traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation at the Rogers Convention Centre in Ottawa, with hybrid participation.

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the Chiefs-in-Assembly on Tuesday, the first day of the event, and responded briefly to questions from the floor. Earlier that day, an emergency resolution was unanimously passed, rejecting the federal-Alberta deal and demanding that the government uphold the large oil tanker ban on the coast of northern BC and reaffirm the right of affected First Nations to decide on any pipeline in BC.

Other highlights during the event included an honouring ceremony for Elijah Harper and several plenary sessions focusing on key First Nations’ issues. Topics included Bill S-2 and the second-generation cut-off, long-term reform of First Nations Child and Family Services alongside Jordan’s Principle, and infrastructure financing.

The event highlighted the First Nations Bank of Canada’s major announcement by former AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde and Bill Lomax, as well as ministerial panels covering Crown-Indigenous relations, finance, public safety, housing, emergency management, and northern affairs.

Federal government ministers who attended and addressed the Assembly included Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management, and Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs.

Notably, Timothy Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, attended the BC Region caucus on the final day of the event and responded to questions and concerns.

During the three days, 38 individual resolutions were passed, one basket containing six resolutions, one late resolution and one resolution was defeated.

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For further information, contact:
Annette Schroeter, Communications Officer, cell phone (778)281-1655.

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