Manitoba First Nation leaders in Ottawa, to deliver a unified message to Canada’s monarchy

As King Charles III delivered his first Speech from the Throne in Canada, First Nations leaders from across the Prairies gathered in Ottawa with a unified message: honour the Treaties and build a renewed relationship with the Crown—one grounded in respect, recognition and responsibility.

The King’s arrival in Ottawa on Monday marked a historic occasion, as he addressed Parliament for the first time since his coronation. Ahead of the ceremony, Indigenous leaders from Manitoba and beyond assembled near Parliament Hill, calling for a reset in the Crown’s relationship with First Nations.

“That’s what we’re here to remind the King,” said Derek Nepinak, Chief of Minegoziibe Anishinabe. “First and foremost, our treaties with the original people need to be respected.”

Leaders from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations and other representatives from across the Prairie provinces reaffirmed that Treaties—signed long before Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan entered Confederation—must be honoured in full.

“Our Treaties are sacred to who we are as First Nations people, as our Nations, as our families,” said AMC Grand Chief Kyra Wilson. “We need to begin to move forward.”

“I think about what we could actually be,” added Gordon Bluesky, Chief of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, “if our relationship was repaired and we took steps forward—understanding that we are here together.”

Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels called on King Charles to acknowledge historical injustices and take steps toward a future based on mutual respect.

“The Westminster Act was not legal—we didn’t have the ability to challenge it,” Daniels said. “This Parliament did not show the honour of the Crown. And if he can’t recognize that, maybe it’s time to start thinking about an age after the monarchy. Because if the Treaties aren’t being respected, what is the point?”

The leaders emphasized that reconciliation is not possible without fully upholding the spirit and intent of the Treaties—agreements that, they say, remain foundational to Canada’s identity and future.