AFN Chief Indigenous Voices Shut Out of Public Safety Summit

The head of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) says she is disappointed Indigenous leaders aren’t allowed to fully participate in this week’s first ministers’ meeting on public safety in Kananaskis, Alberta.

National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Indigenous politicians only had a few hours to discuss their priorities with federal, provincial, and territorial ministers before being excluded for the remaining two days of talks.

“While I'm thankful we had a few hours today to meet with all the ministers from coast to coast, we're still not allowed in the room tomorrow,” she said.

Concerns Over Indigenous Policing Issues

First Nations leaders have raised alarms about policing in their communities, but it remains unclear whether government leaders will address these concerns. Woodhouse Nepinak noted that every agenda item has potential impacts on Indigenous issues, which makes their exclusion particularly disappointing.

Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree tweeted that “productive talks” were underway to curb crime, enhance community safety, and address the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.

A spokesperson for Public Safety Canada stated that ministers dedicated a full day to engage with Indigenous invitees, putting their issues “front and center,” though they did not explain why Indigenous leaders were barred from the rest of the meeting.

Indigenous Leaders Call Exclusion Tokenistic

Other Indigenous leaders present on Wednesday included Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Victoria Pruden, president of the Métis National Council.

Pruden described the session as “intense,” saying Indigenous leaders had to condense hundreds of key points into a short period. She criticized the government for offering only high-level responses and photo opportunities before sending Indigenous leaders home.

“It can feel tokenistic,” she said, noting that few concrete commitments were made on implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or the federal Indigenous Justice Strategy.

Recent Crises Highlight Urgency

The exclusion comes amid heightened public safety concerns in Indigenous communities. Last week, leaders of 49 First Nations in northern Ontario declared a state of emergency due to gang infiltration, illegal drug flows, and violence.

In December 2024, the AFN demanded a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing after at least 10 First Nations people died following police interactions between August and November 2024. This followed Supreme Court criticism of underfunded First Nations policing in Quebec.

Concerns About New Bail Legislation

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to introduce legislation making it harder for repeat and violent offenders to obtain bail. Indigenous leaders expressed concern, citing the overrepresentation of First Nations people in jails and prisons.

“Talking about putting people [behind bars] with longer sentences is going to negatively impact First Nations people because we make up the populations in these places,” Woodhouse Nepinak said.

Pruden stressed that consultation should occur before bills are introduced, not after, highlighting the need for meaningful engagement on policies that disproportionately affect Indigenous communities.

Push for First Nations Policing Legislation

AFN Quebec-Labrador Regional Chief Francis Verreault-Paul emphasized the urgent need to adopt legislation recognizing First Nations police services as essential, a promise that the Trudeau government has yet to deliver.