Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict Commends Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin Conference Examining Metis Claims in Ontario

Press Release

(Toronto – Ont,  Dec. 15, 2025) Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict has released the following statement following Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin’s (Un)Making of Metis Claims in Ontario conference held in Sault Ste. Marie on December 13-14, 2025:

The Chiefs of Ontario affirm our support for the (Un)Making of Metis Claims in Ontario conference held in Baawaating (Sault Ste. Marie). This landmark gathering brought together First Nations, Metis and non-Indigenous scholars, historians, knowledge holders and community members to critically examine historical claims of Metis communities in Ontario, an issue the Chiefs of Ontario have long emphasized requires careful, evidence-based research and meaningful engagement with First Nations.

“First Nations have an inherent right and responsibility to protect our territories, cultures, oral histories and legal traditions,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “Conferences such as this create space for First Nation-led research, respectful dialogue, and the reaffirmation of our sovereignty and rights. Accurate history is essential to justice, and discussions about Indigenous identity, rights and territorial claims must be grounded in evidence and Indigenous knowledge systems.”

The Chiefs of Ontario acknowledge complexities of identity and culture, and support Indigenous peoples’ right to investigate, learn from, and teach their own histories. This conference contributes meaningfully to this work, and we commend the organizers and participants for fostering a respectful forum for dialogue on these critical issues.

“I stand with First Nations who are engaging in rigorous scholarship, guided by community oral histories and academic research, to clarify and protect the historical record of Indigenous presence and governance on the lands now known as the Ontario region,” said Ontario Regional Chief Benedict. “It is deeply concerning and unacceptable that First Nations Ancestors and relatives, including leaders within our traditional governance systems, are being appropriated and re-cast as “Metis” for the purpose of constructing so-called “Metis family lines”.”

The Chiefs of Ontario continue to call on governments and institutions to closely examine the extensive research and evidence presented by First Nations, in order to address false Metis claims in First Nations ancestral and Treaty territories.

Academic reports and resources can be found on the Chiefs of Ontario Rights Assertions webpage.

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The Chiefs of Ontario supports all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction, and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, X, Instagram, or LinkedIn @ChiefsOfOntario

Media Contact:
Isak Vaillancourt
Communications Manager
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: 416-819-8184

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