When: September 3–5, 2025
Where: RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (on Treaty One Territory)
AFN Annual General Assembly 2025 is almost here! This September, the AFN Annual General Assembly (AGA) will bring together First Nations leadership, delegates, and community representatives from across Canada to engage in critical discussions on governance, policy, and the shared path forward. Hosted on Treaty One Territory at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, the 2025 AGA is a pivotal national forum where decisions are made that shape the future of First Nations peoples.
Guided by the theme “Prosperity for All”, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) welcomes Chiefs, councillors, knowledge keepers, youth, and allies to engage in meaningful dialogue and collective decision-making. At the heart of this gathering are conversations on Indigenous rights, social and climate justice, and the urgent need for action in times of crisis or emergency.
As one of the most significant Indigenous events of the year, the AGA provides a place where voices can be heard, connections made, and knowledge shared. Women, youth, and elders play a vital role in guiding the discussions, ensuring that community perspectives remain central to every decision. With panels, cultural exchanges, and opportunities to network, participants are encouraged to stay informed, search for deeper understanding, and remain in contact with leaders and organizers who continue to shape pathways forward.
The AGA is not only a political gathering—it is a sacred space for unity, accountability, and visioning. Here, the past meets the present, and new strategies emerge to protect lands, strengthen nations, and share vital news with communities across Turtle Island. It is both a celebration of resilience and a call to collective action, ensuring that Indigenous leadership continues to guide the way toward justice, healing, and prosperity.
About the AFN Annual General Assembly
The Assembly of First Nations represents more than 600 First Nations across Canada, serving as a national advocacy body and unifying voice. The Annual General Assembly is its most important decision-making forum, where resolutions are introduced, debated, and adopted by the Chiefs-in-Assembly.
The 2025 gathering will feature plenary sessions on pressing issues, reports from AFN Councils, resolutions on governance and policy, and opportunities for cultural connection. Chiefs and delegates will also participate in ceremonies that honor leadership, community resilience, and traditional knowledge.
Highlights from the Provisional Agenda
Wednesday, September 3
- Opening Ceremony: Grand Entry, Opening Prayer, territorial welcome, and remarks by Regional Chief Willie Moore, AMC, MKO, and SCO.
- Premier Wab Kinew delivers welcoming remarks.
- National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak addresses the assembly.
- Adoption of rules, agenda, and audited financial statements.
- Reports from AFN Councils: Knowledge Keepers, Veterans, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Youth, and Women’s Council.
- Plenary Sessions:
- Closing the First Nations Infrastructure Gap
- Building Canada Act
- Resolutions and Honouring Ceremony.
Thursday, September 4
- Dr. Cindy Blackstock presents: $47.8 Billion & Beyond – A More Robust Agreement.
- Plenary sessions on Systemic Racism and Advancing First Nations Policing and Harm Reduction Strategies on Substance Abuse.
- Resolutions throughout the day.
- Evening Host Event at 7:00 PM.
Friday, September 5
- Honouring ceremony.
- Plenary Session: Repatriation of Artifacts and UNDRIP Article 11.
- Final resolutions.
- Closing Ceremony: National Chief remarks and closing prayer.
Why It Matters
The AFN Annual General Assembly is a cornerstone of First Nations governance. It ensures that leThe AFN AGA is a cornerstone of First Nations governance, ensuring that communities can:
- Defend and advance Indigenous rights.
- Hold governments accountable to treaties and commitments.
- Respond with clarity to challenges in climate, policing, and emergency action.
- Celebrate the voices of women, elders, youth, and knowledge keepers.
By bringing forward urgent issues—from child welfare and infrastructure to cultural repatriation—the 2025 gathering underscores the importance of justice, equity, and long-term prosperity.
Participation and Community
Delegates, observers, and guests are encouraged to attend ceremonies, engage in dialogue, and take part in cultural, political, and educational programming. Vendors, artists, and knowledge keepers will also contribute to the space, making the AGA not only a governance forum but also a vibrant cultural hub.
Participants can stay in contact with organizers, follow AFN news updates, and search official channels for the latest details. By uniting leaders, allies, and communities, this gathering prepares First Nations for decisive action in both everyday governance and times of emergency.
Final Thoughts
The AFN Annual General Assembly 2025 is more than a meeting—it is a vital space of governance, vision, and nationhood. It is where First Nations come together to affirm their rights, celebrate resilience, and collectively plan for generations to come.
In this sacred space, climate realities, emergency preparedness, and social justice take their rightful place alongside cultural renewal and nation-building. Leaders, elders, youth, and women gather not only to exchange ideas but also to take action, ensuring that communities are supported in times of need and empowered for the future.
The AGA is a reminder that every voice matters, every story carries wisdom, and every decision echoes across generations. For full details, registration, policies, and ongoing updates, participants are encouraged to search the official AFN Annual General Assembly website or contact organizers directly. This is where unity, accountability, and action converge—transforming news into vision and gatherings into movements. For full details, registration, policies, and ongoing updates, please visit the official AFN Annual General Assembly website.
To continue exploring upcoming (and similar) Indigenous events that highlight community leadership, cultural renewal, and the defense of rights, we invite you to visit our Indigenous Events section. There, you can stay in contact with future gatherings, follow important updates, and learn how Indigenous nations are addressing challenges such as climate action and social justice across Canada.
