National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, has issued a sharp critique of the federal government's current approach to consulting with Indigenous communities. The criticism was delivered on December 2, 2025, highlighting a growing rift on key policy issues.
Core Demands: Policing and Clean Water Legislation
During her address, Chief Woodhouse Nepinak made it clear that symbolic gestures are no longer sufficient. She emphasized the urgent need for concrete, actionable commitments from Prime Minister Mark Carney's administration. Her primary focus was on two critical areas that directly impact the safety and well-being of First Nations people across Canada.
First, she called for decisive federal action on establishing First Nations-led policing services. This long-standing demand is seen as essential for community safety and self-determination, moving beyond the current patchwork of policing agreements.
Second, the National Chief pressed for the advancement of long-promised federal clean water legislation. Despite years of promises to end all long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities, she stressed that robust, legally-binding legislation is required to guarantee this fundamental right.
A Faulty Consultation Process
Woodhouse Nepinak's central argument is that the government's consultation framework is flawed. She implied that the process often feels like a box-ticking exercise rather than a genuine, nation-to-nation dialogue aimed at achieving shared solutions. This approach, she suggested, undermines the spirit of reconciliation and fails to address the immediate, practical needs identified by First Nations leadership.
The criticism comes at a significant moment, as the Carney government is scheduled to address the AFN gathering in Ottawa. This sets the stage for a potentially tense exchange where federal officials will be expected to respond directly to these pointed concerns.
Broader Context and Implications
This public rebuke from the country's top Indigenous representative signals mounting frustration with the pace of progress on files critical to First Nations. It places renewed public pressure on the federal government to move beyond consultations and into the phase of tangible implementation and partnership.
The demands for action on policing and clean water are not new, but the National Chief's forceful language underscores their non-negotiable status. How the Carney government responds will be closely watched as a key indicator of its commitment to a renewed relationship with First Nations.
