Historic First Ministers Meeting with Indigenous Leaders Could Reshape Canada's Economic Future
Canada stands at a historic crossroads as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to convene a groundbreaking first ministers' meeting in early 2026 that will include Indigenous leaders as full economic participants for the first time in the nation's history. This unprecedented gathering represents what many are calling a pivotal moment for both Indigenous communities and Canada's broader economic trajectory.
A Fundamental Shift in Economic Participation
According to Harold Calla, executive chair of the First Nations Financial Management Board, achieving Canada's potential for sustainable economic growth requires recognizing Indigenous Peoples not merely as rights holders to be consulted, but as genuine equity participants in development projects. This represents a fundamental shift from traditional approaches to one where ownership structures align with Indigenous, governmental, and investor interests simultaneously.
The prosperity of Canada itself depends upon this shift in dialogue and action, Calla emphasizes. The path to retooling our economy becomes significantly clearer when it begins with meaningful participation from Indigenous communities.
Proven Success Through Early Engagement
Recent examples demonstrate the powerful outcomes possible when Indigenous rights and interests are respected from a project's inception. Cedar LNG, the world's first Indigenous majority-owned liquefied natural gas project, exemplifies this approach. The Haisla Nation's participation in this British Columbia-based initiative leverages Canada's natural gas supply while creating substantial opportunities for both the nation and the broader region.
Success is most likely when Indigenous engagement begins at a project's conceptual stage and continues throughout planning, approvals, and implementation, notes Calla. Major projects like Cedar LNG require careful alignment of rights recognition, economic growth strategy, and intergovernmental coordination—precisely the kind of alignment a joint first ministers' meeting with First Nations leaders could strengthen.
Building Capacity for Economic Development
To achieve these ambitious goals, Canada must support administrative and fiscal capacity building within Indigenous communities. The First Nations Financial Management Board has certified 77 First Nations across Canada, including the Haisla Nation, affirming they meet rigorous international standards in financial performance, management practices, and accountability.
This certification demonstrates to investors that these nations are reliable partners and opens pathways to competitive financing through institutions like the First Nations Finance Authority. In the case of the Haisla Nation, this resulted in $350 million in financing for their ownership stake in Cedar LNG.
Institutional Support for Indigenous-Led Solutions
Supports from the First Nations Fiscal Management Act institutions—which include the First Nations Tax Commission and the First Nations Infrastructure Institute alongside the Financial Management Board—enable chiefs and councils to advance their communities' chosen paths to economic development. These Indigenous-led solutions, along with others like the Lands Advisory Board and Indigenous health authorities, demonstrate tangible results that benefit both communities and the country as a whole.
The upcoming first ministers' meeting represents more than just another political gathering; it could mark a turning point in how Canada approaches economic development, Indigenous relations, and sustainable growth. As Calla concludes, Bringing provincial and federal leaders together with Indigenous leaders can be a pivotal step in charting the path forward. It can be historic, if the will is there.
