AFN chief disputes claims that only Carney and Kinew discussed abolishing Indian Act

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations said that the discussion about abolishing the Indian Act at a recent meeting was not limited to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Prime Minister Mark Carney, as some reports suggested. Woodhouse Nepinak told reporters that chiefs were primarily concerned with legislation affecting major projects and that those issues were sidelined when Kinew and Carney made remarks about the Act.

"Not everybody, but other participants raised the desirability. So it's already starting from the right place in that it's not the federal government deciding something should be done. It's responding to a request," Carney said after the meeting.

The Indigenous Services Minister’s office said Kinew was not the only participant to raise the possibility of reforming or removing the Indian Act, but declined to provide details because the meeting was held behind closed doors.

While First Nations leaders broadly agree that the Indian Act, enacted in 1876, is outdated and restrictive, there is no consensus on whether it should be repealed or how it might be replaced. The federal government has not committed to changing the rules that determine Indian status, and previous attempts to reform the legislation have been unsuccessful.

The discussion occurs as the government seeks to accelerate major project development in partnership with provinces and Indigenous communities. Recent legislative changes that would have allowed the government to bypass the Indian Act were withdrawn after opposition from other parties.