What Are the Latest News and Statements from the Assembly of First Nations?

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) publishes its public positions as press releases under a "Latest News" section on afn.ca, and the two most recent items shown there concern the National Chief's statements on federal priorities and on a regional leadership acclamation. Both are dated September 2026, and both can be read in full through the site's "Read the Story" links.

The two most recent statements on afn.ca

National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak on the fall parliamentary session

The lead item is titled "National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak Speaks on First Nations Priorities as the Fall Session of Parliament is Set to Begin," published September 17, 2026 and labeled a press release. The visible excerpt places the statement in Treaty 2 Territory, Brandon, Manitoba.

What this tells you: the AFN uses the opening of a parliamentary sitting as a hook for setting out its legislative and policy priorities for the coming session. If you are tracking what the organization is pressing the federal government on, statements timed to the parliamentary calendar are the ones to watch.

Congratulations to BC Regional Chief Terry Teegee

The second item is "National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Congratulates BC Regional Chief Terry Teegee on His 2026 Acclamation – Looks Forward to Continued Work Together for First Nations." The headline itself carries the substance: an acclamation (rather than a contested election) and an explicit statement of intent to keep working together.

What this tells you: regional chief positions are part of the AFN's own governance structure, so leadership changes at the regional level are treated as organizational news, not just BC-specific news.

How to read the news section

• Format. Items are published as press releases, with a publication date and a "Read the Story" link. The site also offers a "View All" entry point for the full list.
• Dating. The two items above are both from September 2026, so the news feed is current relative to the events described.
• Scope. The visible headlines mix parliamentary advocacy with internal leadership news, which reflects the AFN's dual role as an advocacy organization and a coordinating body for First Nations leadership.

Where these statements sit in the AFN's structure

The AFN describes itself as a national advocacy organization that takes direction and fulfills mandates as directed by First Nations-in-Assembly through resolutions. Two assemblies are held each year, where mandates and directives are established. The organization is guided by an Executive Committee made up of an elected National Chief and Regional Chiefs from each province and territory, with representatives from five national councils (Knowledge Keepers, Youth, Veterans, 2SLGBTQQIA+ and Women) supporting and guiding Executive Committee decisions.

That structure explains why the news items look the way they do: the National Chief speaks publicly on priorities, and regional chief appointments are reported as part of the same stream.

If you want to go further

• To read a statement in full, follow the "Read the Story" link under the headline.
• To see everything published, use the "View All" link in the Latest News section.
• To understand the mandate behind a statement, the AFN's policy work is organized under four areas: Rights & Justice, Community Services, Environment & Lands, and Economy & Infrastructure. Community Services advocacy covers more than 600 First Nations communities.
• To attend rather than read, the site lists upcoming events, including the First Nations-First Ministers' Meeting 2026 (October 26, 2026, Ottawa), the Special Chiefs Assembly 2026 (December 8–10, 2026, Rogers Centre Ottawa), the 3rd Annual National Natural Resources Forum (February 1–4, 2027, Montreal), and the featured 4th National Climate Gathering (October 5–8, 2026, Hamilton Convention Centre).