First Nations leaders denounce political silence on Indigenous issues

First Nations leaders are denouncing the lack of attention given to Indigenous issues during the current election campaign. Gathering near the National Assembly, representatives from various nations, including Wendat Grand Chief Pierre Picard and Anishinabe Chief Lucien Wabanonik, criticized political parties for their silence on critical matters.

Leaders noted that while topics such as energy, housing, homelessness, and immigration have dominated public debate, Indigenous concerns—including the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Joyce Principle—have been largely ignored. Chief Picard described this lack of engagement as a form of ‘insidious systemic racism.’