NATIONAL MEETING 2026 | OCTOBER 14-16, 2026 | Vancouver, BC

First Nations Leading the Way 9:

Registration is now open for the 9th Annual First Nations Leading the Way conference at the iconic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. This year’s conference is especially meaningful as we celebrate two major milestones:

  • 30 years of the Lands Advisory Board Framework Agreement
  • 20 years of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA)

A Generation of Strength, Sovereignty and Shared Prosperity Celebrating Progress, Partnership, and First Nations Leadership. 

These anniversaries are not only a moment to reflect on achievements, but also an opportunity to look ahead as we strengthen relationships, share lessons learned, and continue the collaborative work that supports strong and prosperous Nations.

Join First Nations leaders from across the country to celebrate progress, share knowledge, and explore the tools that support jurisdiction, fiscal independence, and long-term economic success.

Agenda Coming Soon

Conference Agenda:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7th

5:00pm

| Registration Opens

6:00pm – 8:30pm

| Welcoming Reception

6:15 – Opening Remarks
– Emcee Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley Introduction
– Leadership Welcoming
– HRH Zolani Mkiva

6:35 – Musical Performance by Adrian Sutherland
7:15 – Musical Performance by Shawnee Kish

Wednesday, OCTOBER 8th

7:30am – 8:30am

| Breakfast & Networking

8:20 – Francophone Housekeeping, Frank Brazeau

8:30am – 8:55am

| Welcoming and National Meeting Overview

-Prayer by Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Elder Melanee McAulay
-Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Welcoming by Ogimaa-Kwe (Chief) Claire Sault
-Emcee Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley housekeeping and review of agenda

9:00am – 9:15am

| Opening Address by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak

9:20am – 10:10am

| Updates from the Institutions

Allan Claxton, Development Board Chair, First Nations Infrastructure Institute
Ernie Daniels, President/CEO, First Nations Finance Authority
Chief Robert Louie, Chairman, First Nations Lands Advisory Board
Chief Derek Epp, Special Initiatives Co-Chair, First Nations Tax Commission
Harold Calla, Executive Chair, First Nations Financial Management Board

10:15am – 11:00am

| North Star: Our Journey Toward Self-Determination

With FNTC Chief Commissioner C.T. Manny Jules

11:00am – 11:20am

| Morning Health Break

11:25am – 12:10pm

| Breakout Session #1

  • Blazing New Trails: Working Together to Achieve Our Collective Vision

With FNTC (Mainstage)

  • Setting Sail for Success: First Nations Reshaping the Mi’kma’ki Landscape

With FNFA (Markham Ballroom)

  • Building a First Nations-Led Land Governance Registry: FNLGR Progress Update

(Butternut/Holley)

  • Sipekne’katik Journey to FMS Certification

With FMB (Violet/Orchid Room)

12:10pm – 1:00pm

| Lunch Break

1:00pm – 1:45pm

| Breakout Session #2

  • Creative Optimization of FMA Tools to Support Infrastructure Development

With FNII (Mainstage)

  • Reclaiming Financial Health: A Workshop on the DMPPP and Community-Led Solutions

With FMB (Markham Ballroom)

  • Financial Statements Delay

With FMB (Butternut/Holly)

  • FRANCOPHONE: Valeur de la certification du SGF

(Violet/Orchid Room)

1:45pm – 1:55pm

| Break

2:00pm – 2:45pm

| Unlocking Infrastructure Potential: Creative Use of FMA Tools in Tsawout and Sumas First Nations

With FNII, Brian Jones, Jason Calla, Chief Abraham Pelkey, Greg Diemer

2:45pm – 3:05pm

| Afternoon Health Break

3:05pm – 3:50pm

| Unleashing Our Collective Power: Land Governance through the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management

With LAB, Andrew Beynon, Former Chief Dennis Meeches

3:50pm – 3:55pm

| Day 1 Closing

– Summary of Day 1 and Preview of Day 2 by Emcee Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley

6:15pm – 6:30pm

| Networking Reception (Ballroom Foyer)

6:30pm – 9:30pm

| Evening Banquet and Entertainment

6:30 – Doors Open
6:35 – Elder Melanee McAulay Blessing of the Food and Buffet Dinner
7:10 – Dance Performance by Red Sky
7:40 – Games and Prizes
7:55 –Musical Performance by The Poets
9:25 – Closing

Thursday, OCTOBER 9TH

7:30am – 8:30am

| Breakfast & Networking

8:30am – 8:35am

| Welcoming to Day 2

-Emcee Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley reviews Agenda for the day

8:40am – 8:50am

| Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

The Honourable Rebecca Alty (VIDEO)

8:55am – 9:40am

| Increasing Access to Capital Through Financing of Special Purpose Vehicles

With FNFA Ernie Daniels, Chief Derek Epp

9:45am – 10:00am

| Break

10:00am – 10:45am

| Breakout Session #3

  • Government Business Enterprises in the modern economy: Challenges and Opportunities

(Mainstage)

  • Value of FMS Certification with Taykwa Tagamou Nation

(Markham Ballroom)

  • The Launch of the Indigenous Technical Advisory Group

(Butternut/Holly)

  • Indigenous Trusts – What we know and don’t know

(Violet/Orchid Room)

10:45am – 11:05am

| Morning Health Break

11:10am – 11:55am

| Breakout Session #4

  • Taksis: Our Collective Way of Helping Each Other

With FNTC (Mainstage)

  • Unlocking Indigenous Capital: The Case for a Nation-Led Development Finance Institution

(Markham Ballroom)

  • Planning Beyond the 7th Generation

With FMB (Butternut/Holly)

  • Indigenous Economic Council – Stronger Together

(Violet/Orchid Room)

12:00pm – 12:45pm

| Lunch Break

12:45pm – 1:15pm

| Voices of Tomorrow: Youth Leading the Way Panel

Dillon Johnson and Youth Delegates

1:20pm – 2:05pm

| International Relationships Panel

Ernie Daniels, Chief Robert Louie, Shayla Point, Dr. Andre Le Dressay

2:10pm – 2:40pm

| African Experiences on the Relevancy of Traditional Leadership in the Global Economy

HRH Zolani Mkiva

2:40pm – 3:00pm

| Afternoon Health Break

3:00pm – 3:45pm

| Looking Forward and Audience Questions

Allan Claxton, Development Board Chair, First Nations Infrastructure Institute
Ernie Daniels, President/CEO, First Nations Finance Authority
Chief Robert Louie, Chairman, First Nations Lands Advisory Board
William McCue, Commissioner, First Nations Tax Commission
Harold Calla, Executive Chair, First Nations Financial Management Board

3:50pm – 4:00pm

| Closing

-Conference Summary by Emcee Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley
-Prayer by Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Elder Melanee McAulay

Convention Hall
Mainstage, Level 2
740 seats in table rounds

Breakout A
Markham Ballroom, Level 1
220 seats in table rounds

Breakout B
Violet/Orchid Room, Level 2
Up to 80 seats

Breakout C
Butternut/Holly, Level 2
Up to 80 seats