Cold Lake First Nations Chief Kelsey Jacko to advocate for regional priorities at Ottawa forum

OTTAWA — Cold Lake First Nations Chief Kelsey Jacko is set to attend the First Nations-First Ministers meeting in Ottawa this Monday, aiming to directly assert his nation’s priorities at a high-level forum involving the Prime Minister and provincial leaders. The attendance of individual chiefs from Alberta, including Chief Jacko, comes as the province remains without an Assembly of First Nations (AFN) regional representative. In an interview with APTN News, Chief Jacko described the move to have rights holders fill seats as "a step in the right direction." He emphasized the importance of self-representation, stating that he is attending because he wants to ensure no one else speaks for his people or their rights. The meeting follows calls from AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, who noted during the July AGA that the forum marks a significant high-level dialogue between First Nations leadership and government heads. While some nations, such as Onion Lake Cree Nation, have chosen to hold a National Day of Action to defend their inherent rights outside the formal meeting structure, Chief Jacko is focused on ensuring the specific concerns of Cold Lake First Nations are on the table. This includes ongoing advocacy regarding the Pacific Link pipeline, where the community is seeking clear impact assessments and a substantial equity stake. The gathering, hosted on unceded Algonquin Territory, begins with a day of ceremony for First Nations before formal discussions commence. For leaders like Chief Jacko, the presence of Alberta chiefs in Ottawa serves as a vital assertion of independence and authority, ensuring that the unique treaty rights and economic interests of their specific communities are represented at the highest levels of Canadian political dialogue.