06/17/2026
Today, on behalf of the Keepers of the Circle Council, we had the honour of providing opening remarks at the Chiefs of Ontario Annual Chiefs Assembly.
We took this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the Anishinabek Nation for being one of the first PTOs to host a Two-Spirit Conference focused on education and awareness for leadership, service providers, and community members. This gathering creates an important space for Chiefs, Council members, frontline workers, and community leaders to engage in culturally grounded teachings, training, and dialogue that strengthen their capacity to support, uplift, and affirm Two-Spirit, Two-Heart, and Indigenous Q***r relatives.
We encourage other PTOs, Tribal Councils, and First Nations leadership to follow this example by creating opportunities for education, reflection, and relationship-building within their own Nations and communities. This work extends beyond inclusion—it is about honouring our traditional teachings, restoring the sacred roles of Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people, and ensuring that all community members are valued, respected, and supported.
We also spoke about the urgent realities facing Indigenous youth. Indigenous youth continue to experience disproportionately high rates of su***de, mental health challenges, and barriers to accessing culturally relevant supports. These inequities are rooted in the ongoing impacts of colonization, intergenerational trauma, homophobia, transphobia, systemic discrimination, and limited access to services that reflect Indigenous values and lived experiences.
According to The Trevor Project, Indigenous LGBTQ+ youth face significantly higher rates of su***de risk than their non-Indigenous LGBTQ+ peers. Indigenous Two-Spirit, Two-Heart, and Indigenous Q***r youth often experience additional barriers, including discrimination, social isolation, violence, and a lack of affirming supports within their home communities. Too often, young people are forced to leave their communities to access services, creating further disconnection from family, culture, and community.
There is an urgent need for culturally grounded, community-based programs that promote belonging, identity, safety, and wellness—not only in urban centres, but within our own First Nations communities.
Most importantly, we emphasized that inclusion is not a one-time training session, a policy, or a checkbox. Inclusion is an ongoing commitment to creating environments where Two-Spirit, Two-Heart, and Indigenous Q***r relatives feel respected, valued, safe, and empowered to fully participate in community life.
The work of reconciliation includes bringing our Two-Spirit, Two-Heart, and Indigenous Q***r relatives home and ensuring they have a place to thrive within our Nations.
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