The Assembly discussed a resolution that came forward at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs meeting to call on Canada to negotiate at the regional level for long-term reform agreements on child welfare. This resolution comes after AFN, and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal about Canada’s inequitable provision of First Nations Child and Family Services and its choice to not fully implement Jordan’s Principle. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Ontario spoke virtually to the Assembly about the work his nation did to get to a regional-specific agreement to look after Indigenous children in Ontario. Angie Gillis and Shelly Martin, CMM also provided input on the issue. After careful consideration, the Assembly decided to defer any decision until after a meeting to be held the following week with lawyers and technicians for an in-depth review.
The Assembly received a presentation from Bill Trask, Executive Director of Policy and Corporate Services, Nova Scotia Department of Justice, on the collection of race-based data on police stops. This initiative began in response to the Wortley Report which addresses street checks on Black Nova Scotians in the Halifax Regional Municipality, prior to them being banned in October 2019. Recommendations from the report included establishing a research committee, creating a permanent data collection system, and mandating police to report race-based data to improve transparency and accountability. The Assembly emphasized the need for Mi’kmaw representation on research committees and called for more Indigenous officers in policing.
KMK presented on the grid-scale battery storage project, a major clean energy initiative supporting Nova Scotia’s Clean Power Plan. The project includes three 50-megawatt battery facilities in Bridgewater, Annapolis Valley and Waverley and will be critical for phasing out coal, integrating renewables, and ensuring grid reliability. Wskijnu’k Mtmo’taqnuow Agency (WMA) and Nova Scotia Power have developed an investment arrangement that enables all 13 Mi’kmaw communities to participate as equity partners in the project through WMA. The Chiefs were invited to a site visit and celebration event in early 2026. Discussions were had about community information sessions to explain benefits and partnership details.
The Assembly received a detailed update from the Maw-Kleyu’kik Knijannaq (MKK) initiative team on the progress of Mi’kmaw child and family governance and Law (Code) development. The Mi’kmaw Customary Code is nearly complete and is now in the final review stage, with meetings scheduled through December and January to address any outstanding issues. The Chiefs requested copies of the previously circulated Code and the current version of the Code to see the changes that have been recently proposed. The goal is to finalize the Law by February 2026, exercising Mi’kmaw jurisdiction over child and family well-being under Section 35 as an inherent right. The next step in the ongoing negotiation with Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia will be to finalize a section 35 Self-Government Agreement with Canada and Nova Scotia, expected in the spring of 2026. If adopted, full implementation is targeted for 2027.
