Kahnawà:ke Council Moves to Leave AFN

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke is pursuing a gradual withdrawal from the Assembly of First Nations and its Quebec-Labrador counterpart.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Native American

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The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke is moving to withdraw from the Assembly of First Nations and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador. Grand Chief Cody Diabo criticized the federal government's reliance on the AFN as a primary point of contact for First Nations.

Why it matters

The decision reflects longstanding concerns that national and regional Indigenous organizations do not adequately represent Kahnawà:ke's positions on inherent rights, jurisdiction and sovereignty. It signals a shift toward direct political relationships with the governments of Canada and Quebec.

The Council's stated position is that leaving the organizations does not mean giving up funding intended for Kahnawà:ke, with the withdrawal to be phased in gradually, particularly at the regional level. The specific mechanisms for maintaining existing programs remain unannounced.

The players

Cody Diabo

Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke, who has been an outspoken critic of Canada's implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Assembly of First Nations

The national advocacy organization representing First Nations governments across Canada, which Kahnawà:ke is moving to leave.

The details

Diabo left an October 26, 2026 First Nations and first ministers' meeting in Ottawa early, the first such meeting since 2005. Seven communities of the Iroquois Caucus will continue working together on shared political interests, and Kahnawà:ke maintains relationships with First Nations in western Canada.

October 26, 2026: First Nations and first ministers' meeting held in Ottawa; Diabo departs early.
Several years: Concerns about national and regional Indigenous organizations developed.
Phased: Withdrawal from the AFN and AFNQL to proceed gradually.

Historical Context

The Council's critique of Canada's UNDRIP implementation as substantially watered down from its original intent places this withdrawal within the ongoing debate over whether the Declaration is being honoured in practice. The October 26 meeting was the first First Nations and first ministers' gathering since 2005.

For Canadians following Indigenous governance, the withdrawal may shape which bodies speak for First Nations in federal consultations. Readers should watch how the phased transition affects funding and programs at the regional level.

The takeaway

Organizational representation of First Nations is a live question, and direct government-to-community relationships are becoming a more visible alternative to national assemblies. Tracking how the phased withdrawal unfolds will show whether that model holds.