Donald Trump’s bid to annex Greenland dominated the opening morning of the Dene National Assembly in Fort Good Hope after Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak made it a central theme of her speech.
She received a warm welcome from Dene National Chief George Mackenzie, who said her presence “further underscores the significance of this assembly,” which brings together dozens of Dene leaders each year.
Fort Good Hope is finally hosting the event after attempts in both 2024 and 2025 were thwarted by wildfires.
“A lot of things came that we couldn’t control,” said Chief Shawn Grandjambe of the Charter Community of K’áhshó Got’ı̨nę. “It’s finally happening here today, and it’s an honour for us to be hosting it.”
The assembly’s opening remarks focused on unity: working together as Indigenous peoples, collaboration in Ottawa, and a united front against threats from the United States.
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“I want to take this opportunity to condemn President Trump for his reckless threats to purchase and control Greenland,” Woodhouse Nepinak told those gathered.
“I wrote to President Trump after his election to remind him that North America has been home to sovereign nations since time immemorial with inherent rights to our lands, our waters and resources that predate colonial systems.
“The same can be said for Greenland, so we stand with the Indigenous peoples of Greenland to determine their own futures and control over their own sovereignty.”
Woodhouse Nepinak added she was sure “many brave First Nations soldiers” were willing to head to Greenland if Canada decides to send military support, as some European nations have, though those forces have formed more of a symbolic gesture to date.
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“It is Greenland today, but we know Trump has his eye on Canada, too,” she warned northern leaders.
“While threats of sovereignty may be new to most Canadians, they’re not new to us. Our ancestors have fought on this land to protect our rights as people and as nations. We have had to overcome great odds to protect our rights, our laws, our resources and our waters.”
‘We’re fragmented’
Woodhouse Nepinak, Dene National Chief Mackenzie and Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian all emphasized unity, with Norwegian calling for that to extend to a “strong alliance amongst the First Nations, the Métis and the Inuit.”
“We need to stand firm against what’s happening with the Trump administration,” said Norwegian, referring to the Greenland situation as “pretty scary stuff.”
However, leaders also pointed to areas where unity is lacking.
Woodhouse Nepinak, for example, said she had taken Canada’s premiers to task for treating the AFN like “little kids” by providing only a brief meeting window for Indigenous leaders when provincial and territorial leaders gather.
“Then they kick us out, and then they make the real decisions,” she said, adding that she has now been promised a much more comprehensive meeting with premiers and Ottawa.
She also took aim at Alberta and Quebec separatism, and praised Indigenous nations in those regions for pushing back.
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Mackenzie told delegates the NWT’s five regions “need to be united strongly” but suggested that isn’t presently the case.
“Major development is on its way, billions of dollars,” he said, referring to Canada’s promise that vast sums will be spent on defence infrastructure, plus the NWT’s hope that several major projects will soon receive federal funding. “The Dene Nation has to be ready for that.”
“Today, our voice is not as strong because we’re somewhat fragmented,” Mackenzie said.
“That can be fixed with the help of everybody around the table.”
Cell coverage, Vatican artifacts
Woodhouse Nepinak said the AFN will spend this year working on initiatives related to public safety and community policing, as well as advocating for Indigenous voices as telecoms regulator the CRTC begins a consultation that is ultimately designed to address gaps in cell phone coverage – of which the NWT has many.
She added the AFN is also lining up a meeting with King Charles III for the spring, and suggested the North can expect a representative at that event.
Lastly, Woodhouse Nepinak said First Nations artifacts handed back by the Vatican in December last year will be unveiled at a ceremony in Ottawa next month.
“We haven’t unboxed them and there are pieces from here, from this territory,” she said.
Cody Punter contributed reporting.
