Ambassador Chartier Attends UN PFII

April 28, 2026

From April 20-24, Ambassador Chartier attended the 25^th annual session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations in New York City, New York, USA as a representative of the Manitoba Métis Federation, the National Government of the Red River Métis.

This year's theme was "Ensuring Indigenous Peoples' health, including in the context of conflict", although there were other various agenda items covered, as well as a large number of side-events.

The week started off by Canada's Ambassador to the UN, the Hon. David Lametti hosting a morning reception on Monday, April 20^th for delegates from Canada. Joining Ambassador Lametti for this reception was the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon.

Governor General Simon not only addressed the delegates from Canada, she also spoke at the official opening of the Permanent Forum whose speech was well received by Indigenous delegates from around the world.

Ambassador Lametti also hosted a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, April 22^nd at his official residence for a small number of Indigenous delegates from Canada, including Ambassador Chartier. Each of the attendees were able to speak for a few minutes on issues they felt important for Ambassador Lametti to know.

Also attending the Forum were two young Métis women from Winnipeg, citizens of the MMF: Chloe Dreilich-Girard from the Bison Local and Kaitlyn Clarke from the St. Norbert Local. Celeste McKay, Georgina Liberty and Oliver Boulette, amongst a few others were also in attendance.

Georgina Liberty as one to the members of the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (OCIL) hosted a Monday evening side-event where their Award-Winning Film, "Rhythms of the Land" was featured.

While there were many sessions and side events in which to participate, on Thursday afternoon, April 23^rd there was a session dealing with the enhanced participation of Indigenous peoples within the General Assembly of the United Nations. This was a follow-up to the past several years where this discussion has been taking place.

The previous Co-Facilitators were the Ambassadors to the UN from Canada and Peru, the two new Co-Facilitators are from the Bahamas and Namibia. There are also two new Indigenous Advisers, one from Canada, and the other from Sami land.

The result of the session appears to be the need to take a pause and take stock of what has already been stated and accomplished over the past few years, with the resulting report to be used as a guide for further dialogue and potential progress.

Another interesting side event dealt with who will defend the defenders! From various parts of the world information was shared about the arbitrary detentions, the killings, the kidnapping, and persecution of Indigenous peoples who are defending their peoples' rights: rights to land; rights to advocate for better living and working conditions; right to protect the environment; basically, the right to live their lives as Indigenous peoples in their own homelands.

One of the presenters, currently exiled from Nicaragua, spoke to the arbitrary detention and disappearance of Miskitu leader Brooklyn Rivera, who no-one has seen or heard from since September 29, 2023, although the Nicaraguan government has finally admitted that they have him in jail, without identifying where, or letting anyone see or speak to him.

The session runs for two weeks, ending on Friday, May 1, 2026.

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