b'opportunities. What works for one may not work for another. The Chiefs of Ontario has strived to support First Nations by ensuring that their rights to self-government and self-determination are respected by governments on a provincial and national level. This is affirmed by Chiefs across the province. They declared, at a 1997 All-Chiefs Assembly, that the Creator has given us the right to govern ourselves and the right to self-determination. The rights and responsibilities given to us by theThe girls dormitory at the residential school in Moose Factory, Cochrane, Ont. 1945.Creator cannot be altered or taken away(Credit: Mildred Young-Hubbert / Archives of Ontario via the Toronto Public Library.)by any other Nation. Going Through the DecadesSince colonial contact, First Nations rights have often been interconnected to the land. When the Chiefs of Ontario was first stepping onto the political scene in 1975, it was an effort to organize First Nations Peoples in response to ongoing issues related to land rights and land claims. One of the high-profile land claims at the time was based near theKaycie Brantshores of Lake Huron in southwesternTyendinaga Mohawk TerritoryOntario. This issue began in 1942, when the federal government appro-priated land from Stoney Point First Nation for the purpose of building a military training base during World War St. Lawrence College is situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples; we are grateful to live and learn on these lands. With campuses in Kingston, Brockville, and Cornwall, SLC delivers education and training that meets the needs of community, industry, and employers.The College prepares students to succeed in the global economy through relevant, practical programs and experiential learning opportunities. SLC oers facilitated admission for Indigenous students, a dedicated Indigenous Services team, and a place for belonging and connection at the Waasaabiidaasamose Indigenous Centre.LEARN MOREThomas Foster, former Toronto Mayor, celebrates the honorary title Chief New House given to him by leaders from Six Nations. Toronto, Ont. August 30, 1939. (Credit: Toronto Star via the Toronto Public Library.)I ssue1 2025C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne l 21'