b'MESSAGE FROM THE ONTARIO REGIONAL CHIEFCarrying Our ResponsibilitiesABRAM BENEDICT Ontario Regional Chief S he:kon,It is my honour to welcome you to the winter 2026 edition of Advocate, the official magazine of the Chiefs of Ontario.Carrying Our Responsibilities reflects the roles First Nations across Ontario continue to uphold every dayfor our people, our lands and waters, our cultures and future generations. The stories shared here remind us that respon-sibility is not abstract; it is lived and carried through collective action.In this edition, you will hear from Pierre Debassige, the Eagle Staff carrier for the Chiefs of Ontario, whose role embodies care and accountability to the 133 First Nations across Ontario. His story reflects the spiritual and communal responsibil-ities that connect our Nations and guide our path forward.Also highlighted is the work of Chiefs and leadership in advancing housing and infrastructure priorities across Ontario, including the newly formed Chiefs of Ontario Housing and Infrastructure Sector. These efforts speak to the respon-sibility of ensuring our people have safe, sustainable homes and the essential services needed for communities to grow and thrive, despite longstanding systemicchallenges, specifically on reserve.This issue does not shy away from complex conversations around rights, jurisdic-tion and Treaty relationships. Highlighted is the responsibility to govern and advo-cate with clarity and integrity. The discussion on rights assertions and opposition to pan-Indigenous approaches emphasizes the importance of truth, historical accuracy and respect for First Nations jurisdiction. Protecting our inherent and Treaty rights is not only an assertion of law, but a responsibility to our ancestors and tofuture generations.Carrying our responsibilities also means protecting the integrity of our Nationhood, asserting our inherent and Treaty rights, and challenging approaches that undermine First Nations as distinct rights holders.I hope you find inspiration in this edition of Advocate. May it serve as a reminder of the collective strength with which First Nations across Ontario continue to carry our responsibilities.Ni:wen8l I ssue2 2025/26C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'