Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Presents
The Inaugural Decolonizing Land and Water Summit
September 16-17, 2025
Metis Crossing • Smoky Lake, Alberta
Honouring our Connection to the Land and Water
For thousands of years, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) has practiced traditional ways of life—hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering—on the lands and waters of the Peace-Athabasca Delta. The signing of Treaty 8 in 1899 at Fort Chipewyan affirmed our inherent connection to the land, recognizing our cultural rights and identity. Today, as the K’ai Tailé Dené (People of the Land of the Willow), we continue to uphold our inherent and Treaty Rights, ensuring the protection of our lands and waters for future generations.
Dené Law is at the heart of ACFN’s stewardship. Rooted in the teachings, traditions and values of our ancestors, Dené Law has guided us for thousands of years. Our land and water are gifts from the Creator, and we have a sacred responsibility to protect them.
Why This Summit Matters
Like other First Nations across Turtle Island, ACFN faces critical challenges in consultation, governance, environmental monitoring and cumulative effects management. This summit will showcase Indigenous-led solutions that restore sovereignty over our homelands, reaffirming our duty as land and water stewards.
Join us as we bring together Indigenous leaders, knowledge holders and allies to share tools and strategies for decolonizing land and water governance.
Key topics include:
Improving Consultation & Implementing Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
Community-Based Environmental Monitoring
Data Sovereignty & Indigenous-Led Research
Legal Strategies Supporting First Nations’ Treaty Rights
Restoring Land Stewardship & Traditional Knowledge (TK)
Cumulative Effects Assessments & Management
Land Use Planning & Strategic Decision-Making
Get Involved
Get your early bird tickets now!
Interested in Presenting?
We welcome proposals from those interested in sharing their expertise. Submit your presentation idea through this form:
Submit Here. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of June 2025.
Become a Sponsor
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Patrick Flett at patrick.flett@acfn.com.
Venue and Travel Information
Location
Métis Crossing: Located along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, just 1.5 hours northeast of Edmonton, Alberta, and 10 minutes south of Smoky Lake.
17339 Victoria Trail • Smoky Lake, AB T0A 3C0
Shuttle Service
Shuttle buses from Edmonton to the venue will be available each day—stay tuned for details.
Accommodation
Room rates for hotels in Smoky Lake will be announced soon.
We look forward to welcoming you to this landmark event as we work together to reclaim, protect and honour our lands and waters for future generations.