Union of Ontario Indians
The Anishinabek Nation incorporated the Union of Ontario Indians (UOI) as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 42 member First Nations across Ontario. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

The UOI represents 42 First Nations throughout the province of Ontario from Golden Lake in the east, Sarnia in the south, Thunder Bay and Lake Nipigon in the north. The 42 First Nations have an approximate combined population of 42,000 citizens, one third of the province of Ontario’s aboriginal population.  The Anishinabek Nation has four strategic regional areas Southwest, Southeast, Lake Huron and Northern Superior and each region is represented by a Regional Grand Chief.

The UOI has its headquarters located on Nipissing First Nation, just outside of North Bay Ontario and have satellite offices in Thunder Bay, Curve Lake First Nation and Munsee-Deleware First Nation.
 
The UOI - Union of Ontario Indians delivers a variety of programs and services, such as Health, Social Services, Education, Intergovernmental Affairs and Treaty Research, and does this with a compliment of approximately 70 staff members.

The UOI is governed by a board of directors and has a Grand Council Chief and a Deputy Grand Council Chief that carry the day-to-day leadership responsibilities.

The UOI provides the necessary forum for collective First Nation actions on housing and other issues through their Chiefs in Assembly, and direction to the Grand Council Chief by way of resolution.

Objectives


  • "To conduct, hold and promote meetings and conferences to determine and express common needs and concerns of First Nations in Ontario;

  • To foster, advance and stimulate interest in, and promote the preservation and development of the history and Native culture of First Nations and the commencement and the maintenance of programs for the conservation thereof, by such means as may from time to time seem expedient, including research, publication, education and the establishment and maintenance of educational activities, agencies or institutions and the aid of such activities, agencies or institutions already established;

  • To maintain and secure, by social, educational and political action, fulfillment of all First Nations Treaties and Treaty Rights. To promote legislation affecting the rights of First Nations: to oppose or support, as the case may be, any contemplated legislation by Federal, Provincial, Municipal or other authorities, insofar as the same may affect the rights of all First Nations;

  • To endeavor to achieve a closer relationship and better understanding among the various branches of Government (Federal, Provincial and Municipal) and the First Nations people, their needs and concerns;

  • To receive and maintain funding and the right to apply, from time to time, all or part thereof funds for the attainment of the above objectives;

  • To represent the membership in Constitutional discussions and negotiations, which ultimately will provide the Federal/Provincial Governments the wisdom to see First Nations exercise their right of self-government."