The Pearson Centre’s Pam Damoff was pleased to speak with Jeff Copenace, Chief of the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation in northwestern Ontario. Copenace brings a deeply personal and politically seasoned perspective to the challenges facing First Nations communities in Canada today. Copenace’s path to leadership was not linear. At just 13 years old, he served as one of the first First Nations Legislative Pages in Ontario, working under Premier Bob Rae. Though initially disillusioned by the adversarial nature of politics, the experience exposed him to the inner workings of government and introduced him to key Indigenous leaders, including Elijah Harper during the era of the Meech Lake Accord debates.
His political trajectory accelerated during his time at Carleton University, where involvement with the Young Liberals led to mentorship opportunities with figures such as former Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, and National Chief Phil Fontaine. These relationships were formative, and Copenace underscored the importance of mentorship throughout his career, not only in shaping his own path, but as a responsibility he now carries forward for younger generations.
Over the years, Copenace contributed to major policy initiatives, including work surrounding the Kelowna Accord and the development of federal child welfare reform. He highlighted Bill C-92, legislation affirming First Nations jurisdiction over child and family services, as one of the most consequential shifts in recent decades. For Copenace, reclaiming control over child welfare is central to breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma rooted in residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and ongoing child apprehension practices.
Despite perceptions that these historical injustices are firmly in the past, Copenace stressed that their impacts remain deeply embedded in present-day systems. Indigenous children continue to be vastly overrepresented in foster care, comprising more than half of all children in care in Canada. For many, these traumatic experiences create pipelines to the criminal justice system, where Indigenous peoples are also vastly overrepresented. This, he argued, is not incidental, but the result of deliberate policy decisions spanning generations.
“These are Canadian-made problems,” he noted, pointing to the legacy of assimilation policies that disrupted family structures, parenting knowledge, and access to education. Addressing these realities requires more than acknowledgment, it demands systemic change grounded in compassion, long-term investment, and a commitment to keeping children connected to culture, community, and education.
As Chief, Copenace leads a community that has been under a declared state of emergency since 2014 due to high rates of suicide and addiction. Onigaming Ojibway Nation, located between Lake of the Woods and Crow Lake, has experienced profound loss, with dozens of deaths, with the vast majority being young people, over the past decade. “We’ve had nearly a funeral a month,” he shared, underscoring the ongoing weight of grief carried by the community.
In response, Copenace has worked to secure crisis response infrastructure, including a locally based crisis team, youth programming, and proposals for a dedicated crisis centre. However, he emphasized that funding remains inconsistent and fragmented, often caught between federal and provincial jurisdictional disputes. Communities in the greatest need, he explained, are frequently the least equipped to navigate complex funding processes, leaving them at a structural disadvantage.
Copenace also highlighted broader governance challenges, particularly in relation to treaty rights. He stressed that First Nations are not stakeholders, but rights holders that must be partners in decision-making and whose consent must be meaningfully obtained. Yet in practice, consultation processes often fall short, failing to engage communities fully or respect the spirit of treaty relationships. Often, the First Nations communities under states of emergency, and in the greatest need of resources and infrastructure, lack the institutional and emotional capacity to engage in full consultations, perpetuating existing inequalities.
Beyond policy, Copenace spoke candidly about his own struggles with addiction. After years of personal loss, including the disappearance of a niece and the death of close friends, he battled alcoholism for a decade before achieving sobriety in 2017. Now nine years sober, he views his recovery as integral to his leadership. By speaking openly, he hopes to reduce stigma and inspire others in his community, where a growing number of young people are embracing sobriety. Ultimately, Copenace’s message was one of both urgency and hope. While the challenges facing First Nations communities are profound and deeply rooted, he believes meaningful change is possible through sustained commitment, culturally grounded policy, and human connection. “We fix this with love and compassion,” he said.
Looking ahead, Copenace expressed a long-standing dream to serve as a Member of Parliament, representing northern Ontario. For him, this would be a continuation of the work he has pursued throughout his life: bridging divides, advocating for his community, and ensuring First Nations voices are central in shaping Canada’s future.