Treaty leaders from across the Prairies and Northern Canada travelled to Ottawa to meet King Charles III.
On May 27th, 2025, in a historic moment, King Charles delivered the Speech from the Throne in Canada’s Senate Chamber.
King Charles and his mother Queen Elizabeth are the only two monarchs who have delivered the Speech from the Throne in Canada. Queen Elizabeth II – She delivered the Speech from the Throne once, in 1957, during her first official visit to Canada as monarch.
Typically, the Speech from the Throne is delivered by the Governor General of Canada on behalf of the monarch, not by the monarch personally.
These rare occasions when the monarch delivers it are considered highly symbolic and ceremonial.
Not all leaders, however, were granted a seat to witness the Throne Speech or the opportunity to meet and speak with the King.
In response, the chiefs gave statements highlighting the deep disconnect between symbolic ceremonies and the ongoing failure to fulfill Treaty commitments.
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