Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta is a political organization where our member Nations come together to guide collective decision-making and establish legal, political, and economic relationships with other levels of governments.
OUR MANDATE IS TO PROTECT, PROMOTE, BRING TO LIFE, IMPLEMENT, AND SUSTAIN THE TRUE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF TREATY No. 8, AS LONG AS THE SUN SHINES, THE GRASS GROWS AND THE WATERS FLOW.
Treaty 8 governance is rooted in the authority of each Nation’s leadership. Together, the elected Chiefs from each member Nation make up the Treaty 8 Assembly of Chiefs that serves as the highest decision-making body, setting the overall mandate, direction and priorities of Treaty 8. These decisions are then brought forward through the Council of Chiefs, which meets on a monthly basis and is comprised of Chiefs from each Tribal Council and appointed Chiefs or Council from unaffiliated Nations.
Through this structure, Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta continues to uphold Treaty rights, protect lands and resources, and assert our role as a governing body grounded in a sovereign-to-sovereign relationship with the Crown and in the true Spirit and Intent of Treaty No. 8.
Treaty 8 First Nations Council of Chiefs
Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Chief Allan Adam
Horse Lake First Nation
Chief Dallas Ferguson
Beaver First Nation
Chief Gary Kipling
Peerless Trout First Nation
Chief Gilbert Okemow
Fort McKay First Nation
Chief Raymond Powder
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation
Deputy Grand Chief Sheldon Sunshine
Mikisew Cree First Nation
Chief Billy Joe Tuccaro
Sawridge First Nation
Chief lsaac Twin
Bigstone Cree Nation
Chief Silas Yellowknee
Tthebatthie Denesųłiné Nation
Currently vacant due to ongoing election
Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations
The Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta is a position established in 1997 with the formation of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta as an organization.
The Grand Chief is elected by the Assembly of Treaty 8 Chiefs for a three-year term and must be a former Chief of a Treaty 8 First Nation in Alberta.
Prior to 2018, the Grand Chief was always a sitting Chief from a member Nation. As the priorities and objectives of both our member Nations and Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta evolved, the role became a full-time position.
The Grand Chief serves as a spokesperson and advocate on behalf of the Assembly of Treaty 8 Chiefs, representing the Nations in sovereign-to-sovereign discussions with all levels of government and external organizations, while supporting the implementation of decisions that reflect shared priorities and respect the independence and sovereignty of each Nation.
In practice, the Grand Chief acts as a chairperson and does not cast a vote within the Assembly of Treaty 8 Chiefs or the Council of Chiefs, except in the case of a tie-breaking vote.
