When Confederation was formed over 150 years ago, it was shaped by political deadlock, economic ambitions, and the need for shared infrastructure. Canada’s “founding fathers” sought to protect their interests, define their own path, and unite under a common government. But Confederation was also incomplete. Entire nations—First Nations, Métis, and Inuit—were excluded from the decision-making that shaped their own lands. Women, diverse cultural groups, and future generations had no voice in that moment of nation-building.
Today, echoes of those early tensions remain. We see political deadlock between federal and provincial governments, ongoing disputes over resource development, and external pressures from global economic forces. Immigration and demographic shifts continue to reshape Canada. And yet, the question of how we define our national identity remains unresolved.
Common sense needs to prevail when we invite people to the founding of the new Canada. A real confederation this time. It may be semantics, but in the first place the old one was wrongly called a confederation with only 4 provinces at the table leaving us in the perfect position to invite more people to join or enter this new Canada. At First Peoples Group, we call this [Re]Confederation.
It is time we come together to build a better Canada—a Canada that acknowledges its true history, respects the reality of its present, and embraces the full potential of its future. A better Canada is one that is truly inclusive, grounded in reconciliation, and committed to re-imagining and modernizing Confederation.
A Call for Re-Confederation
The 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017 was a moment of reflection, revealing the deep discomfort many Indigenous Peoples felt in celebrating a nation built on their exclusion. If we are to build a Canada that truly belongs to everyone, we must move beyond mere recognition of Indigenous rights—we must embed Indigenous leadership, knowledge, and governance into the very foundation of Canada’s future. This is the essence of Re-Confederation: rebuilding Canada as a country and society that actively includes diversity, guided by the principles of reconciliation.
Re-Confederation is not just about correcting past injustices—it is about re-imagining how we govern ourselves, how we include all voices in decision-making, and how we create institutions that reflect the country we live in today. It means:
- Centering Indigenous Governance in National Decision-Making – Indigenous Nations must be full partners in shaping Canada’s future, with governance structures that recognize Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and legal traditions.
- Embedding Reconciliation into Public and Private Institutions – Governments, businesses, municipalities, and civil society must implement concrete reconciliation plans that go beyond symbolic gestures and lead to systemic change.
- Ensuring Equity and Inclusion in Economic and Social Policies – Indigenous rights must be respected in resource development, environmental protection, education, and healthcare, ensuring Indigenous communities have the same opportunities and resources as all Canadians.
We need to come together. As Canada grows and we welcome citizens from around the world, some parts of our country bristle with their way of dress or prayer even though no one really questioned that back in the day. We need to make everyone who calls Canada home feel welcome; welcome to live here and welcome to work together to bring us back to the original dream that we believe still lingers in our hearts and souls.
We need to build a Canada—a Canada that acknowledges its true history, respects the reality of its present, and embraces the full potential of its future. A better Canada is one that is truly inclusive, grounded in reconciliation, and committed to re-imagining and modernizing Confederation.
The work of Re-Confederation requires leadership from all sectors of society. It requires individuals to engage in difficult conversations, institutions to rethink outdated structures, and governments to act with boldness and integrity. It means moving beyond symbolic reconciliation into real, measurable change.
Two simple things need to be done. First, everyone who calls Canada home needs to manifest the outcomes they want to achieve on how they can make this country better. And secondly, we need to make room around the table for all this wonderful thinking to be heard. Let’s face it, this country was founded by a small group of men that are often romantically and idealistically referred to as our ‘Fathers of Confederation’.
What’s Your Role in Re-Confederation?
Every Canadian has a role to play in building a better Canada. Whether in government, business, education, or community life, we must all ask: How are we contributing to Re-Confederation? How are we ensuring that the Canada we leave behind is one of justice, inclusion, and unity?
As we have stated in our hallmark [Re]Confederation piece, we need to embrace the Supreme Court’s comment on Confederation in the Nisga’a decision; that the purpose of confederation was to reconcile diversity with unity. What better time to do this than now?
Re-Confederation is more than a vision—it is a call to action for a better, healthier and more complete Canada.
Are you in?