Toby Desnomie (Kihei Ogihtcita Okimaw) with Anne Tennier (President and CEO of CCOHS) shake hands at a MOU signing in December 2025. (Image Credit: COIW)

By NC Raine

Confederation of Indigenous Workers

New Coalition Brings Vital Support for Indigenous Workers

Feb 23, 2026 | 11:05 AM

An Indigenous-led organization for Indigenous workers is strengthening workplace safety for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

A coalition of Indigenous-led organizations announced in January a unified initiative to advance occupational health, research, safety, and compensation rights for Indigenous workers across Canada.

“The impact it will have is unprecedented in First Nations history, that’s how big of an impact it is,” Grand Chief Toby Desnomie told Eagle Feather News.

“There’s been a gap there for 150 years. If you don’t have safety as a pillar to your nation, you don’t have a nation,” he said.

Desnomie is the CEO of the Indigenous Centre of Occupational Health and Public Safety (ICOHPS) and the newly-appointed Grand Chief of the Confederation of Indigenous Workers (COIW) – a coalition of three organizations working together to protect Indigenous workers.

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“Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is not federally funded. That’s a big deal because every municipality, every province, every federal district have OHS except for First Nations or Indigenous people. That’s a big gap in the system of safety,” said Desnomie.

To read the full story, visit eaglefeathernews.com