A tribal council is an association of First Nations bands in Canada, generally along regional, ethnic or linguistic lines.

An Indian band, usually consisting of one main community, is the fundamental unit of government for First Nations in Canada. Bands may unite to form a tribal council, but they need not do so. Bands that do not belong to a tribal council are said to be independent. Bands may and do withdraw from tribal councils. Furthermore, the authority that bands delegate to their tribal council varies, with some tribal councils serving as a strong, central organization while others are granted limited power by their members.

Nunavut and Newfoundland and Labrador do not have any tribal councils.

Tribal councils in Canada

Alberta

, Alberta has ten tribal councils:

  • Athabasca Tribal Council — Athabasca Chipewyan, Chipewyan Prairie, Fort McKay, and Fort McMurray #468
  • Blackfoot Confederacy — Blood (aka Kainai), Piikani, and Siksika
  • Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council — Loon River Cree, Lubicon Lake, Peerless Trout, Whitefish Lake, and Woodland Cree
  • Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council — Driftpile Cree, Kapawe'no, Sawridge, Sucker Creek, and Swan River
  • Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council — Ermineskin Tribe, Louis Bull, Montana, and Samson
  • North Peace Tribal Council — Beaver, Dene Tha', Little Red River Cree, and Tallcree Tribal Government
  • Stoney-Nakoda - Tsuut'ina Tribal Council — Chiniki and Tsuut'ina Nation
  • Tribal Chiefs Ventures — Beaver Lake Cree, Cold Lake, Frog Lake, Heart Lake, and Kehewin Cree
  • Western Cree Tribal Council — Duncan's, Horse Lake, and Sturgeon Lake Cree
  • Yellowhead Tribal Council — Alexander, Alexis Nakota Sioux, O'Chiese, and Sunchild

British Columbia

  • Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (aka Cariboo Tribal Council)
  • Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Council
  • Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
  • Kaska Tribal Council
  • Kwakiutl District Council
  • Lillooet Tribal Council (aka St'at'imc Nation, but does not include all St'at'imc)
  • Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council (formerly In-SHUCK-ch) — Douglas, Lil'wat, N'Quatqua, Samahquam, and Skatin
  • Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council — Birdtail Sioux, Dakota Tipi, Long Plain, Roseau River Anishnabe, Sandy Bay Ojibway, Swan Lake, and Waywayseecappo
  • Interlake Reserves Tribal Council — Dauphin River, Kinonjeoshtegon, Lake Manitoba, Little Saskatchewan, Peguis, and Pinaymootang
  • Island Lake Tribal Council — Garden Hill, Red Sucker, St. Theresa Point, and Wasagamack
  • Keewatin Tribal Council — Barren Lands, Bunibonibee Cree, Fox Lake Cree, God's Lake, Manto Sipi Cree, Northlands Denesuline, Sayisi Dene, Shamattawa, Tataskweyak Cree, War Lake, and York Factory
  • Southeast Resource Development Council — Berens River, Black River, Bloodvein, Brokenhead, Hollow Water, Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi, and Poplar River (and formerly Buffalo Point)
  • Swampy Cree Tribal Council — Chemawawin Cree, Mathias Colomb, Misipawistik Cree, Mosakahiken Cree, Opaskwayak Cree, Sapotaweyak Cree, and Wuskwi Sipihk
  • West Region Tribal Council — Ebb and Flow, Gambler, Keeseekoowenin, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi, Pine Creek, Rolling River, Skownan, and Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve

Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin (MKO), though not a tribal council, represents citizens of 26 First Nations who are signatories to Treaties 4, 5, 6, and 10.

Northwest Territories

, the Northwest Territories has five tribal councils:

New Brunswick

  • Mawiw Council — Elsipogtog, Esgenoopetitj, and Tobique
  • North Shore Micmac District Council — Buctouche MicMac, Eel Ground, Eel River Bar, Fort Folly, Indian Island, Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq Nation, and Pabineau
  • Sickadomec First Nation Inc.
  • Wolastoqey Tribal Council — Kingsclear, Madawaska Maliseet, Oromocto, St. Mary's
  • The New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council (NBAPC), though not a tribal council, represents 28,260 status and non-status Aboriginal People in New Brunswick.

Nova Scotia

  • Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq — Acadia, Annapolis Valley, Bear River, Glooscap, Millbrook, Paqꞌtnkek, Pictou Landing, and Sipekneꞌkatik
  • Union of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq — Eskasoni, Membertou, Potlotek, Wagmatcook, and We'koqma'q

Prince Edward Island

  • Epekwitk Assembly of Councils — Abegweit and Lennox Island
  • Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island
  • Pekwitk Assembly of Councils

Ontario

, Ontario has sixteen tribal councils:

  • Matawa First Nations Management
  • Mushkegowuk Council
  • Nokiiwin Tribal Council
  • Ogemawahj Tribal Council
  • Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services
  • Shibogama First Nations Council
  • Southern First Nation Secretariat
  • United Chiefs & Councils of Mnidoo Mnising
  • Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations
  • Wabun Tribal Council
  • Windigo First Nations Council

Quebec

, Quebec has seven tribal councils (First Nations listed in English):