A new prime minister and a much leaner cabinet were sworn into office Friday, but the ministers who work with Indigenous communities remain the same. 

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu remain in their positions. Anandasangaree is now also justice minister and attorney general.

Indigenous groups from across the country congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney, but are stressing the need to work together to address funding and services gaps, and to address the threat of the Trump administration.

“Our first priority is working with Prime Minister Carney to ensure that First Nations are included in Team Canada and in the battle against this new era of United States colonialism,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak.

In a statement, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami said the government must work with Inuit to protect the North. 

“We know that a strong and secure Canada is one where Inuit thrive and where policy is driven by the pursuit of equity,” the statement read. 

“Inuit look forward to working with Prime Minister Carney and his team to advance shared Inuit-Crown priorities and confront all the challenges before us.” 

While congratulations for the new prime minister rolled in, the communities of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) said they were hoping to see a change at Indigenous Services Canada.

“Unfortunately the previous government left a legacy of neglect, abandonment, of a mandate that was given to them, through the legal processes of Canada,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee at a news conference in Winnipeg on Friday.

“We at MKO have asked for [Hajdu’s] removal because we had no confidence in her leadership. She has left a broken and damaged Jordan’s Principle … She has done a lot of damage to our children, and we are here to be their voices.” 

With an election expected soon, Indigenous leaders are looking to the next government to continue the work started by the previous government. 

“The AFN is ready to work with Prime Minister Carney’s government to complete this essential work,” said Woodhouse Nepinak. 

That work, she said, includes implementing the calls from both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

“We also urge Prime Minister Carney to fully commit to long-term funding for clean drinking water and to reaffirm his commitment to closing the infrastructure gap,” said Woodhouse Nepinak. 

There are 33 long-term drinking water advisories still in place, which is an issue Woodhouse Nepinak said she’ll bring up when she meets with the prime minister for the first time next week. 

MKO said it wants to see changes to how Jordan’s Principle is run, saying that the previous government didn’t fulfil its commitments. 

“For too long, egregious mismanagement at the federal and regional levels have left thousands of First Nations children without the services and resources they need,” said Settee in a news release. 

“As we enter this new chapter, MKO looks forward to working with the government in the spirit and intent of treaty and reconciliation.” 

The Métis Nation Council wants to see the government remain committed to working with the nation to improve health-care access, support Métis communities in emergency preparedness, and to tackle the housing crisis.

President Victoria Pruden said she also wants to see the government continue its commitment to the Metis Nation’s work on self-determination. 

“With an election on the horizon, we look forward to keeping Métis Nation priorities and reconciliation at the forefront, further advancing our nation-to-nation relationship with the Government of Canada,” said Pruden.