FIRST READING: As First Nations acquire new land, political control, Beijing appears to take notice

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNP Comment FIRST READING: As First Nations acquire new land, political control, Beijing appears to take notice Chinese embassy holds summit in Vancouver seeking closer links with First Nations Author of the article: By Tristin Hopper Published Sep 15, 2026 4 minute read Join the conversation Photo from the China-Canada Economic and Trade Cooperation Roundtable, held in Vancouver on Sept. 3. PHOTO BY EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN CANADA Article content First Reading is a Canadian politics newsletter curated by the National Post’s own Tristin Hopper. To get an early version sent directly to your inbox, sign up here. Article content TOP STORY Article content RECOMMENDED VIDEOS Article content With B.C. still embroiled in controversy regarding the large-scale transfer of land and political control to First Nations, the Chinese embassy touted the completion of a summit to strengthen ties between Beijing and Indigenous groups. Article content Article content Convened on Sept. 3 in Vancouver, the “economic roundtable” included Ernie Daniels, president and CEO of the First Nations Finance Authority. Article content Channel Israel Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content In a statement, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Wang Di praised links with First Nations communities and expressed his hope that they would “lay an even more solid foundation for the China—Canada new strategic partnership.” Article content “The roundtable meeting discussed the future direction of China-Canada economic and trade cooperation, including cooperation on green transition, indigenous finance and community development,” read a summary by the embassy. Article content Also in attendance were former federal finance minister Bill Morneau and B.C. senator Yuen Pau Woo. Article content Summits between PRC officials and First Nations representatives have happened before. The Canada China Business Council, for one, has organized three all-Indigenous trade missions to Beijing, the most recent in 2024. Article content But the Sept. 3 roundtable is the Beijing-sanctioned event convened in the…