The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, pushing back against recent comments they say downplay the role Indigenous peoples played in the creation of Canada. The remarks were made in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that Canada exists because of the United States. In its letter, the council argues that framing Canada’s history around French and British relations overlooks the foundational role of First Nations, particularly the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk), whose alliances, treaties and military support helped secure the country’s survival. The council says First Nations were central to major conflicts that shaped Canada, including the War of 1812 and several key battles that halted American expansion. It also emphasized that treaties established nation-to-nation relationships based on mutual responsibility and peaceful coexistence, not subservience.