Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations announced its new name the day after the 2026 Honouring Our Treaty Gathering and Annual General Meeting wrapped up on July 30 on Woodland Cree First Nation territory. A July 31 news release from Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations states that the modified name better “reflects and reinforces the sovereignty held by every First Nation throughout Treaty No. The Yellowknife-based Dene Nation signed the MOU with Treaty 8, which concerns the Mackenzie River Basin, on July 29, the gathering’s second day. The Dene Nation represents about two dozen ethnically Dene First Nations, mostly in the Northwest Territories, but Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Dene Tha’ First Nation are members of both Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations and Dene Nation. “Our partnership with the Dene Nation strengthens our collective voice and our shared responsibility to defend the lands and waters that sustain our people.”