WHITEHORSE, YK—First Nations are in a “perpetual state of crisis” and conditions will not improve if Canada’s First Nations splinter into factions, National Chief Shawn Atleo told the Assembly of First Nations’ annual meeting in Whitehorse in July.

More than 200 chiefs gathered in Yukon for the meeting.

AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo is defending the AFN’s relevance, as a splinter group attempts to form in the Prairies. Some chiefs from Alberta and Saskatchewan have united under a banner as Treaty 7 First Nations. During the same week they held their own meeting in Onion Lake,...