Thursday marks the start of another Couchiching Conference at Geneva Park, near Orillia.

This year's event will bring together Canada’s foremost thinkers, leaders and activists in Aboriginal issues for the annual Summer Conference.

The conference, marks the first time in its 82-year history the Institute has focused on Aboriginal issues.

Leon Thompson is the co chair of the conference and he says it's about time people started talking about some of the issues facing Aboriginal people in Canada.

He says reforming  the relationship between Canada and Aboriginal peoples is urgent – and is every Canadian’s business – Indigenous or not.

Thompson says its vital that a different kind of conversation on Aboriginal Canada relations move forward.

Some of the people taking part in this years event include Phil Fontaine, Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
Shawn Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, The Honourable James Bartleman, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and author and The Right Honourable Paul Martin, former Prime Minister and founder of the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative.

The Couchiching Conference will take place from Thursday to Sunday.