Anishinabek Nation political update from GCC Madahbee

May 5, 2015

Political Update – May 2015

Aanii,

The Political Office has been very busy during 2015. We have been working diligently on behalf of the Anishinabek Nation. The following is a summary of some of the activities that we have focused on during the past few months.

The Anishinabek Ontario Action Plan has been developed, has been presented to the Premier, and has been updated by the Secretariat. Several meetings are scheduled with Ontario Cabinet Ministers during the month of May. The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs on May 7^th, the Minister of Transportation on May 8^th, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry on May 27^th, and the Minister of Northern Development and Mines on May 28^th. We have met with the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Children and Youth Services, and the Federal Minister of Health during 2015.

The 2015 Grand Council will be held in Curve Lake First Nation on June 2,3,4. The planning for Grand Council is proceeding. 2015 will be an election year for the Anishinabek Nation, Anishinabek Nation regions, and the Chiefs of Ontario.

The Anishinabek Nation has developed draft laws in consultation with Anishinabek First Nations in the areas of matrimonial real property and Anishinabek citizenship. I encourage the Anishinabek First Nations to review these draft laws and consider adopting these laws in consultation with your community. We are under constant threat of federal legislation in areas where we have not developed our own laws. Implementation of our own laws is a significant amount of work; however, it is worth the effort. Laws developed and implemented by our communities will always yield better results than laws made in Ottawa.

The Anishinabek Nation hosted a Child Well-Being information session on March 24, 25 2015. The draft Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law was presented and reviewed at this information session.

I am pleased to report that Anishinabek First Nations have been ratifying their community constitutions. I recently attended the celebration of the constitution ratification at Mississauga #8 First Nation. Mississauga # 8 is the third Anishinabek First Nation to ratify their constitution, while several other First Nations are actively working on their constitutions. The main benefit of a community constitution is that it will provide a First Nation the ability to make their own laws instead of relying on laws imposed by other governments. First Nation citizens have the authority to deal with the issues that they deem necessary and prioritize those issues.

The Anishinabek Nation has been engaged in education self-government negotiations with Canada for over 20 years to secure Canada’s recognition of First Nation jurisdiction. This year marks the completion of the negotiations with Canada and the start of the First Nation decision-making process on those negotiated arrangements. We are pleased to report that ten Anishinabek First Nations have passed Band Council Resolutions approving the initialling of the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement.

I hold the Health Portfolio for the Chiefs of Ontario and I have actively participated in many important meeting and events in this position. This position provides me with an opportunity to successfully advocate for many important health issues on behalf of Anishinabek and Ontario First Nations. I have met with Health Minister Rona Ambrose recently to discuss health issues.

The Political Confederacy has been developing a work plan to develop a new relationship with the government of Ontario as well as develop a comprehensive communications strategy for priority issues. We have been extensively involved in developing this work plan. We met with the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs on April 30, 2015 to further discuss the plan mandated by Ontario Chiefs. The plan will be further developed over the next few months.

Deputy Grand Chief and I enjoy travelling to Anishinabek communities. We have visited all of our communities during the last year. If you would like to schedule us for events in your community please contact Lynn Bowerman, Executive Liaison, who manages our travel schedule. I look forward to attending the Northern Superior Chiefs meeting in Pic River First Nation on May 12,13.

I have attended the following events recently:

Chiefs Committee on Governance meeting
Political Confederacy meetings
Mississauga # 8 First Nation constitution ratification celebration
Leadership Council meeting
Great Spirit Circle Aboriginal Business Conference
Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being information session
Meeting with the Law Society of Upper Canada Treasurer
Chiefs Committee on Health meetings
Federal Minister of Health
Meetings with the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
Numerous meetings on behalf or with Anishinabek First Nation leadership

Miigwetch,

Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee