Two Northern Superior Region First Nations sign the first BCRs for Governance Agreement
By Cindy Males
PIC MOBERT FIRST NATION—The 2018 year is ending on a positive note for the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement – Pic Mobert First Nation and Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek have both passed a Band Council Resolution (BCR) in support of the draft agreement, expressing their intentions to run a vote on the agreement.
“We’re very excited about this,” says Pic Mobert Chief Johanna Desmoulin.
Pic Mobert council passed the first governance agreement BCR on December 13.
“This is really important when we talk about where we want to go. We will be able to steer our own destiny.”
Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek Chief and Council passed its BCR on December 17.
“We like that this agreement gives Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek leadership the authority to govern our community by our own laws,” says Chief Melvin Hardy. “My Council and I support the Governance Agreement as we all feel that this agreement recognizes our Inherent Rights.”
The governance agreement is expected to be voted on by Anishinabek First Nations citizens sometime in 2019. The agreement with Canada recognizes the First Nations’ authority to pass their own laws in the areas of elections, citizenship, language and culture as well as the management of their First Nation’s government. An increase in funding is being added to help First Nations carry out that work.
The Anishinabek Nation Government and the First Nations who approve the agreement, will be recognized as having the same legal status as other nations.
Chief Desmoulin says this new government-to-government relationship is a good thing. She says the status quo is not working, adding her First Nation’s needs exceed the funding it currently receives.
She feels current meetings with the federal government are not working.
“It’s always like I just meet the technical people; as a Chief, shouldn’t I be meeting ‘boss-to-boss?’”, notes Chief Desmoulin.
First Nations who sign BCRs in support of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement will receive money to hire a Community Engagement Representative. That person will be a citizen of the community. Their job will be to help spread the word about the governance agreement to citizens in preparation for the ratification vote.
That was a selling point of the agreement for both Pic Mobert and Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek.
“There’s funding attached for someone to keep it going,” says Chief Desmoulin.
“The communications person will give our community its own credibility,” says Chief Hardy.
An additional 16 Anishinabek First Nations have expressed interest in learning more about the governance agreement and have invited the negotiation team in to discuss it greater detail.