Deadline sees encouraging numbers of Band Council Resolutions

By Kirk Titmuss

ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE – An important deadline for the 40 Anishinabek First Nations has passed.  Oct. 18 was the deadline to submit a Band Council Resolution (BCR) for an Anishinabek First Nation to take part in the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement vote from Feb. 1-29, 2020. For months, negotiators for the Restoration of Jurisdiction (RoJ) department at the Anishinabek Nation had been visiting First Nations, explaining the details of the Governance Agreement and how the Anishinabek Nation–Canada deal will benefit their people both culturally and fiscally.

The deal, 25 years in the making, officially identifies Canada’s recognition of the Anishinabek Nation’s inherent right to self-governance. The Agreement also takes First Nations who ratify, out from under the patriarchal Indian Act in four law-making categories: language and culture, citizenship, leadership selection, and financial management.

The 26 First Nations that confirmed by the deadline will vote on the Agreement. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare says that he is encouraged by the number of BCRs that have come in.

“I’m excited! We’ve come a long way because we were stuck at six for a long time. And now it’s 26! That’s amazing. We’re well over the halfway mark.”

Despite the expired deadline, Hare says First Nations that haven’t submitted a BCR can still do so to participate in the Agreement’s ratification vote. First Nation ratification officers will need to be hired in the communities. Training is slated for mid-November.

Hare strongly encourages First Nations to get on board, especially in light of the Trudeau government’s federal election victory October 21. He says the Liberal Party’s win helps clear any concerns of a change in power affecting the Governance Agreement vote process.

“That just boosts me up because of the election — the Liberals are still in power. We’ve got people who we’ve been working with and they’re still with us. A minority’s a minority but that doesn’t mean anybody’s out. So now we’ve just got to work together and let’s move on. I had a call from some communities today so I hope they invite us down if they don’t have their BCRs on their way yet.”

Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement champion, Patrick Madahbee, is also very pleased with the number of filed BCRs.

“We’ve reached a terrific milestone of getting more than half of the Anishinabek Nations on board already with the vision to move forward on our governance,” says Madahbee.

Madahbee is one of several RoJ representatives explaining the Agreement’s benefits to citizens at many of the information sessions that have occurred in Anishinabek Nation communities across the province since June. He praises those communities that have already passed their BCRs.

“I consider them to be bold leaders in those communities that are going to give their people a chance to exercise their vote on something that’s going to benefit them and their children for future generations. Once people see that they’re going to be empowered and that they’re looking for change in how they do business, I think they get pretty excited about it.”

He says the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement represents a huge step forward to ensuring a more prosperous future for Anishinabek Nation citizens and needs to be strongly supported and implemented.

“We have to take advantage of this opportunity. These opportunities don’t come along every day. We need to move the yardsticks on how we do business in our communities,” added Madahbee

Public information sessions for on and off-reserve citizens continue in the Anishinabek Nation’s four regions. Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement leaders, including Grand Council Chief Glen Hare, hope those who attend the sessions come away with a greater understanding of the Agreement, which in turn will motivate them to vote yes.

“The momentum’s here. We didn’t lose any momentum. I really encourage First Nation communities, there’s still time to get on board with the Governance Agreement.”