Anishinabek leaders gather for knowledge-sharing and planning ahead of Governance Vote

BAAWAATING TRADITIONAL TERRITORY (SAULT STE.MARIE, ON), January 14, 2020 –  Anishinabek Nation Chiefs gather at the Restoring our Rightful Jurisdiction – Anishinabek Nation Governance Summit in Sault Ste. Marie to deliberate on the eventual establishment of the Anishinabek Nation Government, in anticipation of a successful ratification of the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement with Canada. Anishinabek Nation citizens are scheduled to vote on the proposed Governance Agreement from February 1 to 29, 2020.

The Government of Canada will formally recognize the First Nations that ratify the proposed Governance Agreement as governments and their law-making powers and authority over how their First Nations are governed. Anishinabek First Nations that ratify the proposed Governance Agreement will be removed from provisions of the Indian Act that deal with governance such as leadership selection and citizenship, and enact laws in language and culture, and operations and management of government.

The objective of the three-day summit is to ensure that the First Nations’ leaders understand the proposed Governance Agreement and the upcoming Vote, as well as to discuss the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement Transition Plan.  The First Nations’ leaders will begin to design their own Anishinabek Nation Government, including governance, institutions of government, and law-making procedures.

“The vision of the past Leadership is here now.  We are taking the steps to start creating what they had envisioned,” states Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare. “This is only the beginning of the number of steps to improve the quality of life for the Anishinabek.”

This summit comes after a trip in November by a delegation from the Anishinabek Nation to Window Rock, Arizona, capital city of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation has been exercising their self-governance since the 1970s. It is made up of 110 chapters and represents more than 200,000 citizens. Anishinabek leaders and negotiators believe that the two nations have much in common. The Honorable Jamie Henio, Council Delegate, Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee, the 24th Navajo Nation Council, and EJ John, policy analyst of the Office of Navajo Government Development, shared the Navajo’s journey to self-governance with Anishinabek leadership.

At least two more summits are planned as part of the Transition Plan and to develop the collective Anishinabek Nation Government coming into effect April 1, 2021.