Anishinabek Chiefs adopt Geyaabi Waa Ni Zhiwebag, Anishinabek Nation Long-Term Strategic Plan

By Mary Laronde

The Anishinabek Grand Council adopted the Anishinabek Nation Long-Term Strategic Plan (LTSP), Geyaabi Waa Ni Zhiwebag, at its recent Grand Council Assembly held November 3 and 4, via Zoom.

Under the direction of the Chiefs Committee on Governance and the Governance Portfolio, including Grand Council Chief Glen Hare (Gwiingwos) and Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief James Marsden, a virtual Town Hall session was held to review the final report with Anishinabek Leadership on Oct. 16. This meeting was held in preparation for the Grand Council Assembly, where a resolution was sought to adopt the plan and move forward with its implementation.

Central to the implementation of the LTSP is the coordination of negotiations and self-government initiatives to move Anishinabek First Nations forward toward enhanced well-being and self-sufficiency through the revitalization of language and Anishinaabe culture and comprehensive self-government, according to First Nations’ jurisdictional priorities.

The Chiefs Committee on Governance is mandated to develop a new framework for comprehensive self-government negotiations, communications, and consultations that support the Anishinabek First Nations’ jurisdictional priorities.

In a literature review, several past strategic plans and vision documents were integrated into the new strategy document. Consistent with past documentation, the new documentation continues to support the call for unity among Anishinabek First Nations and citizens.

In a survey, participants were asked, “What priority areas should the Anishinabek Nation focus on in the short (1-5 years), medium (5-10 years), and long term (10-25 years), including Culture, Language, Education, Employment, Economy, Health, Housing, Infrastructure, and Justice?”  The two top-ranked short-term priorities are language and culture. The two top medium-term priorities are employment and economy, and the two top long-term priorities are language and culture.

Language and cultural revitalization are fundamental to all priorities, meaning that each priority needs to be guided by tradition and to unfold within the language. At the same time, some effort needs to be made to better incorporate the variety of languages and dialects present across the Anishinabek Nation [i.e., Algonquin, Anishinaabemowin (Odawa/Potawatomi/Ojibwemowin/Oji-Cree), north/south, and Lenape].

In community visits with Chiefs and Councils, they said the Anishinabek Nation should focus on its key strengths: research and advocacy. Service delivery should only be considered in exceptional circumstances when First Nation funding is not available or when economies of scale are necessary. Still, the Anishinabek Nation should sustain its advocacy for greater and more reliable First Nations funding to avoid these situations.

In interviews with Anishinabek Nation staff and directors, the preliminary strategies and targets of the LTSP were found to be consistent with the findings from previous departmental consultation exercises.