Anishinabek Nation Virtual Election Candidate Information, Process, and Key Dates

May 6, 2021

Anishinabek Nation Virtual Election Candidate Information

Planning for the virtual Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Assembly is well underway! The assembly will take place online, hosted by the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, June 1 to 3, 2021. The election of the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief and Regional Deputy Grand Council Chiefs will take place on Day 2 of the Assembly. Nominations are to take place on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 1, 2021. On the morning of June 2, 2021, Leadership will conduct the elections that, while virtual, will uphold the spirit, intent and integrity of our traditional stand-up election process.

Anishinabek Nation Head Getzit Gordon Waindubence, with support from his planning team, will conduct the virtual stand-up election process on June 2, 2021, along with the ceremonial customs that tie into this event.

Pursuant to the Resolution that was passed on February 14, 2018, at the “Ka mnaadendanaa gaabi zhiwebag miinwaa nango magwaa ezhwebag, Miinwa geyaabi waa ni zhiwebag – Respecting the Past, Present and Future” Conference in Sault Ste. Marie, the election will appoint the Grand Council Chief and four (4) Regional Deputy Grand Council Chiefs. More detailed information with respect to the Grand Council Assembly including the election and ceremonial activities will be provided in the coming weeks.

Grand Council Chief and a Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief for each of the four (4) Regions will all have a term of three (3) years. Current leadership and citizens who are interested in candidacy should consider the criteria below.

To be eligible for the position of Grand Council Chief, a Candidate must:

  • Be an Anishinabek from a First Nation situated in Ontario (whether or not said First Nation is a member of the Corporation);
  • Be of the full age of 18 and over; and
  • Be nominated by a Chief of a member First Nation of the Corporation.

To be eligible for the position of Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief, a Candidate must:

  • Be an Anishinabek from a First Nation situated in their respective region (whether or not said First Nation is a member of the Corporation);
  • Be of the full age of 18 and over; and
  • Be nominated by a Chief of a member First Nation of the Corporation from the respective region.

The Grand Council Chief and Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief nominees need not be a current elected Chief or Councilor of a First Nation. It is up to the Region to choose who they would like to do the Regional work on their behalf through this election process.

During nominations on Day 1 of the Assembly, for both the Grand Council Chief and the Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief positions, nominators will have five (5) minutes to introduce their Candidate. Nominees will have the opportunity to address leadership prior to the vote on June 2, 2021.

Each Region will elect their Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief in the same fashion as the Grand Council Chief election.

If you have any questions or would like to request further information, please contact Gary Dokis, at garydokis@netspectrum.ca

Anishinabek Nation Virtual Election Process & Key Dates

The Virtual Grand Council Assembly this summer, June 1 to 3, 2021 will prove to be an exciting event as the Chiefs-in-Assembly will elect their Grand Council Chief and four (4) Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief positions for the 2021-2024 term.

Due to the current pandemic, and our inability to gather, Anishinabek Nation Head Getzit Gordon Waindubence will conduct an online election that will honour the spirit, intent and integrity of our established traditional stand-up election process.

As with our customary elections, Getzit Waindubence has brought his team together to assist with planning, and they include the following:

  • Gary Dokis, Oshkabewis to Getzit Waindubence (Announce election rules/protocols and will assist Getzit Waindubence with process)
  • Anishinabek Kwe-Wuk Advisory Council Members
  • Anishinabek Nation Getzidjig Advisory Council
  • Anishinabek Nation Staff
    • Allan Dokis, Director of Policy & Communications
    • Sarah Gammon, HR Specialist
    • Rhonda Couchie, Special Projects Officer
    • Alicia McLeod, Senior Coordinator
    • Sarah St. Louis, Executive Services Coordinator

The 2021 election process is scheduled as indicated below:

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

  • Chiefs’ Circle/Nominations (conducted after UOI Corporate Business – morning) Nominations
  • Candidates will be nominated during an online Chiefs circle.
  • Oshkabewis will explain the nomination and election process.
  • Getzit Gordon Waindubence will conduct a Pipe Ceremony and begin the circle.
  • Nominations will be declared open for each Region individually. The Grand Council Chief nominations will occur after the Regional nominations
  • Regional nominations will occur first.
    • Lake Huron
    • Northern Superior
    • Southeast
    • Southwest
  • Grand Council Chief nominations.
  • Nominator may offer tobacco in advance to their nominees.
  • Each Nominator for Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief will have five (5) minutes to introduce their Nominee when they make the nomination.
  • Nominees will have time to address Leadership on Day 2
  • Only Chiefs from each Region may nominate a Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief in their respective Region.
  • The Nominee can be seconded by any of the Chiefs of the Region that is currently holding nominations. The seconder will have five (5) minutes to speak about their Candidate.
  • Four (4) motions will be called to declare the nominations closed for each Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief position.
  • Each Nominator for Grand Council Chief will have five (5) minutes to introduce their Nominee when they make the nomination.
  • Nominees will have time to address Leadership on Day 2
  • The Nominee can be seconded by any of the Chiefs or designated voting delegates in the circle. The seconder will have five (5) minutes to speak about their Candidate.
  • A motion will be called to declare the nominations closed for Grand Council Chief.
  • A Sweat Lodge will be conducted for the Nominees by Getzit Waindubence.

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Elections

  • Sunrise Ceremony: Getzit will conduct a Sunrise Ceremony for the Candidates.
  • Each Nominee for Regional Deputy Grand Council Chiefs and Grand Council Chief will have 10 minutes to address the Assembly. The Drum will keep time. The Nominees will speak by order of nomination, first in each Region for the Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Nominees, then the Grand Council Chief Nominees.
  • Break
  • Election for the Regional Deputy Grand Council Chiefs will be conducted:
    • a. Lake Huron
    • b. Northern Superior
    • c. Southeast
    • d. Southwest
  • Candidates will be placed into a Zoom breakout room.
  • Chiefs/Proxies will state their voting intentions.
  • The Chiefs/Proxies voting intentions will be recorded.
  • The Candidates will be returned to the main Zoom meeting.
  • The results for each ballot will be reported.
  • The Candidate with the least number of Chiefs/Proxies will be withdrawn and will have two (2) minutes to thank their supporters.
    • 2nd ballot.
  • This process will continue until one Candidate has the majority of the Chiefs/Proxies supporting them.
  • Announce the successful Candidate. The runner-up(s) will be allowed two (2) minutes to thank their supporters.
  • Election for the Grand Council Chief will be conducted.
  • The Candidates will be placed into a Zoom breakout room.
  • Chiefs/Proxies will state their voting intentions online.
  • The Chiefs/Proxies voting intentions will be recorded.
  • The Candidates will be returned to the main Zoom meeting.
  • The results for each ballot will be reported.
  • The Candidate with the least number of Chiefs/Proxies will be withdrawn and will have two (2) minutes to thank their supporters.
    • 2nd ballot.
  • This process will continue until one Candidate has the majority of the Chiefs/Proxies supporting them.
  • Only Chiefs/Delegates from the Region can participate in their respective regional selection.
  • Pipe and Blanket Ceremonies will be conducted with Grand Council Chief and Regional Deputy Grand Council Chiefs at a future date.
  • The Grand Council Chief and Regional Deputy Grand Council Chiefs will address the Assembly.
  • The Drum will sing a Unity Song to end the Election process.
  • A motion will be passed to accept the election results.

NOTES:

  • Delegates that are representing their First Nation who are not the Chief their proxy letter to identify that they are the appointed delegate.
  • Nominators should present tobacco in advance to their Nominee.

The Anishinabek Nation extends its best wishes to all candidates.