Political Quarterly Update: Fall

It is harvest season for many of our Anishinabek members and as Mother Earth shows us her fall colours, we are reminded of all the work that is needed to prepare for the winter season.

Politically, the Executive Council members have been very busy in their respective region. The focus for the Political Office has been to meet with each of the regions to listen to their priorities and the final meeting is with the Northern Superior Region. The priorities from these regional meetings will be put into a final report, which will be presented to the Leadership Council. Once approved, these priority areas will be the basis of the priorities that the Anishinabek Nation will focus on for the next few years and will be incorporated within our Doodem governance structure and departments.

Grand Council Chief Debassige and Deputy Grand Council Chief Plain attended many events throughout the Nation, which included a visit to the Jesuit Archives in Montreal to explore the records where our Elders/Survivors had an opportunity to view original documents. Another was standing in solidarity with Red Rock Indian Band (RRIB) in a protest held in October to advocate for the Ancestors unearthed by Parks Canada in its traditional territory and to be returned and laid to rest in our customary way, and for Parks Canada to be held accountable for the disruption of the site and the complete disregard for the sanctity of the burials.

Parks Canada must be held accountable for ignoring credible reports that recognize the cultural significance along the Nipigon Marina Waterfront. Trust has been broken between the First Nation and Parks Canada and the Minister of the Environment furthered by the recent inaccurate statements produced by Parks Canada that deflect any responsibility and accountability to themselves.

The 2nd Annual Anishinabek Nation Economic Development Opportunities (ANEDO) Forum was another great event that leadership attended. ANEDO was designed to be a premier gathering for economic development professionals, a place where connections are made, ideas take root, and excitement about the role of Economic Development Officers is renewed. It is a space where business owners, economic developers, and government and industry representatives come together to exchange best practices, learn about industry trends, and build key relationships across all sectors.

The event brought together representatives from our 39 member First Nations – Chiefs, Economic Development Officers, entrepreneurs, business owners, and youth – and our partners from government and industry. Together, they shared stories, built connections, and set the stage for deeper collaborations that will benefit all our First Nations, as well as the larger regional economies.

The Anishinabek Nation Fall Assembly was very well-attended in the Lake Superior Region, held in Thunder Bay at the Valhalla Inn, on October 29-30, 2024. Day one produced many resolutions to guide some of the work of the Anishinabek Nation. On day two, our team technicians provided excellent presentations in support of the resolutions the previous day, and the updates provided were excellently done and informative. The atmosphere was very uplifting and our Nation will build upon the new vision of empowerment for our communities.

The Leadership would like to extend their appreciation for all the hard work that our Anishinabek Nation teams/staff have put into making the Fall Assembly a success. Our interim Chief Executive Officer Allan Dokis received many positive messages for the work that the staff do in support of our Leadership in their work moving the Anishinabek Nation forward and no Assembly can happen without meeting logistic challenges. Miigwech to our team!

Over the summer, we celebrated many achievements and successes within our communities, and as we transition into this new season, we will ensure the priorities and mandates are achieved in collaboration with all involved in making this our priority for our Nation. We are honoured to represent the Leadership and comm

unities of Anishinabek Nation, and we will continue to work everyday on your behalf.

In honour of Anishinabek Veterans Day, on November 8, 2024, we recognized a 2-minute moment of silence at 11:00 am at the Anishinabek Nation Head Office and our Satellite Offices.  On November 11, 2024, we remembered all veterans on this Remembrance Day and we honour them by continuing to acknowledge the sacrifices they made on our behalf.

We understand that community work never stops, and some members of the Executive Council had the opportunity to visit communities to both support work and celebrate momentous achievements.

Scheduled meetings and events attended by Grand Council Chief Debassige and Deputy Grand Council Chief Plain this quarter include:

Upcoming Events and Meetings:

• The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly: December 3-5, 2024, Toronto

• Meeting Curve Lake Chief and Council: December 10, 2024
• Anishinabek Nation-Ontario Mining Joint Advisory Council: December 10, 2024, Chippewas of Rama First Nation