Eshekenijig and Getzidijig Governance Gathering brings Anishinaabe together to learn

By Marci Becking

BAAWAATING TRADITIONAL TERRITORY — “Ngo Dwe Waanigizid Anishinaabe. We are one Anishinaabe Family,” said the Anishinabek Nation Male Bonnet Carrier and keynote speaker on behalf of the Eshekenijig (Youth) Council, Quinn Meawasige of Serpent River First Nation. “I really encourage the youth who are here to look around and think about what Ngo Dwe Waanigizid Anishinaabe really means. Meet each other. Building relationships with each other will go a long way. We are going to be the movers and shakers in our communities and make change in our First Nations.”

Meawasige kicked off the three-day Anishinabek Nation Eshekenijig and Getzidijig Governance Gathering in Sault Ste. Marie from July 30 to August 1. Some 100 participants learned about the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement and the complementary Anishinabek Nation Fiscal Agreement along with the Traditional Governance Clan Teachings from Nmishomis Gordon Waindubence, Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Head Getzit.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare reminded conference participants to remember the unborn, our future.

“It’s important to remember those who are to come, the babies and the youth. They are our future,” said Grand Council Chief Hare. “There is no greater responsibility as leaders than to lead the way and ensure our survival as Anishinaabe. That’s why it is so encouraging for me as your Grand Council Chief to look out and see the faces of our nation builders, our Elders and our youth, coming together to continue in the tradition.”

“The Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement will formally recognize what we have always known: that we have the right to govern ourselves.”

Grand Council Chief explained that the Agreement will start to move our First Nations who ratify it, out of certain sections of the Indian Act.

“Right now, decisions about how we elect our Chiefs and Councils, who our citizens are, and how our First Nation governments operate are made by Canada. This has to change! If we are going to improve the lives of our citizens and preserve our Anishinaabe language and culture, we must make our own decisions in these areas according to our priorities. We should not be dictated to by the funding, policies and programs of Canada. We have lived for generations under those constraints and they have done nothing to move our First Nations and our citizens forward.”

Southeast Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief James R. Marsden also gave an opening statement at the gathering.  He said that it’s an exciting time for us to have youth and Elders together here to listen and learn about the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement.

“Once we ratify, we will be able to have control over our own laws in the areas of Financial Management, Elections, Language & Culture and Citizenship.   As leaders, we need to help the people understand about this Agreement and remove ourselves from a portion of the Indian Act.”

Other keynote speakers were Southeast Youth Representative Lance Copegog from Beausoleil First Nation and Autumn Peltier, the Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.