Anishinabek Nation update: jurisdiction, treaties, education and child welfare

By Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee

Over the past few months the Anishinabek Nation political office has been busy with a number of priorities. While we continue with our daily duties, the majority of our activities have centered around jurisdiction, treaties, education and child welfare.

In the area of treaties, Lake Huron Regional Chief Day has been instrumental in leading the discussion through resolutions and meetings. Recently, First Nation leadership was invited to participate in round table discussions with various cabinet ministers from the Government of Ontario. From an Anishinabek perspective we continued to focus on the Anishinabek Action Plan that includes education, child welfare, economies and jurisdiction.

Ontario has promoted the idea that they are in partnership with First Nations and we have sought to define what their intention is around the idea of a “partnership”. At the basis of any partnership with First Nations is a treaty relationship, and we have consistently advocated for treaty implementation. Jurisdiction also continues to be a contentious issue as both levels of government (federal and provincial) have made significant moves to assert their jurisdiction over tobacco.

Throughout the months of September and October the Anishinabek Nation has advocated on behalf of Anishinabek First Nations in the area of jurisdiction. We submitted our opposition on Bill C-10 (contraband tobacco) in a federal senate committee hearing, and also made a verbal presentation in the same hearing. At the Ontario level we are on record to opposing Ontario’s Raw Leaf Tobacco policies based on Anishinabek jurisdiction.

In Child Welfare we continue to participate in discussions for an Ontario-wide change in policy and funding, but at the same time we are also advancing the Anishinabek Child Welfare law.

I wish you and your family a safe holiday season and all the best in 2015.