Dokis First Nation improves governance

DOKIS FIRST NATION– Ten Anishinabek communities have begun the constitution development process under the Restoration of Jurisdiction Constitution Pilot Project since 2005 in an effort to move towards self-government.  Dokis First Nation is one of those communities.

Chief and Council of Dokis First Nation met with Union of Ontario Indians Constitution Development Coordinator Faye Sabourin on February 19 to discuss the relationship between First Nation constitutions and governance.

Chief Denise Restoule said, “we have been working on a variety of policies and protocols that will assist us with improving governance and discussions about constitutions will help us to teach our citizens that a constitution will enhance our policies and protocols.”

Many Anishinabek First Nations are working to improve First Nation governance, which is the process of governing through laws, policies and procedures, and protocols. It is the process for making and implementing decisions on behalf of a First Nation to function effectively.

Dokis First Nation is currently creating a community consultation and dispute resolution protocol and a policy on Chief and Council roles and responsibilities under the Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Institutional Development Project.

Randy Restoule, Economic Development Officer said “the presentation was helpful in identifying the relation of our existing policies and how they fall in line with a First Nation constitution purpose and structure and understanding that a constitution does not replace our existing policies and protocols but actually enhances them and makes them stronger.”

The next step for Dokis First Nation moving forward is to standardize the definitions and format our draft constitution to reflect the newly developed community policies and protocols.

For more information on First Nation Constitution Development, please call Faye Sabourin – Constitution Development Coordinator at 1-877-702-5200.