April political update from Deputy Grand Council Chief Hare

April 1, 2015
Deputy Grand Council Chief Glen Hare.
Deputy Grand Council Chief Glen Hare.

Aanii,

The schedule has been busy during 2015. There are several areas that I would like to highlight in the monthly Political update.

I have been appointed as the Chair of the Ontario First Nation Housing Steering Committee. The Committee is mandated to protect and maintain Aboriginal and Treaty Rights to housing, provide technical and political advice, recommendations and strategies to the Regional Chief, Chiefs of Ontario Political Confederacy and Chiefs-in-Assembly on all matters pertaining to First Nations housing related issues. I have served on the Committee for the past six years and I look forward to continue working on the Committee as the Chair.

I have attended sessions and had the opportunity to present feedback at sessions related to First Nations Representation on Ontario Juries. The Debwewin Jury Roll Implementation Committee is looking at the jury questionnaire and areas to improve the questionnaire. The most recent meeting occurred on March 3 and I presented several recommendations at this meeting.

I have attended several Community Engagement Sessions in various Anishinabek First Nations during the past month. The Community Engagement Sessions are designed to provide information to Chief and Council on the Anishinabek Nation Education structure.

I have had the opportunity to work with the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council as one of the Portfolio holders for Youth with the Chiefs of Ontario. The Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council is the official youth voice for First Nations in Ontario. Established in 2004 by the Chiefs in Assembly, we are mandated to be a unified voice for First Nations youth on all matters related to youth affairs. It is very satisfying to work with the Youth on their many initiatives.

Grand Council Chief and I attended the funerals of William, Ember, and Myah from Red Rock First Nation with extended families in Rocky Bay on March 28th. They were tragically killed in an automobile accident returning from the Little Native Hockey League tournament.

I have attended the following events recently:

  • Chiefs Committee on Governance meeting
  • Debwewin Jury Roll Implementation Committee meeting
  • Chiefs of Ontario Education Conference
  • Youth & Elders Traditional Knowledge & Water Summit
  • Anishinaabemowin – Teg language conference
  • Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being information session
  • Regional Chiefs meetings
  • Numerous meetings on behalf or with Anishinabek First Nation leadership
  • Restoration of Jurisdiction Community Engagement sessions

Miigwetch,

Deputy Grand Chief Glen Hare