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Anishinabek ratify constitution; step to self-government

Garden River FN, March 4 - The Anishinabek Nation has a constitution, an important step on the journey to creating its own government structure.

"Every nation in the world has its own constitution and Anishinabek citizens deserve the same," said Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. "This is an important milestone on the path to restoring our jurisdiction to govern our own affairs."

Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin received 78% support from voting delegates representing 30 of the Nation's 39 communities. The ratification threshold had been established at 70% in advance of the three-day convention held in the territory of the Ojibways of Garden River.

The Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin is a written constitution based on Anishinaabe world-view and traditions. It re-affirms Anishinabek nationhood and establishes a modern Anishinabek Government as a landmark step toward implementing inherent rights and jurisdictions and breaking free of Canada's oppressive Indian Act regime.

Delegates discussed and debated the preamble and 11 articles of the draft document which came out of the first constitutional conference in Sault Ste. Marie in March, 2010.

In addition to the 30 Chiefs and appointed delegates who voted on behalf of their First Nations, more than 100 Anishinabek citizens observed the proceedings as non-voting participants. Though only appointed delegates of each First Nation had authority to vote on the constitution, all participants had the opportunity to speak from the floor.

The constitution's articles include the Declaration of the Anishinabek Nation, establishment of Anishinaabemowin as the nation's official language, principles of Anishinabek Nation government structure, and legislative powers.

The Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin will be brought forward for proclamation at the Grand Council Assembly in Alderville First Nation this coming June.

The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 39 member communities across Ontario, representing approximately 55,000 people. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

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BACKGROUNDER - ANISHIINAABE CHI-NAAKNIGEWIN (Anishinabek Nation Constitution)

The Anishinabek have always had a constitution. It is part of our culture and heritage and it is set out in the way we do things. The principles by which we live our lives, the Dodemaag System (system of governance), our systems of justice and healing, and our understanding of what's right, all have a place in our Anishinabek Nation Constitution.

The establishment of the Anishinabek Nation Constitution was mandated in 2001, by the Grand Council of Chiefs, and it has been in development ever since. Various forms of research and consultation have been conducted throughout the time, leading up to ratification.

1998-2000
1998 Community Facilitators consulted with more than 4500 Anishinabek (on and off-reserve) to receive feedback and input on the development of the constitution. Key recommendations included:

• The need to have youth, women and elder voices in government; and

• The incorporation of language, traditions, and the Clan System of Government.

1999 consultations included more than 3,300 citizens who provided information on which government model should be used in the Anishinabek Nation Constitution. The results indicated that people supported a Nation and Traditional Model combination. This model allows for two levels of government: Anishinabek Nation Government and First Nation Government. It also incorporates First Nations autonomy, as the First Nations create and mandate the Anishinabek Nation Government.

2001
Anishinabek Grand Council Resolution #2001/23 mandated that the Traditional and Nation models be further developed through continued consultations and that research be conducted to provide information on the formal Grand Council structure, scope, and cost of a proposed Model of Governance for the Anishinabek Nation.

2002
An Anishinabek Youth and Elders Conference was held in June 2002 and over 100 citizens took part. Participants gave feedback and input on the development of the constitution and the key recommendations were as follows:

• Restore Traditional aspect of Governance;
• Role of Elders, Women and Youth must be included in Central Government;
• Roles are to be clearly defined;
• Youth and Elders continue to work together and learn from each other.

2002
A Structural Review Committee was mandated by Grand Council (Resolution 2001/34) to review the structure of the Anishinabek Nation Government, the authorities it would be delegated, the relationships and accountability, and the process of public education.

The Chiefs Committee on Governance directed that the Constitution Development Project be initiated. As a result, the Anishinabek Nation Constitution Development Committee, a sub-committee of the Chiefs Committee on Governance, was formed.

2004-2006
The Constitution Development Project was initiated in 2004, with the goal of assisting individual First Nations with the development of their individual community constitutions.

The Anishinabek Nation Constitution Development Committee continued to design the structure of the central government and continued their review of the articles of the constitution.

2007
The Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) With Respect to Governance provided that Anishinabek First Nations will develop and ratify a Nation and individual constitutions. Twenty-nine First Nations provided their support for the Governance AIP through Band Council Resolutions. It was signed by Grand Council Chief John Beaucage and Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice on February 16, 2007. To this extent, the negotiations with Canada complement and support the Anishinabek rights-based agenda to establish Anishinabek Government.
It was determined that the constitution of the Anishinabek Nation will, among other things:

• a) provide for the establishment of Anishinabek Nation Government structures, including bodies to support the operation of the Anishinabek Nation Government;

• b) set out procedures for making, amending, publishing and providing access to Anishinabek Nation laws;

• c) provide that the Anishinabek Nation Government will be accountable to the Participating First Nations and their Citizens;

• d) provide for political and financial accountability;

• e) provide for the protection and promotion of the languages and culture of the Anishinabek Nation; and

• f) provide for mechanisms for Appeals and Redress.

2009
In November 2009, the Anishinabek Nation Chiefs in Assembly accepted a plan for a two-phase constitutional convention process to ratify the Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin/Anishinabek Nation Constitution.

The Grand Council resolution provided that in March 2010 the Anishinabek Nation Constitutional Convention I would launch the process to ratify the Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin by approving a Draft Anishinabek Nation Constitution, implementing a community engagement process, and developing the ratification vote process.

2010-2011
The Draft Anishinabek Chi-Naaknigewin was approved by Grand Council in Fort William, June 2010. The document was presented to and reviewed by Leadership and Nation Building Councils, as well as Anishinabek Nation citizens, through the Community Engagement Strategy.

The Governance Working Group and the Chiefs Committee on Governance presented recommendations on the ratification process and this was approved by the Grand Council at the Fall Assembly in November 2010.

Anishinabek Nation Constitutional Convention II - March 1 -3, 2011
On March 1, 2 & 3, 2011, the Anishinabek Nation Constitutional Convention II took place in Garden River, Sault Ste. Marie, where Leadership and officially appointed voting delegates representing 29 of 39 Anishinabek First Nation communities ratified the Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin. The constitution will go before the Grand Council of Chiefs in June 2011 to be proclaimed and formally adopted.

For further information:

Marci Becking
Communications Officer
Union of Ontario Indians
Phone: (705) 497-9127 (ext. 2290)
Cell: (705) 494-0735
E-mail: becmar@anishinabek.ca