Nishnawbe Aski Nation moves to the next step in negotiating self-governance with others
NAN initials historic agreements - First Nations move closer to self-governance
Posted By Arron Pickard, The Daily Press - July 29, 2009
Nishnawbe Aski Nation is now one step closer to self-governance.
Years of negotiations came to fruition Wednesday as NAN representatives and Government of Canada officials initialed two Agreements in Principle that will allow the First Nation to move into the next phase of its ultimate goal: Self-governance and jurisdiction over education under the federal government’s Inherent Rights Policy.
Negotiations between NAN and Canada began in 1997. A framework agreement, which was a commitment from both sides to enter into negotiations, was signed in 1999.
“It is good to reach this stage of the discussions with Canada on these negotiation,” said Doug Semple, lead negotiator of the governance jurisdiction negotiation table for NAN. “Now the real exciting part begins — engaging our people’s creative energy on building their communities to be self-governing in the way they see fit.”
NAN deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose said the next phase of negotiations will determine the level of powers First Nations will have in the final agreement.
“We’re getting into the nuts and bolts of the process, the hard discussions with negotiators,” he said. Waboose served as the inaugural director of the unit that co-ordinated negotiations. For him, he said, it’s “gratifying” to see where the process has led his people.
“This wasn’t easy,” he said. “There were times when we all wanted to go home, on both sides. This next phase is where the relationship building is going to be put to the test and where we’ll see what an actual agreement will look like. It is the children and band members in our First Nation communities that stand to benefit from this agreement if and when they are concluded.”
Dr. Emily Faries is the lead negotiator of the education jurisdiction negotiation table for NAN. She said the entire process has been a very important part of her own personal journey and to the education of our First Nations people. Taking back jurisdiction over education will allow NAN to incorporate its language and history into the school curriculum.
“I believe strongly that education is the key to our future and to reaching our ultimate goal of self-sufficiency as a First Nations people. We’ve sat through many, many hours of talks and throughout that, I’ve always kept in mind the young people of our communities.”
These negotiations, she said, are preparing the road on which youth will be walking and make it easier for them compared to what Faries and her generation went through.
“Our generation experienced residential schools and other foreign-imposed educational systems on our people. As we all know, those systems did not work for us. This is our opportunity to take that jurisdiction back and to begin to make our own decisions as to what we think education should be for our young people.”
Negotiations have lead both parties down a long and difficult path but everyone has worked together to overcome many hurdles, she said, where at time it felt like it would be impossible to get to this point.
Yesterday’s ceremony marked a significant moment for NAN, Beardy said. The next phase will allow negotiators to- examine more closely what opportunities there are to move forward in assuming greater responsibility for First Nation people.
“What’s very important is that just over a year ago, the Prime Minister issued an apology to First Nation people in Canada and I hope the exercise that is before us adds real substance to that apology. It will take both sides to bring this to a successful conclusion and to make the best decision for future generations of First Nation people.”
Indian and Northern Affair Canada spokesperson Margot Geduld said the government is “pleased to have reached this stage.” She said the fact it took 10 years to get to this point isn’t really out of the ordinary.
“Achieving or rebuilding self-governance is an immense challenge,” Geduld said. “It takes time to establish new institutions and systems that are more accountable and effective.”
NAN’s negotiating committee will now take the Agreements in Principle back to its respective communities and ask for their support to move onto the next phase of negotiations, Faries said.
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NAN INITIALS HISTORIC AGREEMENTS
TIMMINS -- Nishnawbe Aski Nation is now one step closer to self-governance.
Years of negotiations came to fruition Wednesday as NAN representatives and Government of Canada officials initialed two Agreements in Principle that will allow the First Nation to move into the next phase of its ultimate goal: Self-governance and jurisdiction over education under the federal government's Inherent Rights Policy.
Negotiations between NAN and Canada began in 1997.A framework agreement, which was a commitment from both sides to enter into negotiations, was signed in 1999.
NAN deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose said the next phase of negotiations will determine the level of powers First Nations will have in the final agreement.
"We're getting into the nuts and bolts of the process, the hard discussions with negotiators," he said. Waboose served as the inaugural director of the unit that co-ordinated negotiations. For him, he said, it's "gratifying" to see where the process has led his people.
The next phase will allow negotiators to examine more closely what opportunities there are to move forward in assuming greater responsibility for First Nation people.