{"id":566,"date":"2019-04-15T13:06:07","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T13:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bmaakonigan.ca\/website_681dad08\/?page_id=566"},"modified":"2022-07-18T14:26:55","modified_gmt":"2022-07-18T14:26:55","slug":"agreement-q-as","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bmaakonigan.ca\/website_681dad08\/agreement\/agreement-q-as\/","title":{"rendered":"Agreement Q & As"},"content":{"rendered":"
Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Q. What is the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> is an agreement between the Anishinabek Nation, on behalf of its member First Nations and Canada that would recognize the authority of the First Nations and the Anishinabek Nation to pass laws in the areas of elections, citizenship, language and culture, and government management.<\/p>\n

Q. What is governance?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The term \u201cgovernance\u201d refers to the structures and their related processes that our communities currently use to govern. For example, the most familiar governance \u201cstructure\u201d that we use is the Chief and Council. They make decisions according to rules that they set for how Council meetings are conducted, including rules for quorum and so on. Some of the procedures or processes governing council meetings are set out in the Indian Act. <\/em><\/p>\n

The proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> will provide our First Nations with an opportunity to set our own rules of procedure in terms of how we conduct our meetings, including using our own customs, our traditions, languages and ceremonies and how we elect our leaders.<\/p>\n

Q. Why are we looking at a self-government agreement?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Self-government agreements provide an opportunity for First Nations to exercise more control over the way their communities are governed and to gradually move out from under parts of the Indian Act. <\/em><\/p>\n

Self-government agreements also mean that our First Nations can target the new funding that comes with self-government agreements into community-identified priorities and with more reporting to our own people.<\/p>\n

Q. How will my community benefit from the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Nations will benefit from the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> in a number of ways. Some benefits include First Nations will vote for leaders in ways designed by their citizens, which moves the First Nations who ratify out of the Indian Act<\/em> election process; First Nation citizens will take part in developing a citizenship law that reflects their rights, privileges and responsibilities that come with being a citizen of their First Nation; First Nation citizens can help develop ways to promote Anishinaabe language and culture by learning and educating others on the clan system of governance and using ceremonies in community and council meetings.<\/p>\n

Q. How did grassroots Anishinaabe people help in the development of the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> belongs to us.\u00a0 We negotiated it.\u00a0 Many Anishinabek citizens helped to develop the Governance Agreement by speaking up at numerous information and negotiation sessions over the past 23 years in our First Nations and urban centres.\u00a0 Anishinaabe people helped to guide the negotiations by serving on the Governance Working Group and the Chiefs Committee on Governance.\u00a0 Updates about the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> were provided at Regional Chiefs meetings and at the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Assemblies.<\/p>\n

Q. <\/em>When will the citizens be voting on the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em>? <\/strong><\/p>\n

The ratification vote for the proposed\u00a0Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> will be in 2022. Voting methods include electronic voting, mail-in ballot or In-person voting at polling stations. For voting methods specific to your First Nation, please contact your First Nation Ratification Officer.<\/p>\n

Q. <\/em>Will my Aboriginal or Treaty rights be impacted?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> will not abrogate or derogate from the aboriginal or treaty rights of the First Nations that ratify the proposed Agreement. In addition the proposed Agreement makes it very clear that it is not intended to fulfill any of Canada\u2019s treaty obligations, nor is the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> itself a treaty.<\/p>\n

Q. <\/em>Will our Indian Status rights be affected?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> does not cover Indian Status.<\/p>\n

FUNDING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q. Will there be more funding for First Nations that ratify the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Nations that ratify the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> can expect to receive up to seven (7) times more funding for governance-related functions. In addition, if there is money left over, it will not have to be returned and can be used for other important community purposes.<\/p>\n

Q. Will Canada\u2019s fiduciary relationship with First Nations change?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, the fiduciary relationship between Canada and each Anishinabek First Nation will continue after the ratification of the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em>.\u00a0 Canada will always have a fiduciary relationship with First Nations people by virtue of the Royal Proclamation <\/em>of 1763 and the Constitution Act<\/em>, 1982.<\/p>\n

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q. How can citizens get more information about the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> and how to vote?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The negotiation team has been visiting Anishinabek First Nations to discuss the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> with Chiefs and Councils and citizens.\u00a0 First Nation information sessions will be held in urban centres and in the communities. In addition, information is available online through various social media platforms, on First Nation websites, and on Anishinabek Nation websites including www.governancevote.ca<\/a>.\u00a0 Funding will be provided to each First Nation to hire a communications support person to help inform voters about how and where to vote and provide more information about the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em> and the new funding arrangements.<\/p>\n

Q. How can we get more information about the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n