First Nation council signs constitution as step toward self-governance

SARNIA Aamjiwnaang First Nation has laid the foundation to fully govern itself for the first time in modern history.

Members of the community’s band council on Tuesday signed Aamjiwnaang’s first constitution — known as the Chi’Naaknigewin — that sets out its own rules for self-government.

The 11-page document spells out the governing principles for its chief and council, along with rules around the composition of council and the conduct of elected officials. Aamjiwnaang’s law-making powers and process are also detailed in the document, along with rules around the financial administration of the band.

Up until this point, Aamjiwnaang First Nation — like other bands across Canada — had still been adhering to governance rules laid out in the Indian Act, said Lynn Rosales, acting clerk for Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

“We didn’t write the Indian Act,” she said Tuesday.

“We didn’t wish for that to be placed upon our people. It’s something that the federal government developed, so it was developed by a whole other group and race of people that we have had to adhere to govern ourselves.”

Rosales said the new community constitution gives the power back to Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

“This is a step forward to become more self-governing, selfsufficient, really looking and focusing on those key areas that may require further development, such as our own election code, our membership codes,” she said.

Aamjiwnaang members gathered Tuesday night at their community centre to watch their elected officials sign the historic document. The event also included a pipe ceremony, formal reading and a feast for the community.

More than 2,400 people belong to Aamjiwnaang First Nation, with roughly 850 of those currently living in the community.

Members ratified Aamjiwnaang’s constitution in a vote last October. Of the 153 votes cast, 140 ballots were in favour of the adoption of the constitution.

The community was also directly involved in shaping the document throughout the process that lasted over several months.

“We involved our community a lot,” Rosales said. “We had a lot of focus groups, a lot of information sessions, a lot of community meetings.”

While Aamjiwnaang ’s constitution was largely developed over the last year, discussions over the need for a constitution date back to 2004.

At that time, the Chiefs Committee on Governance — a working group with the Union of Ontario Indians, representing 40 First Nations communities — mandated the creation of its own constitution.

Representatives of Aamjiwnaang First Nation were involved in those discussions, but the need for Aamjiwnaang’s own constitution wasn’t fully felt until the Anishinabek Education Agreement came into place.

The new agreement allows First Nations communities to assume responsibility for managing their own educational funding, but Rosales said Aamjiwnaang was told it would need its own constitution to participate with the agreement.

As Aamjiwnaang gains more jurisdiction over its own affairs, Rosales said it paves the way for the community to develop its own policies, for example, around the environment.

“Personally, I think this is a huge, huge step for our community and our people,” she said of the constitution. “I have grandchildren and I think about them and I think, ‘What am I going to do today to ensure that they’re going to be able to enjoy our community?’ ”