Canada, Anishinabek Nation ink governance agreement

Canada and the Anishinabek Nation have officially signed off on a self-government agreement intended to recognize Anishinabek control over governance and law-making powers.

Representatives for both parties met virtually Wednesday to celebrate the signing of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement, which Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs says will enable signatory First Nations in Ontario to make decisions regarding how their elections will be held, who their citizens are and how their governments will operate, and how to protect and promote Anishinaabe language and culture.

The agreement also comes with a substantial funding increase. 

“Congratulations to the First Nations signing the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement today and I commend all of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of those involved to reach this historic moment,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe via news release. “The governance agreement is another instrument available to us to implement inherent jurisdictions and Anishinaabe laws in fundamental matters that are the pillars of our First Nation governments: citizenship, language and culture, and how we select our leaders and are accountable to their citizens. 

“The new government-to-government fiscal transfer removes these First Nations from those specific confines of the Indian Act and supports these First Nations to determine their respective priorities.”

Self-government negotiations with the Anishinabek Nation initially began in 1995. An agreement-in-principle was struck in 2007 and subsequently concluded in 2019.

The agreement was approved by the citizens of each signatory First Nation through a series of community votes over the past two years, despite the agreement failing to be ratified initially in some of the Anishinabek Nation's 39 member First Nations. Signatory First Nations will eventually need to pass their own Anishinabek laws in order to create their own governance systems in the future.  

Federal legislation is still required in order to bring the governance agreement into effect. 

“Congratulations to the Anishinabek leadership and all those who worked for so long at the negotiating table and through community outreach to bring this historic agreement to life,” said Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller via news release. “This agreement will help revitalize traditional Anishinaabe governance and renew our nation-to-nation relationship with the signatory Anishinabek First Nations. 

“We look forward to continuing to work together with Anishinabek partners on all our shared priorities, to implement their inherent right to self-determination and support their inspiring visions of a better future for their citizens.”

In 2018, Canada and the Anishinabek Nation reached a self-government agreement on education that is now in effect for 23 Anishinabek First Nations in Ontario.