Shingwauk seeks recognition as independent university

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ANISHINABEK NATION

************************* Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig seeks formal recognition NORTH BAY - (November 30) – Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee, Union of Ontario Indians and chiefs-in-assembly will continue to collaborate on political advocacy and generating public support required to achieve the goal of formal recognition of Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig as a university in Ontario. Anishinabek Chiefs at their fall assembly heard the second reading of the draft Anishinaabe Nation Law respecting Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. “This is a historic occasion and this is very important for developing our own educational institutions. This is what we need to develop our own education system,” says Grand Council Chief Madahbee. Darrell Boissoneau, president of Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig says that it marked an historic day for the Anishinabek Nation and the university.

“The Law Respecting Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig is another positive step in our efforts of Nation-building, governance and institution building. Today we have asserted our sovereign Anishinaabe rights for Anishinaabe Control of Anishinaabe Education by enacting this Law. We have honoured the memory of our grandmothers and grandfathers and created a footprint for our children and grandchildren to follow,” says Boissoneau.

“The enactment of this Law is a major step forward and strengthens the relationship we have with the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council, the Garden River First Nation and the Three Fires Midewiwn Lodge. Cultural based and quality education from the Anishinabek World view will be advanced through Anishinaabe Studies and Anishinabemowin as articulated in Chief Shingwauk’s Vision,” said Boissoneau. Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig is an evolving Anishinaabe Post-Secondary Institution that is currently being developed by the Shingwauk Education Trust (SET). The Shingwauk Education Trust was founded by a vision of an Ojibway, Chief Shingwauk; to create a "Teaching Wigwam," with an overall goal of providing education to Anishinaabe students.

The Shingwauk Education Trust is composed of representation from Garden River First Nation, Batchewana First Nation, The Anglican Diocese of Algoma and the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association. Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig will be instrumental in providing First Nations and all people the leadership and concrete skills to build strong communities globally. We will continue to build on our resources by lobbing federal and provincial governments for financial support, and build partnerships based on mutual respect for culturally relevant education.

The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 41 member First Nations across Ontario. 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. *************************