Chief and Council have decided to hold a second vote on the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement (ANGA) in February 2021 via mail-in ballots and electronic voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the voting period begins February 1st, there will be many opportunities for the membership to ask questions, and to openly discuss what this agreement means for Nipissing. Due to the pandemic, much of this campaign will need to take place online or by phone, but we cannot let the pandemic slow down this movement toward the promise, hope and future of Anishinaabe Governance that has been in the works for over 25 years.
This agreement alone is not self-governance, but it’s a step forward in getting out from under the Indian Act by recognizing our authority in these four key areas of governance and providing long-term, sustainable funding for:
- Citizenship – deciding who belongs to – or who is a “citizen” of – Nipissing First Nation
- Leadership Selection – deciding how we choose our leaders (Custom Election Regulations)
- Language & Culture – deciding how we revitalize Nbisiing Nishnaabemwin, culture and traditions
- Management and Operations – being accountable to our citizens, not the Minister of Indian Affairs
This agreement is a tool to support the future development of Nipissing First Nation through new stable funding that we control based on our nation’s priorities, as determined by our citizens. It only applies to four areas for now, but Nipissing’s amount is at least four times more funding than what we’ve been receiving under the Indian Act.
We encourage you to learn more about how this agreement can help us build a brighter future together for current and future generations of Nipissing citizens. Join us for our information sessions, and please review the important documents listed below.
Information Sessions:
We are hosting three (3) virtual information sessions for members to hear presentations and to have opportunities to ask questions before the voting period (February 1-27, 2021). Presenters include Fred Bellefeuille, Lisa Restoule-Brazier, Patrick Madahbee and Murray Pridham.
Sessions are scheduled as follows (click the links to view the Facebook Event page for each session):
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88262259709…
Meeting ID: 882 6225 9709
Passcode: 0Y8DwE
Dial by your location:
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kGLnGfDPe
* Draw Prizes for NFN members who participate in each full session! * Grand Prize: $200 Visa Gift Card + 3 x $100 Gift Certificates at local businesses for each session. All prizes will be drawn on February 1, 2021.
Important Documents:
Letter to citizens from Chief McLeod
Anishinaabe Governance is…
- Taking Control of our Future
- Living by Anishinaabe Law
- How our First Nation Government Operates
- Our Own Leadership Selection Laws
- About Citizenship, Identity & Belonging
- Protecting Anishinaabe Rights
- Setting Priorities & Working Together
- About First Nation Autonomy & Anishinabek Unity
- About how the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement and the Governance Agreement work together to support Participating First Nations
Voting Package
- Notice of Vote to NFN members
- Instructions on How to Cast a Mail-in Ballot
- Mail-in Ballot Identification Envelope
- OneFeather Electronic Voting Process
For more information, please visit:
www.governancevote.ca
Contact Gen Couchie, NFN Communications Officer at 705-753-2050 ext. 1270 or genc@nfn.ca if you have any questions, or to request information by mail, email or fax.
