Anishinaabe Governance is… having our own Leadership Selection system.
The State of Leadership Selection… currently.
Right now, when your First Nation conducts an election, it is governed under the Indian Act. The Indian Act is completely controlled by the federal government. For years, First Nations have been working to come out from under the Indian Act.
There are some First Nations that have opted to create their own Band Custom election codes. But even these election codes need to be approved by the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations in Ottawa.
The promise, hope and future of Anishinaabe Leadership Selection
Self-governing Anishinabek First Nations are taking a courageous leap forward to establish their own system of selecting leaders. The governance agreement does not define what this selection or election system is, it will be up to self-governing First Nations, and you, the citizens, E’Debendaagzijig, meaning Those Who Belong.
The leadership selection system will depend on your vision. Considerations may include:
- A European democratic style of election – one person, one vote by secret ballot
- For larger First Nations, an electoral representation based on geographic areas
- An electoral representation based on family representation
- Including Elders, youth and women representatives
- Including off-reserve representatives
- Taking a gradual approach and maintaining similarity to current elections
The future of Anishinaabe Governance is… (or could be)… the full implementation of the Anishinaabe Dodemaag (the Clan System), our traditional way of governance.
No matter the result, Anishinaabe Governance is… a leadership selection system determined by us.