SHESHEGWANING FIRST NATION—It took time and patience, but this Western Manitoulin First Nation has stuck to its guns, maintaining its right to use its own decision-making processes and recognizing its own traditional, customary voting protocol.
This is at the core of Indigenous self-government and Sheshegwaning, along with Aundeck Omni Kaning, Zhiibaahaasing and Rocky Bay First Nation have overcome objections by the federal government of Canada. The position taken by Sheshegwaning and the other First Nations has led to an amendment to the voting process for the Anishinabek Nation Governance Act. It echoes the community’s position that the community and its council have final say over Sheshegwaning’s voting process as a customary procedure.
“I think this is historic, it is precedent setting,” stated Patrick Madahbee, Anishinabek Commissioner on Governance at a Sheshegwaning Governance celebration March 18. “You should be proud of the decisions made by your leadership to get to this point. Right now, the government has so many processes in place that don’t make any sense. By staying with your original position, it means going forward decisions for Sheshegwaning will be made by its citizens.”
Joseph Laford senior, who provided an opening drum song said, “This day has been a very long time in coming. We have wanted to govern ourselves for a very long time. It was leaders like Patrick (Madahbee) that initially initiated this process years ago.” Sheshegwaning pushed for the historical change in the voting process, and it was our leadership that pulled this all together, he said.
“I think it is a step in the right direction and we are taking the first steps in the process,” said Mr. Laford. “We should all be proud of this.”
Sheshegwaning band councillor and deputy chief Ann Cada said, “On behalf of chief (Alana Endanawas, who was unable to attend the celebration due to illness) and council I would like to thank everyone for coming out here this evening for this celebration. We would like to thank our entire team for making this possible. We have waited a long time to be able to take the steps to govern our own community.”
Ms. Cada said, “This is very significant for us. Now everyone in the community will be heard and considered in decisions. Your governance, your First Nation.”
Anishinabek First Nations traditional and customary community decision-making processes will now be recognized by Canada as the method of choice to add their communities of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement Act fold. Schedule C-protocol for the Addition of a First Nation as a Party to the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement was given Royal Assent December 1, 2023.
“Tonight is very special and historical, Sheshegwaning led the way for First Nations across Canada to change the way we do business and to get Indian Affairs off our backs,” said Mr. Madahbee. “Our communities and members will now be able to make decisions concerning our communities and what is best for the community and its members from the time of their birth to their death. When we started looking at governance, it was about how our community members want to shape their lives. It is not rocket science, it is good old common sense that you and all First Nations have all had for thousands of years. We are getting out of the shackles of government control. When we first started looking at our own governance, we looked at similar situations in other countries and the best advice we received was to take this in steps.”
Mr. Madahbee said there are four main governance pillars: language and culture, elections/ voting, citizenship and operations and management and that all of which should be taken step by step.
“Sheshegwaning helped lead the way on the voting process—that we will do this according to customary processes,” said Mr. Madahbee. “The thresholds the government had in place were ridiculous.” He explained under the previous government threshold communities had to adhere to a voting threshold that restricted their ability to gather enough support and pass the vote. Communities had to have 25 percent plus one of their eligible voters vote and the majority that did vote, vote yes. However, for most first nations, about 75 percent of their citizens live off-reserve making it nearly impossible to meet Canada’s threshold requirement.
“You (Sheshegwaning) have gotten off to a great start,” said Mr. Madahbee. “Decisions for Sheshegwaning will be made by its citizens. I have spent 50 years working for First Nations, and this process is a very good thing for the community. It will take time, and changes will be made but the most important thing is that it will be citizen driven.”
Leslie McGregor, executive director of B’Maakonigan told the packed Sheshegwaning Community Complex that the steps taken by Sheshegwaning, “is how communities advance. I would like to acknowledge the hard work that Chief Endanawas and council and the community has carried out.”
Ms. McGregor said “B’Maakonigan and its dedicated team are committed to working closely with the First Nations involved, engaging with stakeholders and government, and ensuring that the ANGA is implemented effectively and meaningfully.”
B’Maakonigan is the administrative body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the ANGA, fostering collaboration, supporting capacity building initiatives strengthening relationships with self-governance entities.
“Ensuring the community and its members have control over decisions and processes carried out in the community is the big thing,” Ms. McGregor told The Expositor. “Sheshegwaning and other First Nations (nine including Aundeck Omni Kaning and Zhiibaahaasing on Manitoulin) have broken the chains that have been on all First Nations in the past as wards of Canada. Changes are being made, and the process is going step by step, building capacity in First Nations. And the decisions will be made by members of the community.”
The evening celebration led by master of ceremonies Joey Laford included the Sheshegwaning Ladies Hand Drum Singers, a fantastic dinner, sacred fire lit outside for the event outside, Elijah Manitowabi providing musical entertainment and many prizes and giveaways to those in attendance.
