WIKWEMIKONG—In an historical vote Saturday, Wikwemikong band members ratified the G’Chi-Naaknigewin, the community constitution, by a 72 percent vote in favour of advocating the document.
Chief Duke Peltier remarked soon after the vote, “In an exercise of self-determination, the people of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Nation have overwhelmingly voted to adopt their own constitution. We can now move ahead in building our own government according to our own traditions, culture and values. It is a huge step in rekindling the fire of our nation and the nation building process.”
After over a year’s worth of meetings and community consultations leading up to the creation of G’Chi-Naaknigewin, the vote took place on Saturday, June 14 at the band council chambers. With 473 votes in favour and 183 votes against, the chief and council unanimously passed a motion to approve the results of the vote Monday evening of this week at a band council meeting. The Expositor was on hand for the event and conducted ‘exit interviews’ with a few of the community members after they had cast their ballot.
Elders Ida Embry and Josephine Eshkibok said they had both voted in favour of the community constitution.
“I voted yes,” said Ms. Embry who, along with Ms. Eshkibok, was born in Wikwemikong. “I want my community to be more self-sufficient.”
[pullquote]“I voted yes,” said Ms. Embry who, along with Ms. Eshkibok, was born in Wikwemikong. “I want my community to be more self-sufficient.”[/pullquote]
“I believe in my community,” added Ms. Eshkibok.
Forty-seven-year-old Russell Trudeau told The Expositor that he also voted ‘yes.’
“What the leadership has explained sounds good and makes sense,” Mr. Trudeau said. “It seems like a good step for our community and I hope it will work out.”
Not everyone was in favour of the constitution, as 25-year-old Amanda Wassegijig explained why she voted ‘no.’
“I believe the community should be focussed on being more economically self-sufficient instead of making laws right now,” said Ms. Wassegijig.
Since 2002, the G’Chi-Naaknigewin has been in development through a Governance Committee of council and numerous community consultations have been held since 2007, both on and off-reserve.
“Citizen engagement was set as a priority to legitimize the process, and as a result of extensive consultation, a positive vote resulted confirming the authority of the constitution,” Lynda Trudeau, who leads the Governance Unit, explained.
In a statement, Chief Peltier stressed that, “Our source of authority has always come from the creator and our inherent jurisdiction based on our status as a nation. The G’Chi-Naaknegewin has now given us a process to further develop our own laws made for our people, by our people.”
The preamble of the constitution states: “We have retained these lands for our future generations so that they can continue to be Anishinaabe. We have not relinquished any of our rights to any of the lands in the Great Lakes Basin to any nation. We continue to govern the waters, air, and lands including Islands, as our ancestors have since time immemorial. The Wiikwemkoong Gchi-Naaknigewin will ensure the protection of our rights, both as individuals and as a collective.”
