The Union of Ontario Indians has received notice that the Sagamok-Anishnawbek First Nation will no longer be a part of their organization.
In a release, Grand Council Chief Glen Hare says the withdrawal will be formalized at the Annual General Meeting in June.
Sagamok chief and council decided to withdraw from the union stating it did not need a ‘middleman’ to deal with financial or governance matters since those rights are part of the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850.
Hare adds the union did receive funding to negotiate agreements, but it will be up to Sagamok to arrange funding directly.
Hare adds the two will remain friends, work together and the union will assist if called upon.
The Moose asked a series of questions in regards to the withdrawal, the responses are below.
What legal process is involved with withdrawing from the union?
Grand Council Chief will bring the information to the next Grand Council in June 2020.
The Union of Ontario Indians is a corporation under Ontario corporate law, formed in 1949. To withdraw from the corporation, the notice will be accepted at the next business meeting of the corporation, the annual general meeting of the corporation, which historically is held during the first week of June. This is a housekeeping or process issue for the corporate body. It is recognized that Sagamok Anishnawbek is no longer a member of the Union of Ontario Indians.
The AGM of the corporation is held during one morning, then the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council, which has its roots in the Three Fires Confederacy and precedes the forming of Canada, deliberates and provides mandates to the Grand Council Chief and the Anishinabek Grand Council’s secretariat, the Union of Ontario Indians. In the case of the negotiations leading to the current Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement, the secretariat, the UOI, followed Anishinabek Grand Council mandates since 1995 to negotiate the restoration of jurisdiction with Canada in education and governance.
Will SAFN receive its funding directly in the future?
This question is best answered by Sagamok Anishnawbek. However, the UOI did receive funding to negotiate the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement and the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement on behalf of the member First Nations of the corporation, under the political mandates of the Anishinabek Grand Council, which included Sagamok Anishnawbek. Whether Sagamok will receive negotiation funding directly, or through another body, it is affiliated with, is unknown to us.
Regarding the “middleman” opinion, and If the question is asked in the context of the current Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement and the complementary Anishinabek Nation Fiscal Agreement, the Union of Ontario Indians does not figure into the proposed governance structure or the funding package at all. The Governance Agreement is very clear: the First Nations who ratify the Governance Agreement will form the collective body governing body which will be a legally recognized body through new enabling federal legislation. The legislation will recognize jurisdictions that already exist; they are selection of leaders; citizenship; operations and management of government; and language and culture. The First Nations who ratify the Governance Agreement will form a collective governing body that will receive the funding, according to the Agreement. To further guarantee that each ratifying First Nation receives its total funding amounts without any deductions by any other body, there are two separate funding lines: one for each of the ratifying First Nations and one for the collective body. It is important to note that each First Nation has been given an amount that would be generated for it by the formulae in the Funding Agreement. The amount of the funding for the collective body described in the Agreement as the Anishinabek Nation Government is dependent on how many First Nations ratify the Agreement.
The Union of Ontario Indians does not figure into the Governance Agreement or the attached fiscal agreement.
The governance issue (new proposal) is a separate process, First Nation by First Nation, correct?
Yes, there are other discussions with the federal government under another process called the “Recognition and Implementation of Indigenous Rights (RIIR).” The Government of Canada is working with Indigenous groups at over 80 discussion tables across the country to explore new ways of working together to advance the recognition of Indigenous rights and self-determination. These discussions represent more than 390 Indigenous communities, with a total population of more than 760,000 people. Some are collectives, such as the Robinson Huron Treaty First Nations or individual First Nations, such as Temagami.
Does this most recent release tie into the issues involved?
Sagamok Anishnawbek and other Anishinaabe First Nations are pursuing other processes in self-government and self-determination. Sagamok’s issue that the UOI is setting itself up to be the Anishinabek Nation Government is false. The charge of a new Indian agent is unwarranted. We are guided in principle by the Anishinabek Declaration of 1980, and the Ngo Dwe Waangizid Anishinaabe (One Anishinaabe Family).
The official statement from UOI on the withdrawal: Grand Council Chief Glen Hare states we will remain friends, work together and will assist if called upon. It is the community’s wish to move forward within another federal process and we respect their decisions. And we wish Sagamok Anishnawbek and all First Nation communities great success. When one of our Anishinaabe communities succeeds, it is good for all, Ngo Dwe Waangizid Anishinaabe. Sagamok Anishnawbek has contributed so much over the years to the Anishinabek and we are grateful for their contributions to all of us; particularly in keeping our language, Anishinaabemowin strong and in providing strong leadership for the benefit of all.
