The federal government has signed a historic self-government agreement with the Anishinabek Nation.
The agreement signed yesterday focuses on recognizing First Nations’ inherent right to self-determination as they move out from under the Indian Act and transition to self-government.
Marc Miller, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, joined Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe and several First Nation chiefs at a virtual ceremony to celebrate the signing of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement.
Niganobe says it is the first self-government agreement of its kind in Ontario and marks an important step away from the Indian Act for the signatory Anishinabek First Nations.
Miller adds achieved after over 20 years of negotiation, the agreement recognizes Anishinabek control over governance and the law-making powers in key areas including how elections will be held, who their citizens are, how their governments will operate, as well as protecting Anishinaabe language and culture.
Once in effect, the parts of the Indian Act that deal with governance will no longer apply to the signatory Anishinabek First Nations.
