The first round of voting on the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement has been completed under the guidance of the Union of Ontario Indians.
Union Communication Officer Marci Becking says the February vote results have been submitted to the Vote Manager and are under review.
Becking adds the official results will not be available until after the 10-day appeal period has passed and will be released to the public on March 11th if there are no appeals.
Unofficially, she observes, eight of 14 First Nations voted yes, and the rest of the communities will vote in May.
Becking explains the First Nations who ratify the agreement will form the collective governing body which will be legally recognized through new federal legislation.
The legislation, she adds, will recognize jurisdictions that already exist including the selection of leaders; citizenship; operations and management of government; as well as language and culture.
