Overview
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RESTORATION OF JURISDICTION
The Restoration of Jurisdiction Department at the Anishinabek Nation was mandated by the Chiefs-in-Assembly in 1995 to establish and carry out negotiations with the Governments of Canada and Ontario to restore jurisdiction in several areas including, but not limited to: governance, education, social services, jurisdiction, economic development and health, with the initial focus on governance and education.
MISSION:
The Restoration of Jurisdiction Department at the Anishinabek Nation is committed to rebuild traditional governance. Our process is to facilitate the recognition of the inherent jurisdiction of the Anishinabek Nation by supporting and executing the Nation Council initiatives to ensure the political goals, values, and aspirations of the Anishinabek Nation are asserted.
KEY INITIATIVES:
Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement
The Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement, ratified in 2017, is a self-government agreement between the Government of Canada and 23 Anishinabek First Nations that recognizes First Nation control over Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education on and off-reserve.
The Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement with Canada provides reliable funding to operate the stand-alone Anishinabek Education System, a system parallel to its provincial counterparts, where Participating First Nations have full control over how to best allocate education funding.
In moving forward with the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement with Canada, the 23 Participating First Nations chose to be a party to the complementary Master Education Agreement with Ontario. The provincial agreement creates a new relationship between the Anishinabek First Nations and Ontario that supports Anishinabek student success and well-being in the Anishinabek Education System and the provincially-funded education system.
To learn more, please visit: The Kinoomaadziwin Education Body
Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement
The proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement is a self-government agreement with the Government of Canada that will recognize the Anishinabek First Nations’ law-making powers and authority on how they will govern themselves, thus removing them from the governance provisions of the Indian Act. The First Nations that ratify the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement will have the power to enact laws in the following areas: leadership selection, citizenship, language and culture, and operation of governments.
In 2019, negotiations on the proposed Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement concluded and was signed on August 23, 2019.
A ratification process on the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement is currently underway.
To learn more, please visit: Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement.
Community Engagement
Engaging community members on- and off-reserve is carried out in First Nations and urban centres, through traditional and electronic media, and through meetings and events with leadership and citizens. The objective is to prepare eligible voters to make an informed decision in the ratification vote.
A Community Engagement Manager, Regional Communications Coordinators, and First Nation Communications Coordinators work together with Chiefs and Councils and Anishinabek Nation negotiators to inform community members and answer questions about the benefits and legal effect of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement, The Anishinabek Nation Fiscal Agreement, and the Implementation Plan.
Governance Working Group
The Governance Working Group represents First Nations from each region. It continues to provide grassroots input into ongoing community engagement processes, to provide support for First Nation constitution development, and to provide support for the positive ratification of the Governance Agreement.
Chiefs Committee on Governance
The Chiefs Committee on Governance is made up of representatives of each of the four (4) regions. The CCoG provides direction and political support for the ratification of the Governance Agreement.
First Nation Constitutions
First Nation constitutions are foundational to the exercise of law-making authority and jurisdiction. Each First Nation must have a constitution to exercise jurisdiction under the terms of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement. Constitutions benefit communities by providing stability and transparency in governance processes such as law-making.
Approvals and Ratification
Eligible voters are identified through updating voters’ list and the ratification process is implemented through management oversight by the Anishinabek Nation Restoration of Jurisdiction Department and implemented by First Nation Ratification Officers.
