Historic day for First Nations communities and Canada
Saturday was a historic day for the five First Nations communities that have signed on to the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement.
"Today marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement Act. We are honoured to be here with the B'Maakonigan communities … to commemorate this unprecedented occasion. We share in the collective enthusiasm at the vast potential this new Agreement will create for these signatory communities," Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe of Anishinabek Nation said in a news release.
The celebration was an opportunity for people to gather in-person to commemorate the signing of the Agreement, which took place at a virtual ceremony earlier this year.
"We are beginning the process of developing our own laws within the community. Our membership is being consulted now. Then we will go to ratification and it will be our membership that votes them in. It's important, truth and reconciliation brought some stuff to life but now we can finally say who we are," Chief Rhonda Williams-Lovett of Moose Deer Point First Nation told CTV News.
Canada's Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Mark Miller, was on hand Saturday and said that this agreement is long overdue.
"It's taken them far too long, decades to get to this place. There's a lot of people who aren't here today that we're honouring that have fought for their lifetimes to see this day. These are the ways we document our relationships, there ways that we move forward in a relationship that has often been marked by distrust," Miller said.
Achieved through about 25 years of negotiation, the historic agreement gives signatory First Nation communities control over governance and the law-making powers in some key areas; they will make their own decisions about how their elections will be held, who their citizens are and how their governments will operate, as well as how best to protect and promote Anishinaabe language and culture.
The agreement also means that parts of the Indian act will no longer apply in these territories.
"It's overwhelming I guess you could say, because for so long we've lived under the Indian Act and to know that the citizens I represent are going to be the ones making the decisions on how they live, that's what's important," Chief Williams-Lovett added.
"They will get to do it all."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.