| wolastoqewiak eyooltidit nekuwutkok “people of the good river at where the river goes under” Maliseet Nation @ Tobique Interim Traditional Governance GRAND COUNCIL (ELDERS) An elder is: All citizens of age 55 years of age. These persons have by inherent rights the < COMPLETE AUTHORITY > on the Nation. Because they are born before anyone else and had give birth to the following generation of citizens. Therefore they are the authority of the Nation; in fact it is coming from the responsibility, that was given to them, with the birth of their children, which was therefore increased by the birth of their grandchildren. It is well justified to recognize that with such responsibility, there are those who must have full control of the governance of the Nation, to assure the wealth of their descendants. These persons by their age and their life experience have reached a degree of wisdom and serenity to put in place an efficient governance to assure the security of the Nation; to install the best structure of governance that will make every citizen engage in the Nation’s affairs, based on their aptitude, willingness, age, health, etc, etc … The elders all together are the principal body of governance which is to be called the < GRAND COUNCIL >. They are the ones to designate a Legislative Council among their members. The Legislative Council will write the laws and rules to assure the wealth of the Nations administration, the environment protection, our heritage, our culture, the evolution of our nation in the modern world and guarantee our Sovereignty forever. Grand Council will choose among their members those to sit at the Court of Peace. Their number will be according to the complexity of the case, they will have to take a decision upon. Like the Grand Council they will have a chief, a president, or a speaker, and all decisions declared by him or her, will be in the name of the Grand Council and will involved all members (the Elders). These structures are to assure the most serious choice of the Court of Peace members to avoid any legal mistake. The Grand Council will have to give a final approval in the choice of the Grand Chief of the Band Council. The said Grand Chief is choosen by the Mothers of Clans sitting at the council for the purpose. Their choice will receive approval form the Grand Council and from then the Grand Chief will be able to perform his duty for as long as he intends, and that he is physically and mentally able and that he serves with the best interest of the Nation. The Grand Council will have to approve any resolutions or decisions to be taken by the band Council which involve selling, buying of property, mortgage, loans, or placement, exceeding $10,000 or more. Their approval will be required for any agreement or contract with any government, federal, provincial and municipal located on our ancestral territories and with any company or firm legally registered, such approval will be required even if the proposal originated from the Band Council itself. CLAN CHIEFS (Band Council) The Chief of Clan is first a father or a family chief and a citizen of the nation. The Chief of each clan is chosen by his own clan at a family council call for that purpose. The choice is made by consensus, not by election, because consensus is a basic rule in traditional governance. These family chief taking count of all aspect of the responsibility will declined for many reasons, such as lack of interest, not enough time, too old, do not like office work, etc … A Clan Chief must expect once chosen to be member of the Band Council and more likely may have to replace the Grand Chief for a certain period of time in case of illness, accident or simply because the Grand Chief can not be at two places the same day. The Clan Chief like the Grand Chief can perform his duty for as long as he wants to, as long as his physical, mental and age allows him and that his own clan is satisfied. Any complaints against a Chief is to be forwarded in writing by a member of that Clan, to the Mother of his Clan. That Mother will discuss the issue with the concerned Chief, to solve the problem, in case of failure, she may be assisted by the Elders of her own Clan and finally in the event of an impossible positive result, they can dismiss that Chief and choose a new one. A Clan Chief is not just a councilor who sits periodically at a meeting, he must be working in the nation affairs full time. Under the direction of the Grand Chief, which is responsible for dispatching to each Clan Chief a part of work to be performed and that at turn or be close enough to everyone to encourage a versatility of knowledge with the administration and political mechanism. Because neither him or anyone else can tell, when a health problem or an accident may occur. It would be a great mistake for the Grand Chief to encourage one more then others to replace him; cause the fatality may strike him and his protégé’ at the same time. In the same way, it is the responsibility of a Chief of clan to prepare his own replacement. If someone from his clan shows his knowledges and ability and therefore guarantee his own evolution in term of performance, for the best interest of the Nation. MOTHERS OF CLANS The Mothers of Clans are also family mothers. The family mothers of a clan gather in a special council for the purpose they choose among themselves a Mother of Clan. Like it is for the Chief of Clan they proceed by consensus and the duration of their mandate, is as long as they want to, or that their age, physical and mental health allow them. Their role is very important, they are the ones to select the Band Council Grand Chief and it is also their responsibility to dismiss him, when the situation requires to do so. When a decision is made to choose or dismiss the Grand Chief, the approval of the Grand Council is a must. The Mother of Clan is a real mother of her own clan. She takes care of every member on all physical and psychological aspect. She keep an eye on the protection of the culture, inform the family mothers about traditions, medicine plants. The Mothers of Clans in Council work together to elaborate projects in education and health improvement. They make contact with Mothers of Clan from other First Nations in the same Confederation. The Clan’s Mothers are the mostly respected, because they are indeed Mother Earth in human side. The ones to whom we owe our own existence; by any means we are held to pay them the greatest respect. The Clan Mothers are the ones who summit recommendations to the Band Council to solve social problems affecting the citizens of the Nation. Granted by their natural mother intuition, if they show some worry over a specific situation or decision to be taken, the concern persons involved should take a good reflection over, what about they worry and their state of mind. The Mothers of Clans like the Grand Council or the Court of Peace have an operation budget from the Band council to accomplish their duty. If a Mother of Clan or a Chief of Clan reached 55 years of age during their mandate; to remain in function they will need to resign in writing from the Grand Council to not place themselves in conflict of interest. |
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| "Yes, there's been a Liberal government for 13 years. But there was a Conservative government for about a decade before that. These problems within our communities -- social, economic, poverty, education, issues around lands and rights -- they've existed since contact. There have been political parties of all stripes that share in that shameful history." |
| Survival's director Stephen Corry said today: 'Indigenous peoples' ill health is the legacy of centuries of colonisation, discrimination, poverty and loss of control over their lands and resources. It is one of the most urgent humanitarian issues of the 21st century.' |
Royal Proclamation of
1763, which declared
that no one could take
possession of Indian
Lands unless they had
first been ceded or sold
by Indian nations to the
crown. SO BEWARE!
1763, which declared
that no one could take
possession of Indian
Lands unless they had
first been ceded or sold
by Indian nations to the
crown. SO BEWARE!
Wabanaki Confederacy