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ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE (June 6, 2022) – The Anishinabek Nation celebrates the inaugural
June 6 Anishinabek Nation holiday, Anishinaabe Giizhigad, in honour of the historic proclamation of the
Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin (constitution).

“Today, we recognize June 6 as a day of great historical significance for the Anishinabek Nation,
member First Nations, and citizens, and is cause for celebration across the Nation,” states Anishinabek
Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe. “It is a day where we remember and acknowledge the
assertion of our sovereignty and responsibilities that are foremost guided by the Seven Grandfather
Teachings. It is a day where we celebrate Anishinabek and the resiliency of our people who have
survived decades of assimilation and racism. Our beautiful culture, traditions, and people will continue
on for generations to come. We encourage our E’Dbendaagzijig to join in on this wonderful day today
and on every June 6 to come!”

The Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin was ratified by the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council by Grand
Council Resolution and confirmed by a Pipe Ceremony in Sheguiandah First Nation on June 6, 2012. The
Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin is a commitment to live by Anishinaabe law.

The Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin was developed in consultation with Anishinabek First Nations leaders
and citizens over the course of 13 years. Throughout this period, the consultation process was led by
former Anishinabek Nation Head Getzit Mishomis Gordon Waindubence (Shiikenh)-baa, and included
Dodemaag (Clan) teachings and principles of traditional governance.

In 2011, the Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin Preamble, Ngo Dwe Waangizid Anishinaabe (One
Anishinaabe Family), was approved by the Chiefs-in-Assembly. The Preamble contains instructions on
how to live according to the Laws the Creator has given to the Anishinaabe. Mishomis Gordon
Waindubence-baa sat with an Elders Council to create the Ngo Dwe Waangizid Anishinaabe, which
provides the context, spirit, and intent in which the Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin is understood.
The Anishinabek Nation Executive Leadership proclaimed the new holiday in November 2021.

Relevant Links:
 Anishinaabe Giizhigad Information Booklet
 Anishinabek Nation June 6 Celebration Livestream

The Anishinabek Nation is a political advocate for 39 member First Nations across Ontario,
representing approximately 65,000 citizens. The Anishinabek Nation is the oldest political
organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which
existed long before European contact.

Our 2022 Festival Call for Submissions is officially open!

We are accepting Film + Video, Digital + Interactive, and Audio works for our Festival. Please take a moment to review our 2022 Festival Artistic Policy. The upcoming 23rd Annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival will take place in-person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox from October 18-23, 2022 and move to our online streaming and iNdigital Space platforms from October 23-29, 2022. We look forward to seeing your incredible work!

2022 Screenwriting Features Lab Participants
The imagineNATIVE Institute would like to introduce our 2022 Screenwriting Features Lab Participants. Meet Darcy Waite, Kaniehtiio Horn, Marja Bål Nango, Ingir Bål Nango, Natasha Kanapé Fontaine, and Berda Larsen. Congratulations to all!

iNdigital Youth Collective

Formed through collaboration between imagineNATIVE and ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency, the iNdigital Youth Collective is a new group of emerging digital and interactive artists aged 12-24 and based in Ontario. 

For 2022, the iYC Cohort will be learning Game Design skills through a series of workshops alongside Indigenous Mentors and Artists. The games and experiences you create will be featured as part of an online exhibition as well as a special showcase at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in October! 

The iYC meets weekly on Thursdays for approximately 3 hours using Discord. All iYC members will receive a cash honorarium for their participation in the cohort. Join us from April 28 to June 3, 2022!

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe says that the Anishinabek Nation remains committed to its part in treaty education in Ontario as the sixth year of celebrating Treaties Recognition Week goes underway.   

He welcomes all to celebrate the recent launch of Ezhi-nawending: How We Are Related online elementary treaty education resource and a similar project for secondary students that will become available next spring.

“Treaties are the foundational documents of Canada,” states Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe. “Treaties are equal to the Constitution and are enshrined within. To move forward as a Nation, both must be upheld and honoured to their full spirit and intent. Anishinabek Nation is proud to provide accessible teaching tools to facilitate the process. Learn more about the Treaties today to build a better future.” 

Treaty educator Kelly Crawford is working once again with Frame Sequence Photography to build on the secondary school teacher’s kit: Gdoo-Sastamoo Kii Mi: Understanding our Nation to Nation Relationship and connect to the Ontario Curriculum for a co-education journey through the development of another online education resource.  All education resources produced by the Anishinabek Nation are made for everyone to learn from – not just First Nations students and teachers.

“This online resource will guide students in learning about Turtle Island, Worldview, Wampum, Contact, Treaty Relationships, Land Disputes and the Future,” states Crawford. “Based on Gdoo-Sastamoo Kii Mi, the resource will support secondary students and teachers in a virtual world connected to the Ontario Curriculum.”

The new online education resource for secondary students will be available in spring 2022.

“It is important for the history of our treaties to be taught to all learners from very early on so that they have a better understanding of challenges and issues Indigenous people face largely attributed to treaties not being upheld,” says Anishinabek Nation Southeast Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief and Education Portfolio Holder James Marsden. “These resources are an excellent stepping stone in a student’s learning journey.”

As part of Treaties Recognition Week and public education, Anishinabek Nation Children’s Commissioner Ogimaa Duke Peltier explores the importance of honouring treaties.

“Treaties are the fabric and the foundation of this territory — of the Great Lakes region. And as a treaty partner, the Crown must commit to implementing the full spirit and intent of what our ancestors had agreed upon,” states Anishinabek Nation Children’s Commissioner Duke Peltier. “Treaties are real, they’re living, and they need to be implemented. A good place to start teaching this is in the classroom with our youngest learners. The ministries of education have an opportunity to include the true histories of this country as part of their curriculum.”

Minister of Indigenous Affairs Ontario Greg Rickford acknowledges the importance of treaty education. 

“Anishinabek Nation should be proud of their leadership in continuing to develop education resources to increase awareness and understanding of treaty rights and the relevance they hold today,” says Minister Rickford. “Fostering treaty education helps make modern treaty relationships real and meaningful for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples alike.”

The Anishinabek Nation will continue to observe Treaties Recognition Week from November 1-5 by sharing information and resources virtually through their social media and the Anishinabek News.

Relevant links:

·        Ezhi-Nawending: How We Are Related

·        Gdoo-Sastamoo Kii Mi: Understanding our Nation to Nation Relationship online resource teaser video

The Anishinabek Nation is a political advocate for 39 member First Nations across Ontario, representing approximately 65,000 citizens.  The Anishinabek Nation is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact. 

Le programme politique de l’Assemblée des Premières Nations  Québec-Labrador (APNQL) : Mettre en œuvre l’autodétermination des Premiers Peuples et  l’égalité entre les nations, conditions essentielles de la réconciliation. 

Le programme politique de l’APNQL n’est pas électoral. Il est permanent. Il est inscrit dans toutes  les prises de position politiques rendues publiques régulièrement par l’APNQL. Il est supporté par  la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones (DNUDPA). Le seul lien  de ce programme avec la présente campagne électorale est d’exiger des partis politiques, autant  fédéraux que provinciaux, qu’ils cessent de lui faire obstacle. Quelle que soit la composition du  prochain parlement canadien, les partis devront favoriser l’autodétermination des Premiers  Peuples et reconnaitre l’égalité entre toutes les nations vivant sur le territoire. Pour sa part, le  gouvernement de la province de Québec doit cesser de s’ingérer et de faire obstacle aux  compétences fédérales à l’égard des Premiers Peuples. 

Qu’il s’agisse de drames liés aux tentatives d’assimilation des Premiers Peuples, en particulier les pensionnats fédéraux, du traitement inacceptable réservé à des femmes et filles des Premiers  Peuples, des conséquences tragiques de la discrimination systémique vécue au quotidien partout  sur le territoire par la population autochtone, de conflits territoriaux jamais résolus, pour toutes ces  mauvaises raisons, l’actualité au Canada se tourne souvent vers les enjeux des Premiers Peuples. 

Les faits sont connus, la population en est alertée, mais les politiciens hésitent. Ils hésitent plus  que jamais au cours de la présente campagne. L’APNQL en est convaincue, l’expérience le  démontre : la solution ne viendra pas d’eux. Il n`y a rien à attendre de ces politiciens frileux. Les  Premiers Peuples ont des droits et ils ont surtout le droit de les exercer. Le programme politique  de l’APNQL l’affirme.  

Le programme politique de l’APNQL comporte un autre élément essentiel à la réconciliation :  l’égalité entre les nations qui habitent le territoire. La présente campagne électorale fédérale s’est  laissé dangereusement dérivée vers le droit d’une « nation » à imposer ses vues, sa supériorité sur  d’autres nations. Soyons clairs : les nations qui partagent le territoire sont égales entre elles.  Aucune n’a le droit d’utiliser les règles du parlementarisme canadien pout brimer les droits des  autres nations, au nom du « nationalisme ». Les grandes nations ne se sont pas construites en  brimant les droits des autres nations. Il ne s’agit plus ici de nationalisme, mais de colonialisme.

Personne ne peut prétendre inscrire ses droits dans la Loi constitutionnelle tout en niant des droits  qui y sont déjà reconnus. C’est ce que fait l’actuel gouvernement provincial du Québec, entre  autres par son projet de loi 96, avec l’approbation tacite des partis politiques fédéraux en  campagne, qui semblent tous privilégier leurs intérêts partisans. C’est inacceptable. Le programme  politique de l’APNQL s’y est constamment objecté et l’a fait clairement savoir à l’actuel  gouvernement provincial qui continue de l’ignorer. 

« Quoi qu’on dise et quoi qu’on fasse à Ottawa et à Québec, les Premières Nations sont libres de  protéger leurs langues, leurs valeurs et leurs pouvoirs », affirme Ghislain Picard, chef de  l’APNQL. 

À propos de l’APNQL  

L’Assemblée des Premières Nations Québec-Labrador est l’organisme régional politique qui  regroupe 43 chefs des Premières Nations au Québec et au Labrador. Suivez l’APNQL sur Twitter  @APNQL.  

The political program of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec Labrador (AFNQL): Implementation of Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination and  equality among nations, both essential conditions for reconciliation. 

The AFNQL’s political program is not electoral in nature. It is permanent. It is included in all  political positions made public on a regular basis by the AFNQL. It is supported by the United  Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The only link this program  has with the current election campaign is to demand that political parties, both federal and  provincial, stop standing in its way. Whatever the composition of the next Canadian parliament,  parties will have to facilitate and support self-determination of Indigenous Peoples and recognize  equality among all nations living on the territory. For its part, the government of Quebec must stop  interfering with and obstructing federal jurisdiction in relation to Indigenous Peoples. 

Whether it is due to the tragedies associated with attempts to assimilate Indigenous peoples, in  particular, the tragic legacy of Indian residential schools, the unacceptable treatment of Indigenous women and girls, the tragic consequences of systemic discrimination experienced on a daily basis across the territory by Indigenous Peoples or, territorial conflicts that are never resolved, Canadian  media turn to Indigenous issues often, for all of these negative reasons. 

The facts are known, the population is aware, yet politicians remain hesitant and more so than  ever, during this campaign. No solutions will come from them; the AFNQL is convinced of this as it has been repeatedly confirmed to us throughout history. We can expect nothing from these  fearful politicians. Indigenous Peoples have rights and above all else, the right to exercise them.  The AFNQL’s political program affirms this.  

The AFNQL’s political program includes another element that is essential to reconciliation:  equality among all nations occupying this territory. The current federal election campaign has taken a dangerous turn where a “nation” is assuming the right to impose its views and superiority  over other nations. Let’s be clear: the nations that share the land are equal to each other. None have  the right to use the rules of Canadian parliamentarism to infringe upon the rights of other nations  in the name of “nationalism”. Great nations were not built by violating the rights of other nations.  It is no longer a matter of nationalism, but of colonialism.

No one can claim to include their rights in the Constitution Act while denying rights that are already included and recognized. This is what the current Quebec provincial government is doing,  among other things, through its Bill 96, with a tacit approval from federal political parties on the  campaign trail, all of which seem to favour their partisan interests. This is unacceptable. The  AFNQL’s political program has constantly objected to this and has made it clear to the current  provincial government, which continues to ignore it. 

“Whatever is said and done in Ottawa and Quebec, First Nations will always be free and capable  of protecting their languages, their values and their powers,” said Ghislain Picard, Chief of the  AFNQL. 

About the AFNQL 

The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador is the regional political organization that brings  together 43 Chiefs of the First Nations in Quebec and Labrador. Follow the AFNQL on Twitter @APNQL.