| In
the year of 1984, the Chiefs and Councils within the Mushkegowuk
territory in recognition of the need to unite to have a politically
strong collective voice on issues affecting their First Nation,
and, to have effective political representation on their unified
interests and concerns, thus they formally created a non profit
regional entity now known as the Mushkegowuk Council.
The Mushkegowuk
Council currently consist of seven (7) member communities:
1. Attawapiskat
First Nation
2. Kashechewan First Nation
3. Fort Albany First Nation
4. Moose Cree First Nation
5. Taykwa Tagamou Nation (formerly New Post First Nation)
6. Chapleau Cree First Nation
7. Missanabie Cree First Nation
The individual
Chiefs of the seven (7) First Nations, the Grand Chief and
Deputy Grand Chief form the governing body that oversees the
Mushkegowuk Council. In 1998, the Mushkegowuk Council took
a critical step in its evolution as a national government
and held direct membership elections for the position of Grand
Chief and the newly created position of Deputy Grand Chief.
At that time, the Council was the only Indigenous people in
Canada to do so. Prior to 1998, the Grand Chief was elected
by the Chiefs just as a Chairman of any corporation is selected
by the Board. With the new election process, the two leadership
positions were no longer just corporate positions but had
become political positions elected by the people.
DECLARATION
OF RIGHTS
We, the Mushkegowuk First Nations, declare:
AS
FIRST NATIONS:
1. We
have the right to maintain our spiritual values, our language,
traditions and cultures;
2. We have the right to self government,
3. We have the right to a decent standard of living.
OUR
TRADITIONAL LAND
4. We
have the right to be guardians of the land and its resources;
5. We have the right to live on the land;
6. We have the right to harvest and develop the land;
7. We have the right to share in the wealth of the land.
OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CROWN
8. We
have the right to respect for the spirit and intent of the
treaties and agreements which affect us;
9. We have the right to recognition of our laws over the laws
of the Crown.
ANNUAL
ASSEMBLY
Accountability is maintained through the Chiefs, and through
an Annual Assembly of the Mushkegowuk Chiefs, Councils and
First Nation delegates. The Mushkegowuk Council Annual Assembly
is held in rotation at one of the seven communities. Each
First Nation is represented by 6 voting delegates which include
the Chief OR Deputy Chief OR their representative, two (2)
First Nation’s respective council members, a woman,
a youth and an elder representative.
The annual
audit and the appointment of the auditor is addressed at each
of the Annual Assemblies. The amendments to the corporate
by-laws of the Mushkegowuk Tribal Council are also presented
at these Assemblies. The First Nation delegates place resolutions
before the Mushkegowuk Chiefs in Assembly for support in their
respective initiatives to acquire funding, political advocacy
or social awareness of issues relating to health, social,
educational, cultural and treaty rights that concern the First
Nation’s membership’s quality of life. This is
reflected in the mission statement of the Mushkegowuk Tribal
Council.
MUSHKEGOWUK COUNCIL CONSTITUTION
At the 13th Annual Assembly, a resolution was adopted to reflect
this historic step in directly electing a Grand Chief and
Deputy Grand Chief to speak for the Mushkegowuk Territory,
as a whole, under the direction of the Chiefs, the elders,
and the people. Although, the corporate bylaws were amended
to include the Grand Chief and Deputy Grand Chief, it was
important that the Mushkegowuk Council continue to reflect
and describe ways in which the people of Mushkegowuk govern
themselves. To that end, a strategic review of the Mushkegowuk
Council governance has been ongoing. The new governance or
“the Omushkego Constitution” will define the political
and administrative roles of Mushkegowuk Council, the role
of Nishnawbe Aski Nation and other First Nation organizations,
and any other operational areas that may benefit from the
evolving role of Mushkegowuk Council.
PROGRAMS
& SERVICES
Since its inception, the Mushkegowuk people have been looking
to the Mushkegowuk Council not only for the provision of political
leadership but for the provision of guidance and assistance
in the development of their communities.
Programs
and services currently provided by the Council include:
1. Finance & Administration
2. Omushkego Education
3. Technical Services
4. Employment & Training
5. Health & Social Service
6. Land & Resources
7. Youth Program Services
AFFILIATED
BOARDS:
In its evolvement through the years, the Mushkegowuk Council
has created a number of spin off entities dedicated to regionally
addressing issues and services such as economic development,
health and the social well-being of its members. These entities
include:
1. Weeneebayko
Health Ahtuskaywin
2. Payukotayno Child and Family Services
3. Sagashtawao Healing Lodge
4. Wakenagun Development Corporation
5. Pasico Development Corporation
6. Five Nations Energy Inc.
TRADITIONAL
TERRITORIES
The Mushkegowuk territory encompasses the traditional
territories of the seven (7) First Nations who form the Mushkegowuk
Council. The general area encompasses the traditional territory
of Attawapiskat, Fort Albany, Kashechewan, and Moose Cree
First Nations located on the western James Bay area, and south
to include the traditional territories of Taykwa Tagamou Nation,
Chapleau Cree First Nation and Missanabie Cree First Nation.
Mushkegowuk
Council
P.O. Box 370, 12 Centre Road, Moose Factory, ON, P0L 1W0
Phone: 705-658-4222 • Fax: 705-658-4250 |
