Page 20 - Beausoleil First Nation

All members of Beausoleil First Nation over the age of 18 can
vote in these elections, whether they live on the First Nation
territory or elsewhere. The issue of where voters live is an
important one for the members of the First Nation, and there are
many different views on whether people who live off-territory
should be allowed to vote. People who run for elected office in
the First Nation must live on the First Nation to run for council,
but any First Nation member may run for Chief, no matter where
they live.

In 2017, we began to create a custom election code—our own
election law. Community members who live on-territory and off-
territory are working to ensure that rules, such as how long the
Chief and councillors can serve, and how we elect our leaders,
are based on what our people want. Our members will vote on
accepting or rejecting this new law in Autumn 2018. If we vote
yes, we will begin using our new code when the next election
for Beausoleil First Nation takes place in June 2020. The new
law will mean we will have elections every three years instead
of every two years. If we vote no, our elections will remain
the same as they are today. We may revisit creating a custom
election code in the future.

This type of headdress is
traditionally worn by Anishinaabe
Chiefs. The headdress is made from
birchbark and ermine skins.

18 Beausoleil First Nation

ogemawahj_community_book2.indd 18 2019-02-27 10:33 AM