Page 17 - Georgina Island

Councillor Benson Big Canoe,
Chief Donna Big Canoe,
Councillor Pat Big Canoe,
Councillor William McCue,
Councillor Lauri Hoeg, 2017

Local First Nation Government and

Leadership

The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation is governed by a
Chief and four councillors. Any First Nation member may run for
councillor or Chief no matter where he or she lives. All members
of the First Nation over the age of 18 may vote, even if they live
elsewhere. There are different viewpoints on whether people
who don’t live in the community should be able to vote.

Our present-day model of First Nations government has moved
away from the model set up by the Indian Act in 1876 and
has been revised several times since then (see page 65 of the
Resources section for more information about the Indian Act).
WORDS TO KNOW
With the passing of a First Nation Resolution in 2016, the First Nation Resolution: a
record of a decision made by
Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation adopted the First
a First Nation’s councillors at a
Nations Elections Act. Under the Indian Act, leadership elections council meeting
were held every two years, while under the First Nations
Elections Act, elections are held every four years. Other changes
include how votes are collected from First Nation members not
living on the territory, and the introduction of a fee to run in
the election. In 2017, the First Nation ran the first election with
these changes.

Georgina Island First Nation 15

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