Page 56 - Georgina Island

Self-Government

Presently, our community is governed by the Indian Act and
bylaws enacted by the Chief and Council. This is a less than
ideal situation for us, as it removes most of the control from
the people in the First Nation territory and allows Crown–
Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to have the
final decision on many things affecting our day-to-day lives.

We worked hard along with the other First Nations that
WORDS TO KNOW
comprise the United Anishinaabeg Council (UAC), a group of
Constitution: a set of rules
or laws that are used to run eight First Nations, to negotiate a self-government agreement
an organization with the Canadian government. Our community did not ratify
jurisdiction: right to enact our the self-government agreement, but Georgina Island often
own laws
leads among our surrounding First Nations in negotiating
ratify: approve formally
and ratifying other self-government agreements, such as the
Lands Management Code, Membership Code, First Nation Tax
Authority, Anishinabek Education System, and the First Nation
Election Act. In 2017, we ratified our own Constitution. The
Constitution was passed to enact our own laws and recognize
our jurisdiction as we move away from the Indian Act.

Georgina Island often leads

among our surrounding

First Nations in

negotiating and ratifying

self-government agreements.

54 Georgina Island First Nation

ogemawahj_community_book1.indd 54 2019-02-27 10:33 AM