THUNDER BAY – The Executive Council of the Anishinabek Nation have called a Special Meeting of the Leadership of the Anishinabek Nation. This meeting is being called to discuss the current political landscape we are all facing and develop an Anishinabek Nation response and strategy to address our current and future relations with the Crown.
Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee wrote Prime Minister Harper stating, “The Anishinabek Nation advises you that as the federal government appropriate profits from our lands, waters and resources via taxation, licensing and other fees, Canada is indeed obligated to a treaty relationship, which includes a Nation-to-Nation approach and accountability. As the Grand Council Chief, on behalf of the Anishinabek First Nations, I must remind you that our relationship is not one of power and control, but one of respect, peace and friendship.
Anishinabek Nation Special Meeting
[sws_pullquote_right]I must remind you that our relationship is not one of power and control, but one of respect, peace and friendship [/sws_pullquote_right] The special meeting will take place at Comfort Inn and Suites, 229 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste. Marie.
The major topic of discussion will be the First Nation relationship with the Crown. Concerns from First Nations leaders across Canada on the relationship between themselves and the Crown are continuing to gain ground in the Aboriginal leadership as well as in Idle No More discussions and teach-ins.
Nation to Nation Relations
Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee in a letter to Prime Minister Harper states, “I want to be direct and respectful, but I must admit, it is difficult to maintain respect when there is tone of dictatorship from our treaty partner, especially considering the recent erosion of our relationship that has seen First Nation citizens coordinate public demonstrations across the country on a weekly basis.
“From a First Nation perspective, Bill C-27 opens the door to heighten racism as there are corporate owned organizations such as The Canadian Tax Payers
Federation and the Sun Media Corporation that will no doubt target and extract specific Chiefs salaries for their own pointed messaging. We are well aware of
organizations in Canada that target a specific ethnic group for cynicism by undermining fundamental rights of First Nation citizens. These organizations act
with conscious intentions to create and perpetuate an environment of racism against First Nation citizens”.
The meeting will be live-streamed at www.anishinabek.ca/index.asp – Scroll down to the bottom of the page. You many require a plug-in to access the feed.
