Treaty 2 Territory- The First Nations in the Treaty 2 Territory (FNT2T) Executive Circle and Peacemaking team met with Justice Canada on February 22, 2022, to discuss the progress on the Justice Agreement. Discussions included the drafting process, the Seven Circles of Peacemaking, and a target date of March 31st, 2022. The Justice Agreement is very important step in self-governance in the Nation and the foundation for an Anishinaabe Legal Framework.
The Peacemaking team have been meeting with Justice Canada biweekly and have begun drafting the Justice agreement. The Peacemaking team meets with Justice Canada’s Law Centre who specializes in these types of agreements. There are two other Justice agreements finalized in Canada, but not to this extent of including all aspects of justice. Therefore, the drafting process is more complex and will require regular meetings to ensure that the agreement is agreed upon by both parties.
The Justice Agreement is the first step in reclaiming jurisdiction of administering an Anishinaabe Peacemaking System. The Justice Agreement includes all the Seven Circles of Peacemaking. The Seven Circles of Peacemaking includes the Lynx Circle (Crime Prevention and Early Intervention), the Deer Circle (Restorative Peacemaking), the Eagle Circle (Interventions and wellbeing), the Turtle Circle (Anishinaabe Law Centre), the Bear Circle (Wellness Supervision), the Loon Circle (Tribunals), and the Crane Circle (Appeals). The Justice agreement will need to identify all seven circle to ensure holistic wellbeing and Mino-Bimaadiziwin.
The FNT2T Executive Circle expressed March 31, 2022, needs to be met to move Peacemaking forward and receive the funding needed to administer it. As Peacemaking is the legal framework in enforcing the laws, it needs to be put in place as soon as possible. The Peacemaking and Child and Family Nation laws were passed on November 18, 2021, by the Governing Council. To enforce these laws, the agreement needs to be completed and implemented. This will be a huge step in asserting inherent rights as an Anishinaabe Nation.
Chantell Barker
Getchi Nodin Ikwe
Peacemaking Keeper
Last modified: February 22, 2022
