Chief Cameron Catcheway
Chief Cameron Catcheway, Niigaanii
Niigaanii – Leadership Peacemaking Letter 27 03 2021
Wednesday, January 27 2021
Chief Cameron Catcheway
Skownan Anishinaabe Nation
Re: Governing Council Update on Sovereign Implementation of Resolutions (06-12-18/08-07-19/09-03-20)
Dear Chief Cameron Catcheway,
It is an honour to be writing to you as 2021 gets underway. As a Nation our Anishinaabe style of governing continues to guide our collective efforts to improve the quality life for our peoples. We focus here on Peacemaking – the strategies to bravely defend our rights to our Territorial lands.
While we remain steady to call on both the Government of Canada and Manitoba to honour the Treaty relationship and come to the political circle with appropriate frameworks to deal with matters and interests. The Anishinaabe political will is palpable despite some of the political impasses. And as Ogemaag we understand that it is in our Anishinaabe constitutional duties to devise, structure and lead our own sovereign and inherent governing way of life.
As you may recall during the December 2020 meeting, some of the Nation-building outcomes identified Chief leads responsible for each of the Nation’s seven circles. Therefore, an overview pertaining to you leading the Peacemaking Circle.
PEACEMAKING
Anishinaabe Peacemaking means peace and balance is maintained in the Local Nations and Treaty 2 Territory through a system that includes peace officers, circles, centres/lodges, and restorative measures.
Society cannot exist without law. Peacemaking systems that were in place were forcibly interrupted by colonial settlers through the Indian Act and other laws or policies. The Report of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry (1991) states “Aboriginal people form a far larger percentage of the inmate and probation population than they do of the general population of Manitoba”. A safe assumption can be made the situation has not improved and the percentage of Indigenous inmate and probation population has increased.
Traditional models of peacemaking are based on restoring peace and balance which reconciles mutual understanding between two people or groups. Local Nations and FNT2T will develop and implement a local and territorial peacemaking system.
Objectives of Peacemaking:
- Anishinaabe Law Development to contemporize and implement Treaty 2 laws in the territory
- Restore and build Local Nations and FNT2T traditional peacemaking systems that include:
- Restorative peacemaking;
- Wellbeing (healing) centres;
- Peacekeeping;
- Nation Safety;
- Search and rescue;
- Establishing Local Nation and FNT2T Circles; and
- Establishing a system of keepers and helpers
- Create administrative processes including parole, probation, diversion, post-sentencing alternatives to incarceration through wellbeing.
Local Nations and FNT2T who are the Inherent Rights holders seek to create and restore Peacemaking that provides prevention, preparedness, emergency response and post-event remedies. Today Local Nations require capacity to deal with justice and peacemaking issues. Local Nations and FNT2T would like to enter into an agreement with Canada to collaborate and support FNT2T’s objectives of Peacemaking.
FNT2T Restorative Peacemaking Circle has an overall strategic plan which is:
- assisting Local Nations circles;
- capacity development, working with our FNT2T Lodge for capacity building;
- implementation of restorative peacemaking structure;
- engagement sessions on restorative peacemaking;
- planning and managing Wellbeing Centres/Lodges;
- establishing a peacemaking force; and
- meeting with Canada and the Provinces regarding restorative peacemaking.
ACTION: The Local Nations and FNT2T will agree to enter into Implementation agreements with Canada and other countries to collaborate and support the objectives of FNT2T’s Peacemaking.
To conclude, I want to express my sincerest gratitude for the strong and exemplary leadership you continue to demonstrate in this important role in addition to the Chieftainship responsibilities within your Local Nation. Our duties and obligations to serve during these challenging times are to be commended. As we gain momentum, I remain committed to reaching the highest aspirations as the original ancestral government of Mikinaak Minis.
Gichi Miigwech,
Ogichidaa Eugene Eastman
Chief, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi Anishinaabe Nation
