The Fort William First Nation is another step closer to fully governing itself and moving away from the federal Indian Act.
Chief Peter Collin tells us it comes with the initialing of an agreement on the matter last week which now needs formal approval from communities within the Anishinabek Nation in Ontario.
He calls it a “great step in the right direction” which will give them “their own governing structure” and not one coming from the Act.”
The Fort William First Nations chief says community members will be meeting next month to give the final vote of approval.
The federal government says to date, 20 Anishinabek Nation First Nations throughout Ontario have committed to holding a community vote on the proposed agreement.
If ratified, the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement would be the first Indigenous self-government governance agreement in Ontario.
