Matthew Coon Come pledges his support to M'Chigeeng

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M'Chigeeng First Nation Chief Glen Hare is no longer alone in his battle for recognition. Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief, Matthew Coon Come, travelled to Manitoulin Island recently to pledge his support.

M'Chigeeng is taking the Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) to court in a dispute over the legitimacy of the September 2001 band election.

Since the federal bureaucrats refuse to recognize Chief Hare and the elected council members, capital projects in the community are at a standstill.

Because the conflict has reached a critical stage, a community assembly was called at the M'Chigeeng complex April 24.

In a passionate address to the band members, Coon Come promised, "Your fight is our fight; your struggle is our struggle. You can count on our (AFN) support.

"We as First Nations have fought hard for the past 20 years for recognition of Aboriginal treaty rights," he said. "We are a people; we are a nation; we have a right to self-determination. We have a right to establish our own political institutions.

"I am here to support your community," he assured the audience, which included Elders, school children and representatives from neighbouring First Nations. "I've always believed in community-driven processes. I was impressed by the solidarity of your chief and council," he said.

The grand chief noted that Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault has been advocating consultation across the country. But now, faced with a "classical example of a community developing their own electoral process," the minister is withholding recognition and funds, Coon Come observed.

"Any imposition of an alien form of governance that is not ours will contribute to ill health, will contribute to unemployment, will contribute to major frictions because there is no respect," he warned.

"The minister talks about listening to the people; well, the people of this community have spoken."

Coon Come called upon Nault to "back up his words" and work with M'Chigeeng in "their desire to control their own destiny."

In a later interview, Coon Come reiterated his demand that Nault intervene and resolve the stalemate. He emphasized that the Supreme Court's Corbiere decision (which permitted off-reserve members to vote in band elections) did not stipulate that mail-in ballots are mandatory. Instead the DIA has interpreted the ruling to mean that mail-ins are required.

"Just let them be," Coon Come urged. "I know they (M'Chigeeng chief and council) are working on ways to involve their (off-reserve) members. That should suffice."

Chief Glen Hare echoed the grand chief's perspective on the Corbiere decision.

"The mail-in is not a good system," Hare stated. "We don't trust the mail-in system. Maybe in the future, if they prove to me that it works, then we'll look at it, but at this point in time it's not good. And they (DIA officials) admit it too."

The chief feels the band's custom code expresses the will of the membership. "We went to the community first," he said. "We asked, 'Do you want this?' We even had four people come home from the Yukon to vote. And they were proud because before they couldn't. If that's any indication, then that's a good one. Anyone from across Canada can come home to vote.

"We encourage off-reserve members to come home and find out what we are doing here. Council welcomes them to come home and join the election," he invited.

"It's all in the minister's lap now," Chief Hare said. "We have met with all the officials below the minister. I want the minister at the table now."

In the meantime, M'Chigeeng has initiated a First Nations freedom march designed to raise public awareness about the election issues.

"Like the runners of old, we will hand-deliver our grievances to Ottawa," Chief Hare announced. "We choose self-determination based on Anishinabe customs and values. The public must know what we are being put through."

M'Chigeeng's attorney, Susan Hare, agreed. "The DIA way of electing leaders has long bee a problem," she stated. "M'Chigeeng has gone over and above the DIA requirements; we feel we have complied with the policies. It is a fundamental slap in the face to say we can't do this (create our own custom election.)"

She criticized the Department for maintaining a "wrong-headed" and "dictatorial" attitude towards First Nations governance goals. "M'Chigeeng is a very stable government, a very strong community in every respect. It is not acceptable for them to tell us what to do."

She reported that the band has established an interactive Web site allowing members access to budgets, policies and band business. "Our way of meaningful participation is done this way."

Chief Patrick Madahbee, of the Ojibwes of Sucker Creek, also spoke. "We fully support M'Chigeeng," he said. "If First Nations across Canada allow them (DIA) to erode our rights, then we will continue to be at the mercy of outside authorities trying to dictate to us. Let us live our way; the days of the Indian agent are over."