A lands meeting at Kinistin Saulteaux Nation was an important step towards greater accountability.
On March 10, band members were presented with a draft constitution.
Chief Greg Scott, who is serving his first term, said the band is in the development stages of the document.
“This is just the initial discussion. We have to take it through the proper processes of it, three readings and all that, to ratify it,” said Scott. “We want to develop our own band constitution as well as development of government policy, but this is the most important, identifying our land, our own laws.”
Scott said this is long overdue.
“This should have happened a long time ago. I’ve been on council three times prior and the constitution has always been there, and now that I’m chief, I’m trying to push it so that we can actually move towards that.”
The draft dated October 2016 states that the citizens would like the constitution “to promote the general welfare of our people, create a framework for good government and the security of blessings bestowed upon us by the Creator.”
Scott saw the constitution as bringing about a positive change in the community.
“It’s going to bring more accountability, because it’s the people that are going to be developing it and this is what they want.
“It’s for more [progressiveness] and transparency,” he said. “It’s going to bring more openness and the people will have a voice in how they want to see their governance and how they want to see their community moving forward.
“It’s challenging, but it’s exciting at the same time.”
The draft constitution asserts the nation’s sovereignty, lays out the citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms and covers topics such as citizenship, territory, treaty, chief and council, role of knowledge keepers, appeal tribunal, education, finances and accountability.
