A Special General Assembly is scheduled for February 10-12, 2012 at Champagne Hall to review proposed changes to the CAFN Constitution.
The proposed amendments to the CAFN Constitution to be considered during the 2012Special General Assembly can be viewed in the
2012 CAFN Proposed Constitutional Amendments for Special GA (pdf)
Click here for the
CONSTITUTION OF THE CHAMPAGNE AND AISHIHIK FIRST NATIONS (pdf)
Constitutional Review
At the 2009 General Assembly, the following resolution was passed:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Assembly directs the Constitutional Committee to research ways in which the CAFN traditional governance systems can be incorporated into the governance of CAFN;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Constitutional Committee provide recommendations to the Assembly on how to incorporate traditional governance processes into the CAFN Government based on the research on traditional governance systems.
As a result, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN) Chief and Council appointed a committee to review the CAFN Constitution (2000).
Through consultations with Citizens, the CAFN Government, the First Nations Council, Elders Senate, and Youth Council, the committee developed recommendations for amendments to the CAFN Constitution to be presented to the General Assembly in 2011.
The 2011 General Assembly approved minor amendments to the Constitution, but called for a Special General Assembly before March 31, 2012 to review proposed substantive changes. That date is set for February 10-12, 2012 at Champagne Hall.
Currently, the Constitution Review Committee members are:
Kirk Cameron (Chair), Paul Birckel (Elders Ex-Officio), Denise Beattie, Charlene Hume, Phyllis Smith, James "Cisco" Smith
For more details or a copy of the current CAFN Constitution, please contact Shadelle Chambers, Project Manager, 456-6879 or email, schambers@cafn.ca
OUR CONSTITUTION: CHAMPAGNE & AISHIHIK FIRST NATIONS
Where We’ve Come From
Ours has been a long journey to return to us our right to govern our People and our land. In the 1960s and 1970s our Elders and wise leaders called on the federal government to return our traditional ways. For twenty years we negotiated. In 1993 we reached a final Land Claims Agreement and Selfgovernment
Agreement for our people.
Our Self-government Agreement makes it possible for us to create our supreme law, our Constitution. In July 2000 at the Klukshu Village General Assembly our People voted in favour of our Constitution.
In 2010 our First Nations Council created the Constitutional Review Committee. The Committee is called on to bring to the 2010 and 2011 General Assemblies what it thinking will make our Constitution even stronger. It was asked to reach out to as many Citizens as possible to get our ideas.
What We Believe
Our Constitution is our most senior law. All other laws of the First Nations flow from this law. No other law of our First Nations can contradict or change the Constitution. Work of our First Nations Council to make new laws must be guided by our Constitution.
Our Constitution sets out our Rights as Champagne & Aishihik First Nations People. Who can be a Citizen, and their Rights and Responsibilities are recognized here. Some areas are:
• our freedom of religion and speech,
• our right to assemble peaceably,
• our right to participate in elections for our Government.
Our Constitution protects us in many ways. It says we are to be treated openly and fairly by our
Government.
Our Government is defined by our Constitution. The First Nations Council is found here. The Elders Senate and Youth Council and their powers are also in the Constitution. Our most important Citizens forum, the Champagne & Aishihik General Assembly is also recognized in our Constitution. Its most important role is to make changes to our Constitution so that it reflects the will and interests of all Citizens. Only at General Assembly can changes be made to the Constitution!
Other topics in the Constitution provide for accountability of the First Nations Council, and how to deal with challenges to the laws of the First Nations.
Our Future
Our Constitutional Review Committee has heard from many of us about how our Government is
running. It has received good ideas on where the Constitution may need some changes.
Some of the changes we have talked about with the Committee that will be brought to the 2010 General Assembly for our vote include:
• Should there be qualifications for Chief and Councilors?
• Should the Elections Board deal with disputes, or should someone appointed separately do this?
• Do we want to change the name “Champagne” to a Traditional name of our People?
• Should the Elders Representative on First Nations Council be elected by all Citizens, just by the Elders, or should the Elder who Chairs the Elders Senate sit as ex officio Representative on the First Nations Council?
• Should there be an Elders’ “back up” to ensure Elders’ views are reflected on First Nations Council?
• Should the role of the Elders Representative on First Nations Council be defined? (e.g. “Keeper of
Tradition and First Nations’ Wisdom”…)
• Should the Deputy Chief be elected directly?
Other topics that were raised that will be discussed by us over the next year so that changes can be brought to the 2011 General Assembly are:
• Should the role of the Youth Councilor and method of selection be changed?
• Should there be restrictions on benefits for First Nations Citizens who are not also Citizens of
Canada?
• Should there be automatic recognition of Citizenship by First Nations Government?
• Should the Asheyi People from the Aishihik region set themselves up as an independent First
Nation?
These last four points are very importance issues. Citizens who proposed these amendments have agreed to have them discussed over the next year. They will then be brought to all Citizens at the 2011 General Assembly.
Conclusion
We are able to shape our world and how we relate to each other and our Government. We have
designed our Constitution to reflect our beliefs and interests. It is our responsibility to protect and enhance our Constitution so that it continues to be our supreme law.
