Our Waawiindamaagewin
TREATY GOVERNANCE— What is it? By Sam Manitowabi
The term ‘governance’ is used to describe the way a group of people organize themselves in order to achieve goals and share responsibilities. When we discuss Anishinabek and the relationship with the ‘Crown’, we usually speak about ‘Treaty’. Treaty Governance can then refer to the structures Anishinabek create to make decisions about how the Treaty is maintained, managed and promoted. In my research for this article, I came across an undated document produced under the guidance of Elders that had gathered some time ago, and it reads:
Anishinawbek Enahkonegawin Ginawind gidaa zhitoonan maanda ezhiwaawiindmaageng miinwa n’waawiindmagmin ehpeeche gunawaab migwing ginawind dinawenmaaganinanik minawaa. Mshi shi wii gnawaab migyiing G’itchi Manidoo ezhchigeyiing giinwin. Anishinawbek Waawiindmaagewin Gwayakondiwin (wiidookodaadiwin) mdaaswaakshi-nshwaaswaakshi-naan-midna ji nakiiyiing maamwi ji kawaamdamang waa naagdooyiing gaa bi32
| E-Wiindamaagejig: The Robinson Huron Treaty Times
zhichgewaad Anishinawbek mewzha weweni gii naagdawenmowaad kina gegoo gda kimnang, dedbinwe bemwidooyiing. Gnishdawambdaanaa gitchitwaa wendaagog enaagdawendimamang weweni ji mnaaden mang aki (gda kiimnan) miinwaa nbi geni zhi-mnojawendagoziwin yaamang edinakii’ang miinwaa ezhkibmaadzijig geni niigaaniijigi yaamwaad. We make this pledge and promise in witness of all our relations and in full view of G’Chi Manidoo that we the Anishinawbek Treaty Alliance of 1850 will work in unity to defend our inherent rights and promote the sovereignty of our Nation as protectors and stewards of our ecosystem within our traditional territories and our original rights. We recognize our sacred responsibility to respectfully manage the lands and waters for the prosperity of our communities and our future generations. This pledge, although brief, captures the spirit and intent of Treaty Governance in that it identifies that our goals,
