Anishinaabe Inakonigaawin

BY HAILEY KROLYK, TPU OUTREACH COORDINATOR, GRAND COUNCIL TREATY #3

Anishinaabe Inakonigaawin (law) has governed relations on and with Mother Earth since time immemorial, which has been passed down through the Creator. Today, the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3 continues to live by Anishinaabe Inakonigaawin. The authoritative version of these laws are mostly oral, as they are held in ceremony and learned from the animals, plants, the sun, and the changes in season. The laws co-exist with western law as they pre-date the man-made laws we see in our society now. In Treaty #3 territory, one of these Anishinaabe laws is called Manito Aki Inakonigaawin (Great Earth Law).

What is Manito Aki Inakonigaawin?

Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is inherent to the Anishinaabe people of Treaty #3 territory. Since the law was formally written in 1997, it has helped uphold Anishinaabe land rights and create a nation based law-making process in relation to responsibilities, when working within the territory, in acknowledgement of the shared lands, waters and people in the 55,000 square miles of Treaty #3.

Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is written within and throughout nature. Its spirit is within all living things on earth—from humans to the trees, to the animals and to the air we breathe. It is the natural law that governs the natural cycles of life and death. Manito Aki Inakonigaawin has its own spirit, as it itself is also living.

Collective responsibility

The law is eco-centric, which means it considers and acknowledges that it’s not only human beings that live on this land, but all things on earth possess spirit and life. Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is based not only on Anishinaabe rights as proper stewards of the land, but also on the responsibilities we have as a collective to care for Mother Earth. The law is guided by the Anishinaabe relationship to the land, communities in Treaty #3 territory and the Nation, and supports the collective rights of the Nation as a whole, while affirming Anishinaabe jurisdiction.

It is considered to be unlawful to proceed with developments within Treaty #3 without the proper consent of the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. The obligation lies on all associated parties who wish to develop or manage resources within Treaty #3 Territory to abide by Manito Aki Inakonigaawin.

Although the law was gifted to Anishinaabe people at the beginning of time, it is important to realize that the responsibility to protect and respect Mother Earth doesn’t solely depend on Anishinaabe people. The law represents the collective duty of us all to protect Mother Earth.

Protecting Mother Earth is an obligation we all share. Following Manito Aki Inakonigaawin, it is possible for development to occur with the least amount of uncertainty and conflict. This process has the potential to maximize cooperation and a fair sharing of economic opportunities throughout the Nation while fulfilling our responsibilities as caretakers to Mother Earth.

Manito Aki Inakonigaawin provides ethical and holistic guidance in regard to natural resource developments in the Treaty #3 Territory. As a collective, following it to make resource decisions provides a clear path to protect Mother Earth but also contributes to more sustainable, long-term economic resource developments.

How does it work?

At its core, the spirit of Manito Aki Inakonigaawin guides decisions while caring for Mother Earth and all her relations. One application of Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is as a guiding framework in the decision-making process of the Anishinaabe Nation as it relates to activities impacting Treaty #3 Territory. This framework outlines both community decision-making processes and a Nation based decision-making process. This is defined into four phases: application, engagement/consultation, authorization, and compliance and monitoring. Each of these phases are guided by the seven grandfather teachings which are honesty, wisdom, courage, bravery, truth, respect and love.

These processes can also be applied in relation to the legal duty to consult as it resides with the Crown. Key outcomes of following this process ensures:

• Respect for Treaty and inherent rights

• Conservation and protection of the environment

• Joint decision making

• Contracts: co-management, business opportunities

• Compensation: partnerships, employment and training

Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is an exercise of inherent nationhood by the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. It is considered to be unlawful to proceed with developments within Treaty #3 without the proper consent of the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. The obligation lies on all associated parties who wish to develop or manage resources within Treaty #3 Territory to abide by Manito Aki Inakonigaawin. As such, Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is considered a foundational process of mutual respect.

Protecting Mother Earth is an obligation we all share. Following Manito Aki Inakonigaawin, it is possible for development to occur with the least amount of uncertainty and conflict. This process has the potential to maximize cooperation and a fair sharing of economic opportunities throughout the Nation while fulfilling our responsibilities as caretakers to Mother Earth. an